Piano Lessons at St. Paul School of Music

Bitna Jeong

Available Saturdays from 12:00-3:00 PM-Starting December 14. More availability soon.

Bitna Jeong is a highly dedicated and accomplished pianist, as well as an active and sought-after collaborative musician. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Alongside her doctoral studies, she is engaged in secondary studies in Music Education, deepening her pedagogical knowledge to enhance her teaching practice and inspire future generations of musicians.

Bitna earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from California State University, Northridge. Her exceptional talent and dedication were recognized through numerous scholarships, including the prestigious Dr. Robert W. Wienpahl Scholarship and the William Richard Memorial Scholarship. She furthered her studies at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, completing a Master of Music in Piano Performance with a merit-based scholarship. During her time at Peabody, she also pursued a minor in Organ Performance, showcasing her versatility and expanding her musical expertise.

An artist of international acclaim, Bitna has performed across South Korea, the United States, and Canada, with highlights in cities such as Baltimore, Los Angeles, Montreal, Minneapolis, and Seoul. Her repertoire spans a diverse range of styles, from classical masterworks to contemporary compositions, reflecting her deep musical curiosity and ability to connect with varied audiences.

In addition to her achievements as a performer, Bitna is a passionate educator with over a decade of teaching experience. She has guided students of all ages through private lessons and institutional collaborations, fostering their growth in technical skill, musical understanding, and artistry. Her students have excelled in prestigious programs such as the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) Certificate of Merit and have garnered accolades, including the Young Pianist award at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF). Bitna’s personalized approach, patience, and commitment to excellence ensure that her students not only achieve their goals but also develop a lifelong love of music. Her dual focus on performance and education allows her to inspire both audiences and students, exemplifying her commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians while contributing to the vibrant world of classical music.

Simin Schumacher

Available: Saturdays from 9:00-3:00 PM

Simin Schumacher is an expert in working with elementary and middle school-age students and a seasoned piano instructor with a genuine passion for music education. With over 15 years of experience teaching piano, she has mastered the art of guiding students of all ages and abilities on their musical journey.

Simin holds a Master's in Western Classical Music/Piano Performance and a second Master's in Music Education from Texas Tech University, which equips her with both technical expertise and effective teaching methods. Her extensive musical background and teaching experience make her a well-rounded and knowledgeable instructor.

In addition to her piano teaching, Simin has also spent several years teaching elementary Music, making a positive impact on young learners. Her dedication and expertise have even led her to be a featured presenter at various workshops and conferences, where she shares her innovative teaching techniques with fellow educators.

While currently serving as a dedicated public school administrator, Simin's heart remains devoted to teaching piano to children. Her nurturing and encouraging approach, combined with a focus on technical excellence and artistic expression, creates a supportive environment for her students to thrive and grow as musicians.

Louba Hammad

Available: Thursdays from 3:00-8:00 PM

Dr. Louba Hammad is an accomplished pianist, educator, and researcher with over 25 years of experience in music performance, education, and academic leadership. She holds a PhD in Piano Performance from the Higher Institute of Conservatoire in Egypt, where she began her piano studies at the age of nine under the mentorship of distinguished professors from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Poland, and Egypt. This rigorous training shaped her technical foundation and artistic vision, fostering her deep appreciation for diverse musical traditions. Dr. Hammad is currently pursuing a second PhD in Music Education at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she is expanding her expertise in culturally responsive pedagogy and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Throughout her career, Dr. Hammad has excelled in combining technical expertise with innovative, student-centered teaching strategies that encourage students to develop their artistic voices and refine their technical skills. As an Assistant Professor at the Higher Institute of Conservatoire in Cairo, she taught students at all levels and mentored undergraduate and graduate students. She led recruitment initiatives that significantly expanded the piano program. She also contributed to the Conservatoire’s academic mission through leadership roles, including serving on the Piano Department Council, the accreditation committee, and the Piano Curriculum Development Committee. In these capacities, she helped design rigorous and forward-thinking programs that inspired student success.

Dr. Hammad’s administrative contributions extended to her work on performance examination committees, where for over 23 years, she assessed piano performance for students ranging from age seven to graduate-level candidates, as well as chamber music and collaborative piano exams. Her comprehensive experience in both education and administration underscores her dedication to fostering musical excellence and her commitment to nurturing students’ growth. 

A nationally recognized performer, Dr. Hammad has presented solo and collaborative recitals at prestigious venues such as the Cairo Opera House, the Russian Cultural Center, and others. Her research delves into cross-cultural musical traditions, particularly the performance styles of compositions with Oriental influences from former Soviet Union republics. Her scholarly contributions include a recent presentation at the Big Ten Academic Alliance Music Education Conference, where she highlighted her work on bridging cultural traditions in piano pedagogy. 

