Jackie Healey

I love children, teaching and music! I achieved a Masters in Teaching in Education from Central Washington University in 2021 and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Pedagogy from BYU Provo, UT with an emphasis in both piano and voice. I am currently teaching over 200 music students at my local elementary school in addition to my private students. I enjoy learning and further honing my skills. I have studied with master teachers Jacki Block, Karlyn Brett, Diana Galindo, Gretchen Smith Brown, Cleo Brimhall, David Glen Hatch, and Kristine Tait (Kristine studied with Dr. Kataoka and Jane Tan).  I have been teaching for over 25 years, served as Institute Coordinator securing artists and acts to perform for Suzuki youth and children, as well as Suzuki Area Chair, creating playing and learning opportunites for students and parent talks for families.  My students have performed in the Music Teachers National Association (MNTA) efestival with outstanding scores and in the 5 and 10 piano Suzuki Celebration concerts. At an early age I began learning to play the piano using the Suzuki method. Growing up I competed in my community, including the International Jr. Gina Bachauer Piano Competition. I spent 3 weeks performing in Europe on a Great German Composers Tour at age 17 —I even played Schumann’s Aufschwung (Soaring), Fantasiestück Op. 12 inside the gazebo from the Sound of Music! I believe every child can learn whatever their age!

Just as every child learns to speak a native language, so can every child learn to speak —and play or sing, a musical language. That’s what the Suzuki method, named for its founder the violinist, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki of Japan, upholds. Each student has high ability. I emphasize tone, technique and enlist lots of parental involvement to gain high ability while making music integral and fun.

Students learn a variety of technical skills in music lessons such as deep tone, and correct technique, however, they may also learn crucial life skills such as discipline, tenacity, grit, focus, goal-setting, creativity, a love for the arts and an ear for good music among many other things. It is exciting to continue learning because it is so limitless!