KAREN BINDER
Piano Instructor
Karen
received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Illinois,
with major in Piano Performance and a minor in Voice, where she had the
privilege of studying with Clara Richards, Joel Shapiro, and Ian Hobson.
With over 20 years teaching experience, Karen focuses on
providing a well-rounded and fun musical experience for children
and adults, beginning through advanced. Students can look
forward to developing the knowledge of theory, the skill of
technique, learning music in a variety of styles, and even
adventuring into composing music if interested. Emphasizing a
foundational core of classical music, she regularly balances that
with music such as jazz, popular, musical theater, movie themes,
and other student favorites. Those of her students who are
interested in participating in competitions have placed in the
Granquist Competition and the Naperville Sonata-Sonatina
festival. Several of her students participate in the Achievement
in Music program, and have participated in the annual American
Grands performance in Elgin, Illinois.
In addition to teaching at Fox River Academy, Karen stays active
as a performer and accompanist, a vocal coach/music director, and
as an adjudicator in the Chicago area. She also performs with
her church's jazz band and orchestra, and has performed with many
musical theatre productions. A member of the Naperville chapter
of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association, Karen
participates in ongoing training through monthly meetings and
annual conferences.