Dr. Hammad’s teaching philosophy centers on creating an inclusive and supportive environment where students can express themselves creatively while mastering technical proficiency. She believes in the importance of integrating diverse musical traditions into her instruction, helping students connect with music’s global cultural significance and broadening their artistic perspectives. Her goal is to inspire a lifelong passion for music and equip students with the skills they need to excel as musicians and educators.

Pat Lyles

Available: 3:00-8:00 Thursday.

Patricia Lyles was born in Florida, and grew up in Tennessee. She has spent most of her adult life in the Twin Cities with her husband Tim (also a musician), raising her two daughters. She studied piano at the University of Memphis, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. She has spent the past 30 years playing piano for ballet classes for various dance companies and schools, including MN Dance Theatre, Macalester College, James Sewell Ballet, Zenon, TU Dance, St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, and St. Paul Ballet. Pat has enjoyed teaching piano to hundreds of students for more than 30 years. She has also had the opportunity to write arrangements for various instrument combinations for weddings and different events. Over the years, Patricia has played keyboard and piano, and sung vocal leads and backgrounds in different ensembles.

“I know that students are individuals with different strengths. As an instructor and mentor, my goal is to nurture those strengths while helping students grow in the areas which are more difficult for them. I enjoy sharing my love of classical repertoire with students, as well as folk, ethnic, and popular music. I try to help students "understand" music and encourage their own creativity. The love of playing piano is a gift which I feel privileged to pass along to my students.”

Priscilla Previl-Stilwell

Available: Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-8:00 PM. Saturday from 10:00-3:00 PM

Teaching music since 1991 and performing nearly her whole life, Priscilla Previl-Stilwell brings a unique perspective to the world of music education. She has studied at the university level classical vocal performance, jazz studies, composition, contemporary performance, and hip-hop studies, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Worship Studies, researching the impact of national and cultural arts and expression on immigrant and indigenous religious communities. Her philosophy of teaching and that of life overlap in the strong belief that creative expression is vital to personal and community development.

Priscilla has lived in three Latin American and Caribbean nations, which has added to her global perspective on music and teaching which she incorporates into her classes. She works to develop a balance between theory, practice, and creativity in her teaching style by incorporating practical approaches to sight reading, chord theory, analysis, and composition and arranging.

Since returning to Minnesota from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Priscilla has focused on teaching in addition to serving as a Worship Director and spending considerable time in community outreach. She continues to study and expand her knowledge, and readily embraces unique challenges and opportunities as they present themselves.

Her teaching environment is relaxed and fun, and she is careful to develop a deep rapport with each student and parent, based on trust, respect, and a healthy amount of challenge. Most of all, her lessons are designed around each student with their unique needs and learning style always central.

Paul Hjelmstad

Available: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 4:30-8:30 PM

Paul Hjelmstad earned his Bachelor of Music (Piano and Voice) and Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics) from Saint Olaf College. Paul has taught piano privately (since he was 12 years old) for many years. Currently, he performs in a number of groups around the Twin Cities. His education is in Classical, but he also performs Big Band, Dixieland, and Jazz /Blues music in various ensembles. (Red Rock Swing Band, Centennial Stompers, Paulytones Group, and others).

He won the Minnesota Youth Symphony Concerto contest in high school and performed with them at Orchestra Hall at 17. He performed an hour-long recital at the age of 12 at Augsburg College. He has also won other competitions, such as the Hiawathaland Piano competition (2nd and 3rd places). He also won Honorable Mention in the 17th MCAC Competition in 2014-2015 for the Liszt Hungarian Fantasy. (Kenwood Symphony Orchestra’s Masters Concerto and Aria Competition).

Paul enjoyed jamming at Jazz Central Monday nights and has played at The Lexington, Crooner's Nightclub, White Bear Center for the Arts, and Lee's Dockside Cafe, and the Outing Lodge. He played regularly at the Dayton Project in downtown Minneapolis and plays regularly at Menard’s on Midway once a week, and also at Westside Volkswagen in Minneapolis.

He continues to play at many churches and halls for fundraisers, weddings, funerals, services, receptions, retirement parties and anniversaries. He has been a frequent performer in many retirement centers around Twin Cities, performing solo piano, in groups, and with singers.

He is currently performing Cello and Piano recitals with an established Cellist at places like the Edina Senior Center, the Baroque Room and various retirement communities around the Twin Cities.

Other venues for playing popular and jazz/blues music include providing dinner music at various restaurants and breweries around the Twin Cities.

Paul teaches children, teens and adults, primarily with standard classical teaching, jazz and blues, and other popular piano genres.