Education


A member of Music Teachers National Association
A member of Georgia Music Teachers Association


Piano and Harp
Private lessons for children and adults

Susan has been teaching for 15 years. Her speciality is working with beginning and intermediate students, children and adults on the harp or the piano. Her private studio is equally split between adult students and children. The children range in age from 7 to 17 years old. She teaches classical, ensemble (duets), blues, jazz and improvisation.

Teaching materials
Susan Ottzen's Student Harp Ensemble
8/7/05 Druid Hills United Methodist Church
Martha Temple, Meghan Bullard, Sue Cielinski, Susan Ottzen
performing french, latin, irish, classical, movie music


Piano - she uses the Alfred Music Publishing piano series (lesson, theory, solo, simply classic, composition). Very thorough and fun too.
Harp - she uses Step by Step, Colorful Adventures, Songs for Sonya, Rhymes and Seasons, Suzuki Book I
Jazz and Blues - Robert Laughlin, New School of American Music
Popular Chord Style Piano
Blues and Boogie
Jamie Aebersold Jazz materials (lead sheets and play along CD's)

Recommended reading for Beginning Adult piano students:

"The Piano" by Noah Adams (announcer for NPR) who began piano at 50, an interesting and informative read (he discovered he needed a teacher to progress).
"Notes from the Green Room, Coping with Stress and Anxiety in Musical Performance" by Paul Salmon and Robert Meyer. A practical guide to handle the nervousness that comes with performing on your first recitals as an adult. Also everything you ever wanted to know about how professional musicians handle and prepare for high stress situations.

Check Susan's news page for upcoming educational programs for musicians of all ages, Including Susan's Aeolian Harp Workshop at the Carlos Museum, Emory University, April 1, 2007.
"Susan's piano instruction and her skill at accommodating the ever-changing stages and moods of childhood have been invaluable. These gifts have helped my daughter to grow in so many ways that reach beyond the piano. My daughter started with Susan at age 6. She was headstrong and afraid of strangers and somewhat unforgiving of even the gentlest of criticisms. Susan forged ahead with great insight and delicacy and, as a result, our child learned to love music and to play an instrument, and to appreciate the more elusive gift of allowing someone to help her. The security that Susan imparted helped her to become a confident performer as well. Many, many thanks. "
Julia, 11 y/o
"My favorite things and moments about being taught piano by Susan is when we would laugh and make jokes about her toys.  The thing I didn’t like was doing my theory.  I wouldn’t ever do it.  But very rarely I would surprise Susan by coming to lesson and having finished my theory.  I had a great time."

Haley 13 y/o
"The most challenging thing about piano lessons with Susan was getting every measure, note and song absolutely correct, without the slightest wrong note.  The thing I liked most was her attitude.  She never gave up on me.  She was consistently trying to help me and that is the best thing about Susan."


For more information, contact Susan