Teaching Philosophy
• Foremost, to develop and nurture a lifelong love of music
• To guide students in self-discovery through the development of critical thinking, and aural, visual and kinesthetic awareness
• To encourage performance as a life skill that students will be able to apply in other areas of their lives
Biography
Mary Beth Barteau Shaffer has served on the faculties of Grinnell College, The University of Iowa, Northwestern College, the University of St. Thomas, the University of Denver Lamont Summer Academy and Piano Preparatory Program, Rocky Ridge Music Center, and Pikes Peak Community College. She co-founded the Lamont Summer Academy in 2007, and recently retired as director of the program in 2017.
Her students have garnered awards in many competitions and festivals, including the MTNA Competitions and various state and local events including the Schubert Club, Thursday Musical and Beethoven Club Auditions; the CSU-Pueblo Keyboard Arts, Quad Cities Mozart, and Northeast Missouri State Piano Festivals. Her students have performed with the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, Des Moines Symphony, the Fort Dodge Symphony, the Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra, the Rocky Ridge Chamber Orchestra, and on “From the Top.” Additionally, her students are very active in non-competitive festivals and community outreach service performances.
Ms. Shaffer has performed throughout the United States as a soloist and collaborative musician with numerous artists, including recitals with faculty from The University of Iowa, Grinnell College, Northwestern College, University of Denver Lamont School of Music, Colorado College, and with members of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.
She is also an experienced adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States. Her articles on piano technique have been published in Keyboard Companion magazine. She has held several state and local offices in both the Music Teachers National Association and the National Federation of Music Clubs in Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa and Arizona, and she is currently the West Central Division Director-elect of MTNA. In 1994, she was awarded the Master Teacher Certificate by the Music Teachers National Association and was recognized as the 2019 Teacher of the Year by the Colorado State Music Teachers Association.
Ms. Shaffer currently resides in Mesa, Arizona, where she maintains a private teaching and collaborative piano studio. She enjoys teaching enthusiastic young pianists of all ages and levels of ability.
EVMTA (East Valley Music Teachers' Association), ASMTA (Arizona State Music Teachers' Association)
Everton Terrace and Elliott
Beginner thru Advanced
Keyboards
Classical, Ensemble, Music Theory
Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek