Valerie Mishek

"Valerie has been by far our much preferred and cherished classical piano instructor for our daughter for over the past 7 years. She took our daughter from knowing next to nothing about the piano or music in general to placing second at the recently held 2014 Sonatina Festival Honors Recital playing Beethoven's extraordinarily complex and beautiful Sonata op. 31 no. 2. This would not have materialized without Valerie's technical exactitude, aesthetic sensibility, and patience and breadth and depth and skill at teaching the piano - such that only years of extensive experience brings. She intelligently draws upon a vast repertoire of exquisite piano pieces and meticulously arranges them into a superb pedagogical progression, whether for the very beginning or the highly advanced student. In short, she is a master teacher. I am extremely proud of my daughter's accomplishments as an aspiring classical pianist and am very, very grateful for the brilliant teacher that has led the way."



Michael Stucki, parent

"One only needs to listen to students of Valerie Mishek to appreciate the difference a quality teacher can make.

Valerie’s piano students consistently play with beautiful tone and masterful phrasing. They approach the keyboard with poise and confidence, playing with a solid technique and listening carefully to the music they are expressing. Even her youngest beginners exhibit these qualities. As a fellow pianist and teacher, it is evident to me that Valerie has a gift for awakening the musical spirit in each of her students. 

She combines her experience as an accomplished pianist and an insightful teacher to successfully guide her students in the pursuit of pianistic artistry."

Jan Miller Romero, B.M., M.M. pianist and piano instructor 

"Valerie Mishek has been teaching my daughter since she was four years old.  She is now ten and plays beautifully.  This is due to Valerie’s dedication and unwavering expectation of excellence as well as parental support.  I can’t say enough good things about Valerie and the pride she takes in ensuring her students play at their maximum potential.  Valerie has been an instrumental positive influence in my daughter’s life.  When my daughter plays in public, I am reminded that her skills are far above those of others in her age group taught by other teachers.  My daughter recently sat down at a public piano and played a piece from memory in front of 30 strangers with no prompting from anyone.  Many were pleasantly surprised that it was not a child banging on a piano, but a piece well performed.  This is a testimony to Valerie’s skills and expectation for excellence."                                                                                        Meg Romano

Meg Romano's Music Education Philosophy: 

"As a parent, I do not see music as an extracurricular activity.  I see music as part of my child’s education.  Piano not only teaches musical skills, but instills confidence, reinforces math, logic, reading, discipline, study skills, concentration, and dexterity. 

As Valerie challenges my child, there are times when she does not meet Valerie’s expectations.  At that point it is up to me as the parent to support Valerie and help my child to work through the difficult situation. Not only does this teach discipline, it helps my child see her potential and gives her confidence when she finally masters a difficult piece. 

Therefore, it is a required subject that deserves as much attention as math, language arts, science etc.  This expectation has helped my daughter work through many difficult pieces.  Over the last summer, I was pleasantly surprised to see my daughter download a difficult classical piece and learn it on her own.  She truly loves music now and is excited to expand her knowledge to other instruments.  This can only occur if she is expected to work through the difficulties in mastering new pieces and new skills."

Meg Romano, mom of Vivian

" I have known Valerie Mishek for many years.  As a junior high and high school student, she studied piano with me and she was an outstanding student.  In addition to her regular weekly lessons, she participated in my piano pedagogy workshops and she started teaching a few students when she was 14 years old.  She went off to college as a piano major and then to graduate school including her year abroad in Vienna as a Fulbright Scholar.  In 1996, she settled down in Littleton, Colorado where she started a very successful piano studio after teaching for years in Parker, Colorado and Austin, Texas.  Valerie and I have now become colleagues and friends.  I can testify that she is a very devoted, creative and excellent piano instructor.  In addition to her teaching, she continues to grow as a pianist, practicing hard learning new repertoire and giving recitals and concerts which are a great inspiration to her students."

Patricia Parraguez-Chen, pianist, piano instructor
and author of My World of Piano Vol. 1, 2, and 3

"I have known Valerie Mishek since she was a young student in Denver of one of my most able colleagues, Patricia Chen.  Valerie was a very talented and dedicated student who performed regularly in recitals by students of teachers in two of the organizations of which I was a member.  She won honors in various local and state competitions, and went on in college to study with several nationally prominent teachers. She received the bachelor and master's degrees in piano performance, and has since  played professional concerts in Europe as well as in the United States. She has become one of the outstanding teachers in the Denver area, and now produces prize-winning students of her own.  I  hear them often in recitals, and in  performances with chamber-orchestra in Denver's annual "Clementi Piano Festival".  Her  students show that they have been extremely well taught, and are always well-prepared for performance.  I am pleased to be able to attest to her outstanding abilities as both teacher and performer."

John Branson
Founder and President of The Clementi Piano Festival.

"Ms. Mishek’s experience as a professional musician and pianist gives her a solid background for teaching students whose goal is to move beyond ordinary piano-playing into the world of music.
She is passionate about music, piano, and teaching.  She is patient with her students, accepting them where they are.  And she is persistent in challenging them to go further.
Every lesson combines elements of understanding the music better, feeling it more deeply, and developing the technique necessary to express the music.
I always leave her studio with enthusiasm and excitement!"

Gerald Bryan, Adult Piano Student

"Valerie Mishek is an outstanding pianist, performer as well as a fine piano teacher for various ages and abilities!  She is very knowledgeable concerning music repertoire and various music styles.  She has studied and performed music of different periods and styles for a long period of time as a soloist, as well as with ensemble performances; as with orchestras for various concerto performances. 

In Music Club, when performing, she first provides a very interesting background of the particular music, before playing.  Her background and explanation of the music brings immediate interest, understanding, and appreciation for the music being performed.  During performance, she displays excellent technique, style, interpretation, and complete involvement in sharing the music she is performing at top level!  She has been enjoyed and admired repeatedly by her audiences!"

Blanche Greenberg, Denver pianist