About Us

Private Piano Instructor with over 15 years piano teaching experience. 

Brandon Seil began his study of piano

when he was five years old. By the age of seven, he was studying annually (at the minimum) with Dr. Haruko Kataoka, attending Suzuki workshops and private lessons in the United States. Brandon first traveled to Japan in 1999, where he studied in the Talent Education Institute with Dr. Kataoka in Matsumoto. Over the next four years, Brandon returned to Japan independently six times, staying for three months per visit. He performed in Japan as a guest artist in a number of concerts, as well as performing with other Suzuki Piano students in recitals, and in the traditional Suzuki Ten Piano Concerts and workshops. Dr. Kataoka later chose Brandon to give weekly private lessons to her own grandchildren. This was his first experience as a Suzuki Piano teacher. Brandon continued to study regularly with Dr. Kataoka in the United States and Japan until her passing in 2004.

Brandon found his personal draw to music education while teaching Dr. Kataoka's grandchildren in Japan. During the months he spent in the United States between visits to Japan, Brandon held teacher training sessions. During these lessons, Brandon taught other Suzuki Piano teachers about Dr. Kataoka's teaching techniques and expectations. He participated in teacher study groups in an effort to expand his own teaching potential. Brandon began accepting students in his own private studio when he was seventeen.

As the founder of the Suzuki Piano Method, Dr. Haruko Kataoka passed her knowledge of music on to her students, who are dispersed throughout the world. As one of her students, Brandon finds it his mission to pass her legacy on to the next generation of great musicians.

Private Piano/Voice Instructor

Jonelle's music training began when she was eight years old. She studied the Suzuki Piano Method with Ann Taylor, who invited her to apprentice at the age of thirteen. She soon began attending lessons with master Suzuki teachers. In 2004, Jonelle had the opportunity to meet and study with Dr. Haruko Kataoka, where she took part in teacher training workshops, private lessons, and the traditional Suzuki Ten Piano performances in the United States and Japan. Along with studying the Suzuki method, Jonelle participated in a series of exams, given by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, in the areas of performance, technique, sight reading, ear training and music theory/composition. She continued to study and teach Suzuki Piano lessons until moving to Phoenix in 2006.

Vocal training was always incorporated into piano lessons with Mrs. Taylor, where Jonelle learned proper vocal technique and production. She participated in voice and musical theater groups, allowing her to perform regularly. During tours and competitions, she attended vocal master classes and workshops with various instructors in an effort to improve her technique and performance skills. She was often asked to lead school choir and band rehearsals because of her experience with music production. During these rehearsals, Jonelle discovered her love of music education.

In 2006, Jonelle was invited to teach music at New Horizon School for the Performing Arts. Jonelle continues to teach general music classes to students from kindergarten through sixth grade. She is the music director for all school wide vocal performances, and is the co-director of the traveling show choir, "Kids Next Door." She has taught private voice lessons for the past 10 years.