Amanda Byars is an accomplished music educator specializing in group and private instruction for children and adults. Prior to establishing her private studio, she served on the faculty at Southern Methodist University as Lecturer in Piano Pedagogy and Coordinator of the class piano program. Her duties included supervising graduate students in the Master of Music in Piano Performance/  Pedagogy program and teaching non-music major undergraduates as well as Group Piano Pedagogy. Ms. Byars holds a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Converse College where she studied under Henry Rauch, a Juilliard graduate, and a Master of Music degree in piano pedagogy from Southern Methodist University where she studied piano with Dr. David Karp and was a teaching assistant for the internationally renowned pedagogue, Louise Bianchi, co- author of the series “Music Pathways” with composer Lynn Freeman Olson, and Marvin Blickenstaff, former Board President of the Frances Clark
Center for Keyboard Pedagogy. 

 

Ms. Byars has had extensive experience teaching pre-college students, adult students of all stages of development, and piano pedagogy courses. An active adjudicator throughout Texas, she has also given workshops on group piano techniques and adult teaching throughout the country. She has authored numerous articles for professional trade magazines such as Keyboard Companion, Clavier, and American Music Teacher. Her lecture entitled “The Adult Student - Meeting the Challenge” was presented at the Music Teachers National Convention in 1993 and at the Texas state convention and local chapters the following years. She has served on the board of the Texas Music Teachers Association as Chairman of Independent Music Teachers Forum and the National Conference of Keyboard Pedagogy.

In 1998, Ms. Byars became Director of Education and Artist Relations at Steinway Hall-Dallas. She served as the coordinator and performing liaison between the Concert & Artist Department and local performing arts venues, concert pianists, the Van Cliburn Competition, and artist management agencies. During her tenure, she designed and implemented a new program entitled “Partners in Performance” to meet the needs of music educators. During her tenure with Steinway & Sons, Ms. Byars had the opportunity to learn about piano construction while receiving sales training at the Steinway factory in Queens. Realizing this knowledge would enable her to better advise her students in the purchase of a piano, she received additional training on all major piano brands such as Kawai, Yamaha, Mason & Hamlin, and Estonia while working for various dealerships.

 

In 2016, Ms. Byars joined the team at the Kawai Piano Gallery-Dallas and was subsequently named Director of Education of the Kawai Music School. She and her exceptional colleagues offer students a comprehensive, customized experience that establishes a solid foundation for lifelong music creation, performance, and enjoyment. Ms. Byars is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, Texas Music Teachers Association, and is active in the Dallas Music Teachers Association where she has held every board position including President. She is a member of Phi Kappa Lambda.