“My daughter has taken lessons from Sharon Butler for 4 years. I highly recommend Sharon as a piano teacher.
When I was young, I took piano lessons for 10 years. Playing the piano was a big part of my childhood and when it came time to look for a teacher, I knew exactly the type of teacher I wanted to find. I interviewed about 15 people before I met Sharon. After meeting her, I knew we had “struck gold”. Sharon’s background as a music major and professional musician was more than I had hoped to find. Most of the people I had spoken to were people who dabbled in piano on the side, trying to make a little extra money. Sharon was a “real” musician.
Sharon has taught my daughter to play beautifully, as well as to understand the theory behind what she is playing. She has spent time with different styles of music, teaching specific concepts with each. She has always tried to give my daughter choices in the type of music she plays, so that my daughter learns while enjoying the music she is playing. Through it all, she emphasized good technique and has always been full of praise. I feel that by working with Sharon, my daughter has not only learned to play the piano, but has truly become a musician.
I highly recommend Sharon as a piano teacher without any reservations.”
“My experience with Sharon Butler and her talents for music and directing travel two paths. As the Music Director of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, Sharon has opened our family’s eyes and ears to the beauty and variety of music. She taught many in the parish family to sing, working with adult and children’s choirs. Sharon arranged and recorded accompaniment music for the children’s choir using a MIDI computer system, investing hours of her time with wonderful results in music.
Sharon teaches my daughter piano with grace and humor, fortified with years of experience and education. While instilling the basic fundamentals of piano and music, Sharon is devoted to her students succeeding while enjoying the piano.”
“Please allow this to serve as a professional and personal reference for Sharon S. Butler, Music Director.
In the year that I have known Mrs. Butler, she has instructed my eight year old daughter to become an extremely disciplined and talented piano player. Ms. Butler has instilled in her an appreciaion for music and the joy of playing. Sharon and my daughter have developed a wonderful teacher-student relationship which has enhanced her learning experience.
On a personal level, I have found Sharon to be an extremely kind and compassionate lady, whose presence in our lives helped to ease the pain of losing a loved one. My daughter played “Silent Night” in my Mother’s honor at her memorial service. For this unforgettable tribute, I am so grateful to Sharon for opening up the world of music to my daughter for my entire family to enjoy.
I would personally and professionally recommend Sharon S. Butler for any position that requires a passion for music and a compassion for people.”
“I met Sharon Butler roughly three years ago when she moved to our community with her husband Gary and her children. The Boy Scouts of America to help organize the Penn-Cambria chapter had transferred Gary to the area. The timing was perfect since Saint Michael’s Church was in need of a music director.
Sharon stepped into a difficult situation at Saint Michael’s, where some animosity still lingered because of Sharon’s predecessor. There was conflict within the choir, there weren’t enough cantors and the organ was in disrepair. However, with patience, persistence and good humor, Sharon was able to bring the choir together, replace the organ and recruit more cantors. She also introduced many new hymns to the parish, which have become regular favorites. Because of her position in the community she’s also been a resource for organizations in need of musicians looking for exposure and an opportunity to earn extra income.
On a personal note, I’m sad to see Sharon leave. Her cheerful disposition and sense of humor will be greatly missed. I’ve had plenty of opportunity to get to know Sharon and her family outside of the church and their departure will be a loss for the whole community. We understand why they have to go but the next music director will definitely have a tough act to follow.”
“It has been my pleasure and privilege to know Ms. Sharon Butler as student and colleague for nearly two years. Sharon has studied the Art and Skill of Singing with me at the Academy of Sacred Music in Altoona, PA. She has also performed as my keyboard accompanist on occasion.
Sharon has impressed me with her musical knowledge and her consistent desire to enhance her skills. Sharon’s keyboard skills are excellent. Our vocal work together has been aimed at rebuilding and strengtening her vocal ability, which had been stifled due to serious oral reconstruction. Sharon has always spoken of her musical work in the Church as a source of inspiration. I believe her to be diligent in that work and a valued component of the parish music program.
I have also seen Sharon as a dedicated wife and mother. I believe she is a woman of intelligence, initiative, and integrity.”
“I am honored to share with you the following recommendation for Sharon Butler. My son, Garett, has been studying piano under the direction of Sharon Butler since March of 2000. I have found Sharon to be a very honest and dedicated teacher. My two nieces also study piano with Sharon and I marvel at the individualized approach she takes with each student.
Sharon is very energetic and enthusiastic. She is very sensitive to the needs of her students and provides an endless amount of encouragement. Sharon is also a very talented individual as is evident in the sample pieces she plays for the students. Her talents especially come to light as she carefully structures each student’s lesson based on their ability.
I have found Sharon to be an above average teacher. She incorporates musicianship as well as theory into each lesson. I was quite impressed when she began teaching technique from the very first lesson.
Sharon always welcomed my presence at the children’s practices, therefore, I observed first hand the extra mile she was willing to take in order for her students to succeed. Often times she would spend an extra ten to fifteen minutes of her own time clarifying troubled spots.
Sharon conveys high expectations of the students and is quick to point out when a student falls short. The discipline instilled by Sharon has not only carried over into perfecting my son’s music ability, but has positively improved his personal life and his academic performance.
I highly recommend Sharon Butler.”
“During the past two years in which I have known and worked with Mrs. Butler, I have found her to be a fine and sensitive musician. Her energetic style, attention to detail and commitment to community will make her an asset to your parish community.”
“It is wonderful to have an opportunity to report my experience and observations regarding Sharon S. Butler. My viewpoint is that of a parishioner and later a student of Sharon’s. My first observations are those of a listening parishioner at Saint Michael’s parish where she has directed the music for several years.
