Emily has been teaching piano for over 35 years and she has loved every minute of it. She studied with Julliard Pedagogue Grace Erickson who enjoyed a reputation for producing prize winning students. One of her favorite solo recital performances was dedicated to Grace where she performed Hochzeitstag auf Troldhaugenby Edward Grieg on a beautiful Steinway grand. And she always makes sure than her students also have the opportunity to perform on wonderful instruments as well! Emily also studied with the renowned Debra O'Dell, Gonzaga University Faculty Emeritus, studying for her Degree in Piano Performance at North Idaho College.
Emily's former students include successful professional musicians: toured internationally as a musician, training to be a Church Organist, professional musician that has performed in Symphonies, professional musician doing corporate events and weddings, music educators, composers, just to name a few, along with many other past students that she loves to keep in touch with from over the years.
Just as her teachers instilled in her, Emily works with her piano students intensely with technique while at the same time teaching them to believe in themselves and to let emotions show in the music as it is played. Classical music interpretation skills and musical tone are an important aspect of her teaching style.
Whether a little child having fun at the piano, a group music class, a teenager that performs with a Youth Symphony, a student auditioning for a scholarship, a student preparing to be a College Music Major or an Adult Beginner, Emily Ihasz is an amazing treasure to be found.
Emily comes from a large entertainment family who she has collaborated with over the years, including an Uncle who was in Frank Sinatra's Orchestra, another Uncle who was the voice of Fred Flinstone, Opera singers, Movie Director, Symphony Orchestra musician, actors and actresses, dancers and choreographers, composers, and even a silent film actress. Her grandmother gave up singing Opera at the Met to have a family because in those days you did not do both, you had to choose. Her own Mother performed Debussy, Beethoven, Scarlotti and much more on the piano. It is no wonder that Emily is"The go-to music educator and piano teacher with a reputation for her own playing and for producing outstanding piano students". Former Music Faculty at Living Preschool.
Emily with Grace Ericson
Emily at one of her piano recitals age 15
Emily with her husband Jim
Emily with two of her 12 grandchildren