My Story...
I grew up in a musical family. My mother was a church organist and played for Minstrel shows when I was young. Of course, I sang in the choir and performed in many shows! In high school, I accompanied the Chorus on the piano, as well as continued to sing, both in the choir and as a soloist, in church.
I attended and graduated from The University of Lowell with majors in Voice and Music Education. Throughout my college days, I also accompanied many instrumentalists on the piano. Accompanists were sought after in the Music School!
After graduation, I joined a 5 piece Band and did "gigs" up and down the East Coast for about a year. I was the lead female singer and keyboard player in a band that did covers, mostly on a hotel circuit. It was quite an education! Upon coming home, I started teaching private piano and organ lessons for a studio in Easton, MA. I taught voice lessons at home during this time. When the owner decided to retire, I thought "I can do this!". Little did I know the challenge I was to face for the next 30 years!!! I was 29 years old.
I opened a music studio in 1986, teaching along side 4 other teachers. I also had about a half dozen instruments for sale. Through the next many years, I grew my business to work with major piano companies (Wurlitzer, Baldwin, Kawai...) and did band instrument rentals through Rayburn Music Co. in Boston. I carried a practice of 35 to 40 private students each week, along with running the business and continuing my performing career.
In the late 1990's, I started servicing area colleges with their needs for quality instruments. I would loan pianos to the school for the year, and sell them at the end of it, using their campus and alumni lists to help facilitate the sale. It was very stressful, but a financially good move.
In 2006, I decided to change my business model to being only a private teaching studio. The piano business had lost its charm for me. All the sub-contractors stayed on and we grew to have eleven teachers, including: voice, piano, guitar, flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe, and other instruments. During these years, I also started accompanying concerts for a local elementary school, as well as playing in a duo with a flute player.
After several years of helping out at the local school, including occasionally substitute teaching, the opportunity to teach full-time for that school system became available, due to a teacher relocating. I started teaching Music K-6 in West Bridgewater, MA, in August of 2011. At that point, I stopped performing, but continued to run my business. In 2015, I moved to the high school, teaching grades 7-12, including: HS Chorus, Jr High Chorus, Music History, Music Technology, and General Music 7. In addition, I revived a Color Guard to perform with the Marching Band during parades and to compete. My Chorus participated in All State and County Festivals, as well as competitions, where they placed higher than the school had ever before.
In 2016, I transferred ownership of my business to a sub-contractor who had worked with me for many years. There's only SO much time in the day!!!
In March 2018, I started teaching ESL to children in China online, part-time on weekends. My thought was that I would want to teach online when I retired and I wanted to have experience to do so. I came to learn so much about Chinese culture, history, and customs. I developed strong bonds with many students and their families, and continue to teach lessons, when available.
In August of 2018, I joined my newly-retired husband in Maine, and continued my public school teaching career in Waterboro. I had accumulated over 30 graduate school credits in education and in music. I added teaching band instruments to beginners to the list of things I could do musically! A new challenge! I taught Grades 4/5 instruments, 6th Grade Band, and grades 6-8 Chorus. I loved it!!!
When the CoVid pandemic came about in early 2020, I continued to teach classes using Zoom. It was quite a learning experience... After a full year of teaching asynchronously, I decided that it was time to retire from school teaching. Since then, I have continued to teach private music lessons, as well as ESL, online.
So, that's my story. I am looking forward to what comes next and this website is part of my plan. I hope to see you online!!!
Margi Diman
I attended and graduated from The University of Lowell with majors in Voice and Music Education. Throughout my college days, I also accompanied many instrumentalists on the piano. Accompanists were sought after in the Music School!
After graduation, I joined a 5 piece Band and did "gigs" up and down the East Coast for about a year. I was the lead female singer and keyboard player in a band that did covers, mostly on a hotel circuit. It was quite an education! Upon coming home, I started teaching private piano and organ lessons for a studio in Easton, MA. I taught voice lessons at home during this time. When the owner decided to retire, I thought "I can do this!". Little did I know the challenge I was to face for the next 30 years!!! I was 29 years old.
I opened a music studio in 1986, teaching along side 4 other teachers. I also had about a half dozen instruments for sale. Through the next many years, I grew my business to work with major piano companies (Wurlitzer, Baldwin, Kawai...) and did band instrument rentals through Rayburn Music Co. in Boston. I carried a practice of 35 to 40 private students each week, along with running the business and continuing my performing career.
In the late 1990's, I started servicing area colleges with their needs for quality instruments. I would loan pianos to the school for the year, and sell them at the end of it, using their campus and alumni lists to help facilitate the sale. It was very stressful, but a financially good move.
In 2006, I decided to change my business model to being only a private teaching studio. The piano business had lost its charm for me. All the sub-contractors stayed on and we grew to have eleven teachers, including: voice, piano, guitar, flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe, and other instruments. During these years, I also started accompanying concerts for a local elementary school, as well as playing in a duo with a flute player.
After several years of helping out at the local school, including occasionally substitute teaching, the opportunity to teach full-time for that school system became available, due to a teacher relocating. I started teaching Music K-6 in West Bridgewater, MA, in August of 2011. At that point, I stopped performing, but continued to run my business. In 2015, I moved to the high school, teaching grades 7-12, including: HS Chorus, Jr High Chorus, Music History, Music Technology, and General Music 7. In addition, I revived a Color Guard to perform with the Marching Band during parades and to compete. My Chorus participated in All State and County Festivals, as well as competitions, where they placed higher than the school had ever before.
In 2016, I transferred ownership of my business to a sub-contractor who had worked with me for many years. There's only SO much time in the day!!!
In March 2018, I started teaching ESL to children in China online, part-time on weekends. My thought was that I would want to teach online when I retired and I wanted to have experience to do so. I came to learn so much about Chinese culture, history, and customs. I developed strong bonds with many students and their families, and continue to teach lessons, when available.
In August of 2018, I joined my newly-retired husband in Maine, and continued my public school teaching career in Waterboro. I had accumulated over 30 graduate school credits in education and in music. I added teaching band instruments to beginners to the list of things I could do musically! A new challenge! I taught Grades 4/5 instruments, 6th Grade Band, and grades 6-8 Chorus. I loved it!!!
When the CoVid pandemic came about in early 2020, I continued to teach classes using Zoom. It was quite a learning experience... After a full year of teaching asynchronously, I decided that it was time to retire from school teaching. Since then, I have continued to teach private music lessons, as well as ESL, online.
So, that's my story. I am looking forward to what comes next and this website is part of my plan. I hope to see you online!!!
Margi Diman