Piano Studio FortEtude

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Piano Studio FortEtude PIANO lessons for all ages, young and old! Hello and welcome to Piano Studio FortEtude. My name is Nikki Richards Szczesniak. Pearson School Board.

I am a graduate of McGill University (Montreal, Canada) and have over 30 years of experience as an educator and teacher with students of all ages. I am from the Montreal area in Quebec (Canada) where I've worked as a private educator and business owner, as well as an integration aide and substitute teacher with the Lester B. I teach piano and also English / French as Second Languages, plus I tutor

in math. I previously homeschooled for 23 years. My musical journey began early in life with formal piano and voice training in Montreal (Canada) and London (England) during my childhood. Later, I received certification in piano studies from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto, Canada). I also took violin lessons in my youth and have had many years of experience participating in choirs, musical theater productions, and community service events. I teach an integrated music program that includes the development of technique, artistry, theory, listening and sight-reading. My students are between 4 and 70 years old, and they all benefit from the fun of playing duets with me! 🎹 🎶 (You might enjoy clicking on the Video tab to watch a number of performances and duets)

As a general guide, a weekly 30-minute lesson is ideal for a beginner aged 4 to 9. For teens and adults, or students registered in semi-private lessons, a weekly 45 or 60-minute class is recommended. All my students are encouraged to practice their songs, piano technique, and exercises during the week between lessons. For current rates and availability, please send a request to [email protected], and I will be happy to reply with all the details! Please note that my availability is quite limited. First come, first served! I receive admissions on a rolling basis. Here's a little 🎹 performance I'm sharing for your enjoyment. 😊 https://fb.watch/oelRUivmlP/

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message. References available! Thanks for visiting this page. Hope to hear from you soon. Nikki Richards Szczesniak (pronounced SEEZ 'nak)
Piano Studio FortEtude
[email protected]

22/03/2026

A little video with my youngest beginner piano student, 4-year old Ruby, who loves her piano lessons (and being recorded at the same time ...😆) 🎹 🎶

Yesssssss! 🎯 🎹 🎶
14/03/2026

Yesssssss! 🎯 🎹 🎶

Music lessons “grow” a child’s brain by physically altering its structure and accelerating the maturation of neural pathways, particularly those responsible for sound processing, motor control and communication between the brain’s hemispheres. These changes are a result of neuroplasticity - the brain’s ability to reorganize itself in response to intensive multisensory and motor demands.

To elaborate, researchers using MRI scans has shown that even as little as 15 months of musical training can lead to visible structural changes in a young child’s brain:

🧠Corpus Callosum: The bridge of nerve fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain becomes larger and more robust. This enhances communication between different brain regions, improving overall coordination and problem-solving.

🧠Motor Cortex: Areas of the brain that control finger movements (the precentral gyrus) show greater relative size expansion, especially in children playing instruments like the piano or violin that require high manual dexterity.

🧠Auditory Cortex: Music training accelerates the development of the auditory pathway, helping the brain process sounds, pitches, and rhythms more accurately and efficiently.

The structural “growth” translates into several enhanced cognitive abilities, often referred to as “far transfer” skills. Because music and language share similar neural pathways, music lessons can speed up language acquisition, reading skills, and the ability to detect subtle differences in speech.

Learning to play an instrument is a “full body workout” for the brain that strengthens working memory (holding and manipulating information) and increases the attention span. The pattern recognition, counting, and understanding of fractions (rhythm/meter) involved in music are directly transferable to mathematical problem-solving. Music training also improves the brain’s ability to plan, organize and complete tasks.

These neural enhances are most profound when training begins during “sensitive periods” (typically before age 7), but they can provide lifelong benefits.

PMID: 19279238

20/05/2025

Here is another post from my Spring Student Piano Recital held on May 16, 2025. Way to go, Colton! 🎹😊 You did really well at your first recital. 🤩 Keep up the good work!! 🎶👏

Send a message to learn more

25/09/2024

"Banana Split", performed with another one of my beginner students. 🎹 😍 Keep up the good work, Camia !! 👏

25/09/2024

"Ode to Joy" by Beethoven, performed with one of my very keen beginner students, Obadiah. Way to go! 🎹 😍

25/09/2024

"Ferris Wheel" performed with one of my piano students, Penelope. 🎹 Well done! 🤩👏

25/09/2024

"Polovtsian Dance (No. 17)" by Alexander Borodin, performed with one of my piano students, Jace. Beautifully interpreted. 🥰 Enjoy! 🎹 🎶

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