Artwork by Caitlin Kelley

Teaching Approach

For students of any age, Mirella carefully considers where each student wants to go and what they want to play, then organizes lesson planning and goals to help them get there. Music reading is often central to her work with beginning students, so that they can develop the lifelong ability to learn music independently from a page. She sees learning notation as much like learning a new language: a skill that opens new doors and can be a wonderful experience of growth at any age. Ear training develops the relationship between what a student hears and what they produce on the instrument; as this relationship becomes stronger, the piano can become more their own voice, increasingly connected to their natural musicality and personal expression.

Knowing how difficult it can be to learn music, Mirella breaks technique, practice, and other concepts into manageable steps, giving students the understanding and tools they need to proceed independently. Learning can involve investment of energy, while remaining pleasurable, supported by guidance and patience.

With young children especially, Mirella believes in teaching through encouragement, really getting to know each child, and inspiring them. She offers meaningful choices and explains why each activity matters—including the value of trying something new and discovering what they are capable of—and adapts lessons to the child in front of her in each moment. She makes lessons playful while still providing thoughtful structure, helping children develop a sense of ownership and genuine enjoyment in learning.

Mirella also organizes opportunities for her students to perform, believing that performing in an appropriate environment can give students the wonderful experience of being affirmed and valued for their self-expression and hard work. It can reveal something we often cannot see while we are in the middle of learning: that long periods of growth, during which change may seem almost invisible, can lead to remarkable transformation over time. Experiencing that transformation—and having others recognize it—can give students a deep sense of pride in what they have accomplished. 

At its core, Mirella hopes music education gives students the courage to pursue what matters to them and to believe in what they are capable of accomplishing. She wants them to leave lessons with the knowledge and independence to move forward, the inspiration to keep going, and the encouragement to trust their own growth along the way.

About Mirella

Mirella Gruesser-Smith is a pianist, conductor, and piano teacher who works with students of all ages and levels, from complete beginners to advanced pianists. She believes that working with students is a tremendous privilege and a source of inspiration and joy, and that they flourish when they are met with curiosity, gentleness, and encouragement. She seeks to know each student as an individual and help them develop their own interests at their own pace. 

Mirella began teaching in 2020 while studying at Oberlin College and Conservatory, where she studied piano with Professor Robert Shannon, then Director of Keyboard Studies. She later completed a Master of Music in Piano Performance at the Guildhall School of Music in London, graduating with Distinction. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Oberlin College, where she focused on Medieval and Renaissance literature. Her training at Oberlin and Guildhall gave her a strong foundation in advanced piano technique, with technical approaches rooted in the teaching of Dorothy Taubman. She brings this training into her teaching while adapting her approach to each student, using an understanding of the piano’s mechanism and physical movement to help prevent unnecessary tension. In all of her musical roles, Mirella believes that we should be able to share our full selves through art, allowing for deeper connection to ourselves and others.