Music Kitchen

San Jose, California | United States

Karin Swanson provides private piano lessons to students of all ages and abilities. Classically trained, her teaching encompasses a solid understanding of proper technique, beautiful tone production, expressive, imaginative playing and reading music. Those fundamental skills contribute to versatility and to the successful performance of the abundant keyboard repertoire spanning a variety of musical styles. Alongside many years of experience in effectively sharing her musical knowledge, she creates a positive and nurturing learning environment with her enthusiastic, patient and encouraging approach. Her commitment to understanding her students’ goals, learning styles and musical preferences ensures they will feel motivated to learn to play the piano and take pride in their accomplishments.

Karin has a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from San Jose State University and a Master of Music degree in Composition from the University of Michigan. She completed the Certified Level of Excellence in Piano Teaching from Piano Teacher Institute with Joy Morin in 2019, and both Foundational Piano Pedagogy and The Intermediate Course: Continuing Pianistic Growth and Development through the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy in 2023. She served as a preliminary adjudicator for the 34th Annual Celia Mendez Young Pianists Beethoven Competition in 2020. In addition to piano lessons she offers instruction in sight-reading, aural skills, theory and composition.

Member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA),
California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT), CAPMT Santa Clara Valley Chapter,
American College of Musicians/National Guild of Piano Teachers,
American Beethoven Society