Ken Kalen received a phone call in 1988 from his childhood friend, Bob Tarchara. Would he be interested in teaching piano at Bob’s newly established music store? Ken accepted the job, and 24 years later, he is still a piano teacher at the Stoughton Music Center / Stoughton Music School.

Education/Background: Ken graduated from UMASS Boston where he was President of the UMB Jazz Ensemble. He then went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Education at Harvard University. Along with being a piano teacher, he teaches fourth grade at the J.H. Gibbons School in Stoughton, where he has taught for 24 years. Ken also plays piano professionally and often fills in as organist at his church.

Methodology: Ken has taught students of all ages and abilities. He uses the Thompson and Bastien piano method books as well as poplar and classical selections. His background is in jazz and popular music and he teaches a blend of traditional reading (bass and treble clef) and chord symbol/theory. He believes that with an understanding of how the two are related, a greater level of music comprehension may be reached. He expects that his students will practice each day (times vary with age) so that they might fully realize their musical potential.

Nancy Gallagher has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance, Music Composition from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She has also attended The Berklee College of Music, Tansen Music College, Kolkata, India. Nancy has been teaching music for over 15 years. She has a Music Educator's Certificate, Commonwealth Massachusetts. Nancy has taught in public and private schools in Boston and surrounding areas. Her prior teaching includes General Music, K-12, Director of various Children Choruses, Recorder Ensembles, Assistant Conductor for Middle School Jazz Band, classes in Music Theory, songwriting and Music History. Nancy also teaches private lessons for Flute, Piano and Guitar. Nancy's private students have ranged in ages 4-90 years old, all levels and abilities including Special Needs Students. Nancy also facilitates monthly Music Programs for Special Needs Children in the Brockton ARC Program.

Nancy teaches using a very comprehensive Music Method, with Ear Training, Music Theory, Music Interpretation, and Applied Instrument Technique. She is very student oriented and adjusts each lesson to each individual student.

For Piano Methods she uses Piano Adventures by Faber and Faber, The Alfred Series as lesson guides. For Technique she uses exercises by Hanon, etudes by Czerny along with Scales, Arpeggio, Chord Progressions. For Flute Methods she uses, Moyse, Wagner, Brooke, Wye as lesson guides. For Technique she uses exercises by Taffanel and Gaubert, etudes by Anderson, Kohler and Scales and Arpeggio, Music from Bach to the present day is explored: classical, jazz, pop world and folk music.

Nancy suggests 15-30 minute practice, 3 or 4 days a week for beginners. For Intermediate and Advanced Students she suggests 60 minutes, 3 or 4 days a week.

Natasha Bratslaver has been teaching piano for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in solo performance, chamber music, and accompaniment from Glinka Music College in Ukraine, as well as a Master of Music Degree in piano pedagogy from Saratov Music Conservatory in Russia. Her prior experience includes teaching at children's musical schools, preparing students to perform at recitals and competitions, and giving private lessons. She has also worked as a vocal and chorus accompanist at the Teresa Capucchione school of Performing Arts in Bridgewater, MA and as an accompanist for the Boston Ballet. She believes in a teaching method based on creating a positive, enjoyable, and comfortable atmosphere which brings about creativity and allows the student to fully soak in the joy of learning to play the piano.

She uses a variety of method books (The Alfred's Series, Piano Adventures by Faber and Faber, etc...) as lesson guides while also adapting her lessons according to each student's individual needs and abilities.

To develop the appropriate technique, students will play various technical study pieces (Etudes by Czerny, Lemoine and others; as well as Scale, Arpeggio, Chord Progressions, and other exercises).

To see significant progress, she recommends the following practice schedule(s):
Beginners: 30 min. per day, minimum 3-4 days per week (can vary by age).
Intermediate and advanced students: at least 60 min. per day, for a minimum of 3-4 days per week (can vary by age).