Since she was six years old, Cassandra Bak has played the piano and cannot imagine life without music being a part of it. She grew up in Missoula, MT, and was involved in the homeschool choir in junior high and high school. Cassi graduated with her bachelor's degree in Piano Performance with a minor in Worship Arts from Grand Canyon University in 2019, and then with her Master's in Piano Performance from the University of Montana in 2022. Cassi is a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and enjoys continuing her education about teaching. When not teaching, she spends her time collaborating and performing with other musicians and learning new music. When Cassi is not teaching or practicing, she enjoys time with family and friends outdoors, hiking, paddle boarding, and exploring. She also enjoys road trips, reading, and painting when time allows.
Cassandra Bak has experience teaching both group and private piano lessons at the University of Montana during her years there as the Graduate Teacher's Assistant. She is also a teacher at PLAY Piano Academy in Missoula and enjoys working with beginner and intermediate students ranging from ages 6 to 14. She has gained much experience teaching under the guidance of the fabulous teachers at the UM and PLAY Piano Academy.
Music is the pulse of life, the connection between order and chaos, the balm that helps people through life in both the good times and bad. Music is an outlet for emotions and a force that brings people closer together. Learning music provides more then just skills for making beautiful sounds but provides skills that can be applied in all areas of life. Creative thinking, improvisation, perseverance, attention to detail, empathy, time management, and more.
I believe that learning music involves a holistic approach, not just focusing on learning pieces of music, but learning music theory, improvisation, performance skills, sight-reading, and developing a fuller understanding of music. It also involves finding the interests and goals of the student and helping them reach those goals, whether it is further education in music, bringing back skills that were lost, and just having fun learning a new skill.
In my teaching I focus on musicality which stems from having good technique, a listening ear, understanding of the composer’s intention, and having a passion for music. I focus on technique in my teaching, helping students play in a relax and comfortable way that helps avoid tension and injury while allowing them to create beautiful tone. I guide them to listen to minute changes in sound so they can learn to create the sound they want. I help them understand the intention, so the composers based on the historical content and the meaning behind the music they are learning and sharing. Having a passion for music comes from inspiration from the people around them and the community they are surrounded and encouraged by.
I believe all students need a supporting and encouraging community, but they also need the self-discipline and dedication for individual practice personal goals. I strive to help students not only to know how to set achievable goals, but also a game plan to achieve those goals through dedicated, and focused daily practice. This comes naturally to some people, but others it can be taught if the student has the desire to put in the hard work and effort that is needed for the feeling of achievement. My teaching style provides this community and fun in a structured atmosphere focused on the goals of the individual.
