Barbara Yates

Piano

Barbara Yates was born and raised in South Hadley, MA. She studied piano from age eight until she was nineteen years old under Bill Harey, who maintained a large piano and accordion studio for many years. Barbara worked from age twelve until age twenty as a studio pianist for a dancing school. In addition, she played for dance recitals for the Moquin School of Dance. From 1960 to the late 1980s Barbara worked either as part of a trio or as a solo act, performing at weddings and private parties.

Barbara has taught piano privately for fifteen years, and given lessons at Gerry’s for twenty-seven years. With so many years of experience, Barbara is a wonderful addition to our teaching staff. She enjoys working here because the atmosphere of the studios is very welcoming. Gerry’s is very accessible to students of all ages and levels of experience, there is always new music available, and she is free to use her own teaching methods and philosophies. For Barbara, these include getting all of her students, both adults and children, to play as many songs as possible. She teaches her students to read music, and to learn how to create specific chords. She loves to watch her students grow and musicians, and enjoys helping them find a love of music that will last a lifetime.