Lessons Offered
Piano, Music
Where are Lessons Offered
In Teacher Studio
In Student Home
About Me
A native Houstonian, Starla Jackson began performing professionally at the age of 11. She presented her first class of piano students in recital at age 15.
While attending Montana State University, she co-founded the Intermountain Opera Company with neighbor and Metropolitan Opera baritone Pablo Elvira. After a premiere performance of "La Traviata," the company still exists today.
Mrs. Jackson chaired the Piano Department at Blinn College in Brenham, TX where she also served as staff accompanist.
She has performed with vocal and instrumental soloists and ensembles throughout the nation. She continues to perform as a soloist in a variety of venues including popular and sacred music.
Starla's great love is music theater. She has served as rehearsal accompanist and music director for numerous regional theater productions. Her most recent work in this field was with Houston Grand Opera.
Despite these varied musical endeavors, Mrs. Jackson has taught 8-80 year-olds in her private piano studio for 35 years.
My Musical Education Background
Bachelor of Music Education (1978)
Montana State University
Piano Studio Teaching
Choral & Instrumental Conducting
Master of Liberal Arts (1991)
Houston Baptist University
Music History
English Literature
Master of Music (1992)
University of Houston
Piano Pedagogy
Doctor of Musical Arts
University of Houston
Musicology (9 hours)
Genres and Subjects Taught
Although each student's course of study is unique, the following general curriculum provides all students with a comprehensive musical background in order to prepare them for whatever future musical endeavors they wish to pursue.
*METHOD BOOKS/SOLO BOOKS teach students to read music fluently in a logical, progressive manner.
*SHEET MUSIC is a student favorite. It provides students the general satisfaction of completing an entire musical unit in a relatively short period of time--a real motivator!
*THEORY WORKBOOKS reinforce the concepts a student has mastered within a written format.
*POPULAR MUSIC is usually the most enjoyable aspect of study. The child who learns to play popular music becomes the adult who continues to play the piano for a lifetime.
*SIMPLIFIED CLASSICS are arrangements of classics with altered notation for ease of playing. These provide an opporunity to become familiar with musical masterpieces during early study.
*CLASSICS are original piano works by historically recognized composers. These compositions are the most difficult and are not assigned until the student has mastered the fundamentals of reading music to the required degree.
Lesson Rates
Tuition is billed monthly at a rate of $70 per month for 45-minute weekly lessons, and $90 per month for 60-minute lessons. Tuition is based on a 12-month calendar, allowing for 7 yearly absences on holidays and summer vacation. Advance notification of student absences is a courtesy but will not result in tuition deduction, credits, or refunds. Absences due to protracted illness may be made up at the teacher's discretion. Please bring any music you already own to the first lesson or consultation for evaluation. Any music provided by the instructor is billed by statement at cost plus sales tax and shipping.
Ages / Skill Levels Taught
Because of the degree of self-discipline and the reading skill level required, students are not accepted until they reach the third grade. Parents, SAVE YOUR MONEY! Younger is NOT better.
BEGINNER - INTERMEDIATE - EARLY ADVANCED
I welcome:
(1) Transfer students at all skill levels
(2) Students who have studied and quit
(3) Older Beginners-It's never too late!
(4) Adult Beginners-It's NEVER too late!!
My Certifications and Awards
Certification in Piano and Theory, National Music Teachers Assn.
Texas Music Teachers Association
Bronze Medal, International Bach Recording Competition 1985
Phi Kappa Phi, Academic Honorary 1978
Mensa member 1983
Outstanding Young Woman of America 1989
Washington County Arts Achievement Award 1990
Woman of the Year 1992
Who's Who in America 2003
Who's Who in Education 2004
Who's Who in Entertainment 2005
Service Area
Student Reviews
Dr. R
Madisonville, TX
I've been taking piano lessons from Starla for five months. I've made more progress than I could ever have imagined possible! I am a public school administrator and an adjunct professor in education, and I fully appreciate how Starla teaches basics and then builds upon those basics in our lessons. She identifies my weaknesses and shows me how to build up those areas, and develops my strengths to create rapid progress. Starla tailors the lessons to my musical interests. She has a wonderful manner with students and conducts lessons with humor and respect. Starla is able to create a comfortable learning environment while also getting the most out of me. In other words, she is a true teacher. I feel lucky to have Starla as my piano teacher and I recommend her to any adult student or parent of a young musician.
Annette G
Huntsville, TX
My name is Guadalupe Corona. My 11-year old plays the flute and also wanted to learn piano. We were lucky to find Miss Starla. Annette only has a keyboard but has learned so much piano I will buy her a used one this summer. The band director thinks Starla has helped Annette's flute playing and she will skip a grade in band. I have never seen my child so excited about anything. We both love Miss Starla and what she has done for us.
Paula K
Huntsville, TX
Mrs. Jackson took my daughter Paula, age 12, as a transfer student. I found Paula had not really learned to read music after 4 years of lessons with another teacher who charged much more. Paula's music reading skills improved dramatically in the past year, and she is becoming a good sight-reader also. I admire Mrs. Jackson's priority of teaching her students to read notes on their own. She makes lessons enjoyable too. Paula now plans to stick with her lessons through high school, rather than quitting.