Cheryl Barth Piano

I was born and raised in Danville, Illinois, and I was blessed to have adoptive parents who encouraged and supported my love of music.  Family legend has it that I began playing the piano by ear when I was 4 or 5 years old, and I began lessons at the age of 8.  My first piano teacher was a wonderful lady named Edna Purnell Brand, who recognized my gifts and abilities to be able to play by ear, but gently encouraged me to learn to read music to help those gifts and abilities to grow.  I continued taking lessons throughout grade school, junior high and high school, and began accompanying for the girls' choral ensemble, the Vikingettes, while in high school.  After attending Danville Junior College (now Danville Area Community College), I transferred to Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, as a music major.  My teachers there included Julian Dawson, Tella Marie DeBose, and Linda Lamb Hirt.  I began as a music education major, but soon realized that I was more suited to teaching one-on-one or in small groups than to teaching 30-on-one.  I wanted to perform, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to put my emphasis on being a solo pianist.  It was at that time that Ms. Hirt and I created an individualized major curriculum for me in piano accompanying.  She also arranged for me to participate in a master class with her former teacher, John Wustman, who had been the accompanist for the great tenor, Luciano Pavarotti.  During my time at ISU, I accompanied more than 20 voice majors at their weekly lessons and worked with them in individual rehearsal/coaching sessions, and played in a number of recitals and concerts at both ISU and the other college down the road, Illinois Wesleyan University.

My first piano student was my father - I was 14 and he was in his early 50's.  His intention was to surprise my older sister by being able to play something for her on the piano.  Sadly, he never got the chance - ten days before my 15th birthday, he had a massive heart attack and died at the age of 52.  But I'll never forget how much fun we had together during those lessons, and how much my dad, a mechanic and auto parts salesman, enjoyed learning about the thing that both of his daughters loved so much - music.

I have since taught lessons to students in Illinois, Minnesota, and now in South Florida.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, I expanded to include giving lessons via Zoom when it became impossible to do in-person lessons, and I still have students who, because of either personal preference or because they live too far away for in-person lessons to be practical, continue to have their lessons via Zoom.  Most recently, I was the assistant pianist at Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, and I've also had the opportunity to be the accompanist for the (now defunct) Fort Lauderdale Women's Chorus, for shows at The Foundry in Wilton Manors, Florida, and for cabarets at Sunshine Cathedral, as well as several weddings and funerals.  It's been more than 40 years, and I still love teaching and performing, while learning from my students as well.  I love the look of wonder on the faces of my youngest students, and the excitement of my adult students at learning what is essentially a new language, no matter their age or previous musical experience.  As Mac Davis once said, music is a universal language and love is the key.  It's a language that I have become fluent in throughout my life, and I look forward to sharing more of it in the years to come.

To order music, either for your lessons or for your own enjoyment, please click on the link below.

If you would like to book me for an event, please click on the link below.

What are people saying about Cheryl?

"My daughter (10 y/o now) has been taking lessons from Cheryl for about 2 years.  Cheryl is engaging and makes the experience fun and educational.  She uses traditional lessons plans with a mix of different media to keep it interesting.  Cheryl is also very flexible with her schedule which is appreciated."

          - Kamerin Cook