Michele Chater

It is my goal to leave a nation-wide legacy of individuals who have reached their piano playing goals. All ages are welcome and my priority is ensuring lessons are inspiring and rewarding to all. Students work toward their personal goals and receive awards for accomplishments. It’s a great experience! I have a degree in music. I am an award winning pianist and organist. I’ve enjoyed playing professionally since I was 12. Music is who I am. I love inspiring all the gifts that playing the piano can bring to your life!

My History

I grew up in one of the poorest parts of Los Angeles County California. Nevertheless my grandmother with her little Social Security Check made sure her 3 grand daughters all had piano lessons. Music was the center of my world. I grew up in a “Musical”. Didn’t everyone?

I remember at 8 years old thinking I must be really stupid. I couldn’t get my hands to do what my brain was telling them to do. However, my 2 piano teachers were both very patient and kind. In addition my siblings and I would perform “recitals” for our parents and anyone visiting and we all got rave reviews! I remember sitting and practicing some measures over and over again till I got it right. Practicing for me was a stress reliever and I started composing my own songs.

By 12 years of age I was playing for gatherings, weddings, funerals, etc. I also was the pianist for Primary (a children’s church group). By now I was getting quite good and was always in demand.

When I turned 13 I asked if I could learn to play the organ. My organ teacher could make an organ sound like an entire orchestra! It was hard at first but my church gave me my very own key to the building so I could go down and practice. I use to giggle to myself sometimes on Sundays thinking about how well “Simon & Garfunkel” or “Led Zeppelin” had sounded coming from my finger tips on that same organ earlier in the week.

At 17 I became the church’s organist which is something I have continued to do all my life. I have always continued composing as well.

When I started college I was torn as to what subject I wanted to get my degree in. I loved psychology, music, and interior design. Later that year my grandmother passed away. I thought about all the sacrifices she had made for me. I thought about who I was deep inside. The answer was music. It’s who I am. So music was the choice I made for college. Because I had perfect pitch I didn’t have many friends in Music Theory or Music Composition. I could hear an entire ballad in my head and write it down in 30 minutes which frustrated my classmates.

Later when I got married we didn’t have a piano in our home. It made me crazy. So I found 40 people who all wanted lessons from me. I went to a piano store and found the most perfect piano! I paid for it myself teaching piano lessons. I have taught piano lessons most of my adult life. I have watched so many other people teach piano lessons. I have listened to students tell me of their experiences with other teachers. I think I have taken from all these experiences and molded my craft into the best possible experience to reach the most desirable outcome.

I think my way of teaching works best because I put my whole heart and soul into every lesson. My students all know how much I care about them. I tell each one of them, because I mean it, I’m not your teacher just during your lesson time, I’m your teacher 24/7. If they have questions they can and do ask me. I am honored to be doing what I love.

I continue to perform, play the organ in church and train other piano teachers on how to teach.

Thanks dad, mom, and granny for your sacrifices and giving me the life I love!