My musical judgments are based on this background: As a child I did study piano, as a college student I sang in the college choir at Sant Vincent, Latrobe, Pennsylvania for two years, and then as adult was an audience-only until I retired. But I couldn’t keep away from music. In the year 2000 I received some help from Sharon with singing choral music. Then I requested to become one of her students and resumed piano lessons with her after my personal piano hiatus of forty plus years.
As the director of the parish music her skills as a director were a positive addition for our parish. Her skills as a manager in recruiting and then melding diverse talents and personalities to produce music and a fine program, are to be commended.
Her talents as a musician and teacher are formidable. She personally is too modest, tending to under estimate her talents and skills. As a person she has a warm pleasant personality and brings to music her love of music that she enthusiastically shares. She is the antithesis of the reserved, aloof, or distant director, musician, or artist. With her technical training she brings to teaching an acuity that rapidly sees the students weaknesses and is able to direct improvement. The children she has as students have a gentle teacher. Thankfully as a student I can report that she is patient.”
“Sharon Butler has been my neighbor and my daughter Emily’s Piano Teacher for 16 months. We have been very satisfied and happy with her as both a teacher and also a neighbor / friend.
She demonstrates extremely high morals and expectations. My daughter has progressed and grown as a piano student in the last year and a half under the coaching of Sharon. The professionalism that she showed at the recital last year is an example of the way she conducts her business. We were very impressed with the show and the student’s abilities.
She has always been accommodating to our crazy family schedule. She treats Emily with respect and gives her great guidance.
I have come to admire Sharon and really appreciate her input. She is a very talented, gifted musician and teacher.
We will continue using Sharon as Emily’s piano teacher as long as Emily continues to play.”
“It is with great pleasure that I recommend Sharon Butler as an outstanding Music Instructor.
Ms. Butler taught my daughter for one year. Her primary teaching responsibilities for my daughter was voice and theory. She was one of the best teachers we have ever had in the area of music, and when my daughter’s calendar became more demanding we were deeply saddened she had to stop. In the time my daughter attended she developed a strong and solid foundation that has carried forward. Currently my daughter is in competition for national choir. As she has gone through each stage of competition I am amazed at the compliments she has received for her breathing technique and tonal quality. I owe this to Ms. Butler’s solid foundation that she instills in her students. Ms. Butler is creative, deeply conscientious, professional, and hard-working. She will go the extra mile and pulls the best out of her students.
I strongly recommend her and am sure that you will be satisfied with her performance in getting the best from your child.”
“I would like to thank you for your continued enthusiasm working with Lauren during the past year. Prior to becoming your student, Lauren spent a year with another instructor and got very little out of it. Under your instruction and guidance we have seen her skill level increase dramatically. I attribute her achievement to your ability to effectively evaluate her strengths and weakness. You create weekly lesson plans that reinforce the abilities she has as well as stretch her capabilities and allow her to grow.
As a parent, I am both impressed and appreciative of the way you have taken the time to get to know Lauren and have adapted your teaching style accordingly. Your students are lucky to have such a dedicated and committed teacher.
Our family was referred to your school by the parent of one of your current students, and I would certainly not hesitate to do the same!”
“It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation on behalf of Sharon Butler. My daughter, Kaitlyn, is a voice and piano student under Sharon’s instruction. Kaitlyn, now in her second year, has made tremendous progress with Sharon’s guidance. She has improved in every respect including, technique, stage presence and enthusiasm for learning.
The progress that she made during her time with Sharon as a mentor has far exceeded my expectations. Not only has my daughter grown as a musician she has gained self-confidence.
Sharon has been able to impart her enthusiasm and love of singing and playing the piano onto my daughter and I am so thankful to have such a wonderful role model in Kaitlyn’s life.
I respect Sharon for many of her qualities but most of all because she is able to connect with her students and customize their lessons accoding to their strengths. Sharon is a very positive and encouraging teacher who is able to make confident, self-motivated musicians out of her students. I highly recommend Sharon as a piano and voice instructor.”
“Like many parents when it came to choose a music teacher for our daughter Elena to take piano lessons, we networked with trusted friends. One of the names that came up, with very high praise was Sharon Butler, so we decided to investigate further.
We were very impressed at first with her knowledge, training style and instruments. As time went on we learned that Sharon’s teaching talents extended beyone piano to singing which our Elena was very interested in. We also came to learn that she can teach other intstruments which was equally impressive.
What I grew to appreciate was how well she understood the type of student she had in Elena and how to be firm, yet flexible, critical, yet fair. This has been very important in keeping Elena focused and motivated. As a result I have seen considerable growth and improvement in her piano and singing skills over the last two years.
I was able to see her impact on her other students when they had their recital. Not only did all of her students perform well but they also performed well together which says a lot about her ability to manage multiple talents and personalities.
Overall I would say that the investment in music instruction for a child is a unique one that can help kids in ways that sports or other activities can’t so finding an instructor that keeps a child engaged in that forum has great returns academically and character wise. Sharon’s teaching style has been very valuable in that respect and for that we are very grateful.
Lastly, I would recommend Sharon for all the above reasons. I would also recommend her because I am the son of two prior generations of piano and guitar teachers, so I took the decision of who to teach my daughter seriously. Sharon has exceeded my expectations in all those areas and our family is very appreciative to see that tradition of piano playing and singing will carry on to a fourth generation.”
“It was a great pleasure to visit with you when you traveled to Round Rock recently. During that time and during the follow-up visit after the piano returned to your house, it was evident that you possess an inherent understanding of how a piano action works and what it should do. Although you do not have technical training (piano building), you seem to know instinctively not only how a piano and its action should perform, but also what technical procedures are in the best interests of the instrument. We found that the traits that you expect from a high class piano such as your Bosendorfer are accurate and we are sorry you had such trouble over the years getting technicians to understand and recognize what you required.”
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