Get to know Miss Michelle!
Meet Michelle Vincent
Founder, Teacher, Pianist, Speaker, & Lifelong Musician
Michelle grew up playing the piano with her grandmother, Evelyn Jensen, who helped develop her deep love and passion for the instrument. At the age of 10 she began her studies with Arlyce Schroeder in Denver, IA, and continued her music education throughout high school and college.
"I learned piano in a very classical, traditional way - passing competition exams and memorizing pieces for recitals. But my university studies took me down a path with much more variety, and my approach to both performing and teaching forever changed."
Since 2007, Michelle has been on a mission to share her love of music with students of all ages, experience levels, and musical abilities, in schools, community groups, studios, and private settings.
"After starting a family of my own, I was motivated to run a business that combined my love of music and children. One can teach basic skills without love, but to truly make a difference in a student's life, there needs to be love. Love is an art where we explore different ways of connecting to our emotions and the world around us."
In 2022, this love manifested into Michelle's Musical Keys in Kalona, Iowa, an independent piano studio that features beautiful acoustic pianos and a tech-savvy digital piano lab.
My mission as a musician and teacher:
to equip students with skills that will turn them into
life-long musicians.
As life would have it, I found the need for two mantras:
Take Courage
Genuine over Perfect
With these in mind, I'm always on the search for new teaching tools, cool apps that engage, and tips for unlocking creativity at the keys!
Teaching Philosophy
At Michelle's Musical Keys, I believe:
that piano is best taught from many different angles through theory, ear training, and chord playing
innovative teaching methods and successful practice strategies encourage the average player of any age to stick to the bench for life
this approach results in a student who can play a variety of technical styles and songs they specifically enjoy
music supports life skills like hand-eye coordination, concentration, memory, creative problem-solving, self-confidence, self-expression, and overall quality of life
piano is a lifelong pursuit, so anyone from beginner to advanced has room for creative exploration and growth
piano is a wonderful gift for the individual and those they share their love of music with
My goal for my students is to be playing music well beyond their childhood, into their adult and senior years. A positive, social, music-making experience can do just that!
“Music allows us to feel nearly or possibly all emotions that we experience in our lives, it fuels the mind and thus fuels our creativity, it tells a story, it brings people together, it has spiritual powers, it's the language of the universe. My work is to empower these strong, creative musicians to carry their music with them wherever they wish to take it. To create communities, connect people, and spread ideas."
Education & Experience
The University of Northern Iowa
Bachelor of Music
Master of Music
Piano Performance and Pedagogy
Piano Methodology and Piano Literature
Experience
Teaching piano lessons since 2007 to children, teens, and adults
Taught music appreciation, history, and fundamentals to musicians of all skill levels
Collaborated with performers in a variety of musical ensembles and solo performances
Accompanied a variety of students for recitals, competitions, auditions, and various performances
Developed materials for children to explore and manipulate in learning activities and imaginative play
Developed and implemented curriculum for summer music camps
Plays piano at church and plays professionally for weddings, social gatherings, and business events
Professional Affiliations
Music Teachers National Association
Nationally Certified Teacher of Music
Iowa Music Teachers Association
East Central Music Teachers Association
National Federation of Music Clubs
International Music Fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota
Teacher of Distinction
Music and Early Childhood Development, Innovation in Teaching Artistry, and Recreational Music Making
Michelle is excited to help foster the same love and sense of home in her students that music instills in her.
