About Janet Toomes

"For me, teaching piano is far more than a job. There is nothing  as important and exciting as investing in the life of a child; planting the love of music in them, nurturing their talent and watching them grow"

Bio

Janet Toomes has over 20 years experience teaching students as young as age of 3.  Ms. Toomes studied piano at Hope College where she earned her BA. She earned teaching certifications from the Levine School in Washington, DC and the Suzuki Association of the Americas where she has registered piano pedagogy training with Jeanne Luedke, Valerie Lloyd-Watts and Sue Vasquez. She also studied group theory piano pedagogy with Michiko Yurko (author of Music Mind Games) and piano performance with Anthony Kooiker, Betty Scott and Brian Ganz.

In addition to weekly Individual lessons, Ms. Toomes' program includes monthly group theory and performance classes. She also teaches parent education classes to all Suzuki parents/home coaches. These classes teach essential elements which prepare parents to support the teacher's plan for their student at home. 

Ms. Toomes' program focuses on the individual student learning at their own pace. Well qualified families will have an actively involved support parent or home coach combined with a positive learning environment at home.

​Ms. Toomes began teaching piano at age 14 in Naperville, IL under the guidance of her teacher, Betty Scott. She eventually ran a large piano studio in the Washington, DC area for a number of years before starting an orchestra management career. For the next 22 years, she was privileged to work in orchestra personnel management with some of the finest US symphony orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony and San Antonio Symphony.  Most recently Ms. Toomes served as Orchestra Personnel Manager for the San Antonio Symphony in San Antonio, TX until its' dissolution in June of 2022.

Her students participate in National Piano Guild auditions, local music club recitals and competitions. One of her previous students performed as piano soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra on the Kennedy Center Concert Hall stage. 

Ms. Toomes is a member of MTNA, SAMTA and SAA.  She is active as piano accompanist in the San Antonio area and serves as studio accompanist for the Aimee (Toomes) Lopez Violin Studio. 

"I strongly believe that musical talent is not reserved for a few extraordinary individuals but that talent can be taught through a nurturing and encouraging environment. Students can learn skill by skill, one element building upon the other until mastery of something difficult is now well within reach."

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