Susan Grove, Instructor, Composer, Performer.

Lucky to be born in a musical family, I wrote my first piano composition at eight and devoured all the classical and popular music I could find. Folks began asking me to play shows and weddings at the age of twelve. For a few years I studied classical and Spanish guitar with Lauro Rico, a nationally famous guitarist. Mr. Rico invited me to go on tour with him when I turned eighteen. Instead, I decided to study piano and improvisation. In college I studied with Ellen Herrmann, protege of concert pianist Rudolf Ganz. Still active as a performer and composer, teaching is my favorite activity! I just love creating games, challenges, and rewards for my students. I maintain a thriving studio in northeast Phoenix and at Arcadia Music Academy.

Student Success Stories Lance Horne transferred to my studio when he was ten. During that first year I encouraged him to try his hand at composing. Just three months later he was awarded 3rd place in the national division of the CPP Belwin Composition Contest. Under my tutelage Lance composed and performed a musical in his 6th grade. Lance graduated from Juilliard School and is now a teacher at Columbia, an arranger for the Broadway play Little Women, and winner of an Emmy Award for song writing. Upon winning his Emmy, he called to thank me for getting him started in composition. Milton Vellon caught the music bug on the day I played Maple Leaf Rag for him. He began to practice three hours a day. At 17, he performed the Rachmaninoff Concerto #2, 2nd movement. Milton became an elite piano store featured concert artist. Many parents say their children are playing much better and loving it more than with previous teachers. Students thrive as they develop their skills and win awards. Practice is often the first thing they want to do when they get home from school.

Uniquely Motivating to Students The fun games and challenges I design make learning music performance and theory virtually painless! For example, my Summer 2009 Challenge rewards progress with a pizza party at Organ Stop Pizza. For a sight-reading medallion, students earn points by counting rhythms and playing a new piece correctly at first sight.

Referrals and Comments
Piano has done more for our son than all his other activities. Kati Long, (602) 923-1545

You push him just enough but you make it fun. He has grown in ways I could not have imagined. Kate Behrens, (602) 741-3842

Susan is a consummate musician! Dr. Christopher Samuel, (602) 678-1063