About Erica
1998: When I was a little, my grandparents took care of me while my parents worked. At their house sat my great-grandmother’s piano, which was purchased with the money saved from selling chicken eggs back in the 1950s. I would often sit down at the piano and plunk the keys, wishing I knew how to play. My grandmother saw that I had a desire to learn how to play, so my family got me on a local piano teacher’s waitlist.
2002-2012: I started taking piano lessons from Rita Farris back in 2002. I had just started the second grade and was so excited to learn how to play piano. Rita was an absolute gem; she was patient, kind, and cared about every single student. If you asked her to come to an event, she was there. Rita encouraged me to attend a piano camp when entering high school and that is when I discovered that I wanted to go to college to study how to become a music teacher.
2017-2023: I attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and studied Choral and General Music Education and received a certificate in Piano Accompanying. Piano was my primary instrument that I studied and Rita showed up for all of my piano recitals as well as musicals and operas I was the rehearsal pianist for. I graduated in December 2017.
2012-2016: I taught 5th-12th Grade Choir for 3 1/2 years in the Johnson Creek School District and 5th and 6th grade Choir in the Oregon School District for 4 years. While teaching, I pursued a Masters Degree in Music Education from UW-Madison and graduated in May 2023.
2024: Sadly, Rita Farris passed away after a brief illness in the beginning of 2024. I decided to leave teaching and open my piano studio in honor of her. I wouldn’t be the music educator I am today if it weren’t for her. I hope to be you or your child’s Rita Farris; a patient, caring, and kind piano teacher who will strive to help you or your child love to play the piano.