During her sabbatical last year music instructor, Dr. Christine Lopez, had the opportunity to do research and attend piano classes at Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach, where she will have the opportunity to promote Cerritos College’s Music Certificate Program.

She said that during her 15-year tenure at Cerritos it was the first time she had taken the year off, and do research for, more specifically, piano pedagogy, which made her a “student again.”

What piano pedagogy sets out to do is to create knowledge, activities and instructional skill for teaching piano to students, according to Lopez.

Before coming to Cerritos College Lopez taught at a university in Arizona.

She added that the reason why she didn’t take a year off before was that, “there was young faculty (here in the music department), and that I wasn’t comfortable or ready to leave.”

However, once the faculty and the department were comfortable and ready without her, she came to the decision of leaving.

“Both Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton have excellent music programs,” she said, “but what I gained was background information, resources, and materials (to share at Cerritos).”

Lopez said that she had the opportunity to take classes with music instructor Dr. Martha Baker Jordan who teaches at Cal State Fullerton, and music instructor Sam Shou from Cal State Long Beach.

What she has noticed with students who have taken piano classes with her is that those who have not taken a piano class before are able to learn concepts of melody, rhythm and harmony.

Students feel that Lopez’s experience will be beneficial in the classroom.

“She is very professional,” Jennifer Franco, music major, said.

“And she never, ever has a negative thing to say about anyone,” Franco added.

Franco has been taking classes with Lopez for six years and she characterized Lopez as a “fireball because she strives for students to be better.”

Esther Anaya, music major, said that although she has taken only one semester with Lopez that any student who decides to take a class with her as the instructor will have an “appreciation for music.”

Cirilo Reyes, music major, said that not only will students have a better appreciation for music, but also that Lopez as an instructor will seek out the needs of those students who want to learn about music in general.

All agree that during their time as students of Lopez that each one of them has been influenced by her for wanting to know more about music and for Lopez, that is one of the things she hopes her students gain.

“I want students not only to be involved with learning about music, but also have a good experience,” Lopez explained.