About Natalie

Natalie Campbell studied music at the University of Utah where she earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance. She was a four-year recipient of the music department’s Gerald R. Tracy scholarship. Natalie’s teachers at the university included Dr. Susan Duehlmeier and Gladys Gladstone Rosenberg. While at the University Natalie accompanied the Concert Chorale and taught on the Piano Preparatory Division Faculty teaching private piano lessons and Kindermusik classes. In 1991 Natalie was the winner of the University of Utah Piano Division Concerto Competition and performed with the University’s Orchestra, and in 1992 Natalie won first place in the Senior Division of the Utah State Fair Music Competition. Natalie has since been both piano and organ accompanist for numerous choirs including the Salt Lake Symphonic Choir and the Utah Voices choir. Currently she maintains a full piano studio of private students as well as students in “Let’s Play Music” group piano classes. She also works as adjunct faculty at Snow College where she teaches private piano lessons and is the head of the Piano Area. She and her husband Todd, the band teacher at Woods Cross High School, are the parents of five musical children.

I Believe...

My approach to the study of the piano…

I believe that children have one chance to learn to play the piano.
I believe a child’s “one chance” to learn to play the piano starts when they are very young, when the brain is most ready to learn, with music lessons starting between the ages of 4 and 8.
I believe it is critical to teach the concepts of beat and rhythm, singing and pitch, music reading the theory, finger development and technique, and to have enjoyable musical experiences from the very beginning of piano study.
I believe correct habits are best established when mom and/or dad is involved by attending lessons and supporting daily at-home practice.
I believe that learning to play the piano requires a similar amount of time (many years) and a similar consistency (every day) as it takes to learn to speak, read, write or learn math or science.
I believe the study of piano should be constant and consistent from the time lessons begin and should continue throughout the years of formal education.
I believe the skill of playing the piano with ability and artistry can be achieved by anyone who practices consistently and correctly.
I believe that I, the parent, and the student must each put forth equal effort to the study of piano.
I believe that when one member of the music relationship triangle is not putting forth equal effort it is unfair to the others in the triangle and results in less progress.
I believe that parents should ensure that students practice the piano every day, much like parents ensure that their children attend school every day.
I believe that musicality is more quickly and masterfully developed when a child listens to classical music every day.
I believe that students who practice consistently each day are motivated by their personal achievements and the music they can create and they learn to enjoy and even love playing the piano.

If you embrace my approach, please join me.

My Teaching

I have taught piano lessons for 30 years. My wish for all children is that they would fall in love with music by hearing it, singing it and dancing to it before ever starting formal piano lessons. That is why I am so happy to offer “Let’s Play Music” classes as the initial step into my studio.

Throughout my teaching career it has been my quest to seek out the best methods for teaching the art of playing the piano, beginning with my university studies, receiving Bachelors and Masters degrees in piano performance from the University of Utah, and continuing with Suzuki Piano Method, Kindermusik, and Let's Play Music training. Through my years of teaching I have been able to work with students starting at very young ages. My teaching motto for naturally and effectively training children’s minds and bodies for a lifetime of music-making is “Right From the Start!” meaning that when children are exposed to the sounds of music “right from the start” of their young life and then taught with the best or “right” music teaching methods from the start of formal lessons, they quickly and joyfully learn to play the piano.

I hope your wish is the same as mine in developing your child’s love of music and beginning their music education “Right From the Start” with a “Let’s Play Music” class in my studio.