The opportunity to work with Renée is quite literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for many reasons. Learning for me has always been a challenge due to ADHD, but learning music with Renee helped me tap into the creative side of my brain and learn how to always get done what needed to be done. She is not only patient, but she is also loving, caring, and disciplined. Learning piano with Renée is one of the best decisions any young person or even adult could make because all the wonderful things she has to offer that make her one of a kind.
–Richard G. 19 years old
I enjoy studying piano with Mrs. LaBonte because she is nice. She helps me pick pieces I would like to learn and engages with me to help me find pieces that challenge me just enough to help me get to the next level. Mrs. LaBonte is an amazing piano teacher. She inspires me to work hard and bring my best to my piano everyday. I have studied with her for over two years and I have learned so much. She makes me smile when I think about piano.
–Alexandra S. 11 years old
Mrs. LaBonte challenges you in a way that makes practicing feel enjoyable and accomplishing. After mastering a song with her help, you emerge with new skills and techniques that you can apply to songs in the future.
-Phillip Z. 13 years old
Music is a language that can express more than any language on Earth can. The pieces one chooses to play tells a lot about an individual, and the way they play them tells even more. Furthermore, anyone who wishes to can make and play music, whether on a physical instrument, or electronically. Therefore, Music must be for everyone! I feel so blessed that I am able to study music under my wonderful teacher Renée LaBonte. I have grown much as a musician under her guidance.
-Diego B. 12 years old
When I first started, i didn’t know how to play, but Mrs. LaBonte is so much fun and made me want to learn. I’ve learned several songs over a few months and become excited about playing on my own. I’ve even learned a lot over our Zoom lessons!
–Blythe R. 7 years old
I’ve played piano for 6 years and have been learning from Renée for 4 years. I have progressed from playing simple pieces to famous classical works with her. For example, I am learning Chopin’s Nocturne in Eb Maj. Op. 9 No. 2, and J. S. Bach’s Prelude No. 1 from the Well-Tempered Clavichord. Trust me, you’ve probably heard of them.
I had 2 other piano teachers before I met with Renée. From my personal decision, I think she was the best out of the 3. She gave me (and still is) challenging pieces with technical and sometimes melodic aspects. I know that I love pieces that have a beautiful melody line that I can swell and play with the tempo (no wonder I love Chopin’s Nocturnes!). Renée has seen that, and every year, she finds 2 or 3 pieces like that, and it takes all of my efforts not to play them with so much ritard that I sometimes leave the tempo markings just hanging there. Still, I love playing these pieces so much!
I have been playing in 2 competitions (well, not really) for a couple of years now, thanks to Renée. I play some pieces to judges – for Student Day I play 3, and for Guild I play 10. These judges give how I played a score based on different aspects of my piece — melody, how well my harmony blends in with the piece, pedaling, tempo, legato, and so many other things that go into the making of the piece. Combined, they give you a total score, and for Guild, give you a ranking with other kids that competed on your level. (I’m playing on the national level) Thanks to Renée, I’m pretty sure that I got Superior for Guild and Honors on Student Day (which are both the highest scores you can get), for every single year I competed in these. These were great events to participate in!
All in all, I think Renée is an amazing teacher. She provides me with good pieces, and she puts me to events where I can play what I learned and see my mistakes from other people. She was an amazing teacher and still is, and I know that I will learn from Renée for many more years.
–Dennis C. 11 years old
Born and raised in a family of musicians, I was a dedicated piano student until post-college life brought a prolonged hiatus. The same set of skills and sparkling personality that make Renée a sought-after teacher for young students, turns out to be the same skill set perfectly matched for adult students, whether brand new to the piano or looking to restore a past passion.
Renée draws her students to a life-long love and pursuit of music by choosing a repertoire individually suited to her students’ musicianship and technical skills, combined with a unique ability to work with students to schedule lessons and practice times that are sustainable in a modern world filled with competing activities.
Today, my son Will is an accomplished pianist whose life will always include the classical repertoire that he developed with Renee as well as the jazz improvisation that followed. As for me, I was thrilled to restore and to add to my pre-existing college repertoire. But the most delightful surprise of all? I discovered the great joy of four-hand piano, and now find myself performing in public, my life long stage fright somehow left in the dust.
–Sally H. Adult Student