Jennifer Boster, NCTM, has loved teaching piano lessons for the past twenty-five years. As a teenager she studied with Dr. Bonnie Winterton, who encouraged her to be a teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from BYU, studying with Dr. Scott Holden. She is passionate about piano pedagogy and about sharing the joy of music with her students. She has taught students of all ages and levels, and loves helping them reach their musical potential.
In 2010 she started blogging about piano teaching, and today her website, The Playful Piano, has readers in all fifty states and in many other countries. She is an author and creator of many engaging piano teaching books and resources, a frequent presenter at music teacher conferences and a guest on podcast episodes. Jenny lives in Farr West, Utah with her wonderful husband and five beautiful children.
Jennifer Boster Resume
Education & Piano Training
- Attendance at music teacher conferences, annually
- Bachelor of Music, Piano Performance – Brigham Young University, 2006
- Studied piano with Dr. Scott Holden (BYU) – 2002 to 2006
- Studied piano with Marlene Bachelder (BYU) – Summer 2006
- Studied Piano Pedagogy with Dr. Irene Peery-Fox (BYU) – 2004 to 2005
- Studied piano with Dr. Bonnie Winterton (University of Utah) – 1997 to 2002
- Began piano study – 1990
Other Piano-Related Educational Experiences
- Attended master classes given by Kevin Kenner, Yoshie Akimoto, Arthur Greene and Leon Fleisher
- Had private lessons taught by visiting performers Kevin Kenner, Yoshie Akimoto and Arthur Greene
- Attended the 2004 World Piano Pedagogy Conference, Las Vegas
Awards & Scholarships
- BYU Piano Scholarship, 2005
- Offered piano scholarship, University of Utah, 2002
- Offered piano scholarship, Brigham Young University-Idaho, 2002
- Sterling Scholar in Music, Cottonwood High School, 2002
Recitals & Concerts
- Senior Recital, Madsen Recital Hall, Brigham Young University, Spring 2006
- Studio Recital, Students of Dr. Scott Holden, BYU, Spring 2006
- Accompanied various vocal recitals, 2005-2006
- Sophomore Recital, Madsen Recital Hall, Brigham Young University, Spring 2004
- BYU Piano Area Recital, Fall 2003
- BYU Concerto Competition, competitor, Fall 2003
- Concerto Night soloist, Cottonwood High School Orchestra, Spring 2001 and Spring 2002
- Soloist with Cottonwood High School Orchestra, San Francisco, CA, Spring 2001
- Evening of Concertos, soloist, Murray Symphony, Spring 2001
Shows
- Pirates of Penzance, pianist, Summer 2007
- Peter Pan, pianist, Fall 2001
- Annie Get Your Gun, pianist, Fall 2000
Certifications & Memberships
- NCTM (Nationally Certified Teacher of Music), 2010 to present
- Member of Music Teachers National Association
- Member of Utah Music Teachers Association
Experience
- Podcast guest on several podcast episodes about female composers, 2021-present
- Curator of annual 30-day virtual female composer event with hundreds of participants, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Presenter at Utah Music Teachers Association conference, 2019-present
- Presenter at UMTA chapter meetings, 2022
- Vendor at National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, 2021
- Vendor at Utah Music Teachers Association conference, 2015, 2019-present
- Piano teaching blogger, 2010 to present
- Private piano instructor, 1999 to present
- Pianist for receptions and banquets, 2000 to 2010
- Private vocal studio pianist, Murray, UT, 2003
- Accompanist for private instrumental music lessons and juries, 2002 to 2007
- Accompanist for private voice lessons, juries & competitions, 2003 to 2009
- BYU German Master Class pianist, 2005
- Accompanist for beginning vocal class, 2006
- BYU SummerFest accompanist, 2007
- Preschool piano class instructor, 2010 to 2015
Selected Publications
- Female Composer Club, monthly composer resource, 2022-present
- A Brief History of Piano Music: Essential Music History for Pianists – Baroque Through Present Day, 2022, self-published
- Step into Scales: A Step-by-Step Program for Learning Scales & Arpeggios on the Piano, 2022, self-published
- Piano Muscle Builders for Older Beginners, 2022, self-published
- Shades of Sound: Women Composers Volume 2, 2021
- Shades of Sound: Women Composers, 2018
- Shades of Sound: Listening & Coloring Books for Pianists, 15 volumes, 2016-2021, self-published
- My Muscle Builder Book – technique series, 6 books, 2010-present, self-published
- Mighty Musicians Piano Camp Curriculum, 5 lesson plans, 2012-2013, self-published
- Early Explorers Preschool Piano Camp Curriculum, 7 lesson plans, 2012-2013, self-published
Other Music Experience
- Violinist in school orchestras, 1994 to 2002
- Violinist section leader, 2001 to 2002
- Violinist in BYU University Strings, 2002
- BYU University Chorale pianist, 2003 & 2004
- Studied organ under Dr. Don Cook, 2004-2005
- Church children’s music chorister, 2018-2022
- Church pianist and organist, 1998 to present
- Church choir director, 2009-2010