fantastic
teacher.
She's very
good about
working with
students before
and after class.
With an overwhelming number of nominations, Dawn Bisharat McDonald was inducted into the Keyboard Encounters 'Hall of Fame' last summer. Dawn has been teaching at Parramore Music in Gainesville, Florida since 1995.
Yamaha Keyboard Division District
Manger, Chris Anderson and Dawn McDonald
One factor that earned Dawn this distinction is that her efforts go beyond just teaching music to the students. "She doesn't only focus on the techniques and mechanics of playing but also teaches her students how to be expressive," explained Jody Parramore of Parramore Music. "You don't find that quality in every teacher."
Currently, there are approximately 30 participants in Parramore's program and, they have nothing but praise for their teacher. "She's a fantastic teacher," said student Betty Scott.
"I had no musical background and couldn't read a note of music--with any other teacher I would have given up," commented Charles Goodman, a student of Dawn's since February. "Now I have a love for the piano."
Dawn works on various Clavinova models and says that teaching with these pianos allows her to spend more quality time with her students. "The back up offered from the disk is great," she said. "It frees me up so that I can move around the room and work individually with each student."
Students also enjoy learning on the Clavinova. "They come in a half hour early just so that they can practice with the headphones," she continued.
"I love the Clavinova," replied student Jenny Minardi. "The disks are a lot of fun and you can change voices and get incredible sound. I want one really bad!"
Charles Goodman did purchase a Clavinova. "I looked at pianos at several different stores and bought a Clavinova from Parramore. The service I got from them really sold me," replied Charles. "I couldn't play at all, so when they put in the disk and said that I could play, I didn't believe them. Then I sat down to the guide lamps and yelled--I am playing the piano!"
Dawn began studying music at the age of five and later studied chamber music along with her two brothers. The siblings formed the Bisharat Trio and performed for many prestigious events in Southern California. Dawn taught in Manhattan for nine years and privately in Paris, France before being trained as a Keyboard Encounters teacher in August of 1995.
