Kathy Pate has worked with our family for almost 15 years. She taught voice and piano to three of our children. Kathy has sung and played piano at our family weddings and entertained at our office events. Our youngest son, Mark, began working with Kathy at the age of 4. He has been in countless recitals and theatre productions in the South Bay, including Oliver (the Artful Dodger), and High School Musical (Troy). Among his Chadwick High School credits are Rent (Mark), and Charlie Brown (Snoopy). Next fall, Mark will be a freshman at Yale University. We believe his success in school and the college application process was a direct result of the musical training and performance skills he developed from years of working with Kathy Pate. We are grateful for all she has meant to our family.
Jovan & Mike Trapani
We are currently in our 4th year taking lessons with Ms. Kathy Pate and couldn’t be happier with our choice. It is rare to find a teacher of her high caliber combined with such a caring, nurturing personality. Ms. Pate would never pressure or force students, but would gently guide and coach them, thereby building self-confidence and enhancing motivation. My children feel very comfortable with her and look forward to every lesson.
Her knowledge of the art and its instruction is beyond question. Moreover, Ms. Pate understands how and what to teach at every age, along with what to expect. This allows each of her students to receive age-appropriate instruction. What I admire most is that she focuses more on how the child can safely achieve a lifetime of musical enjoyment, rather than pushing the child to give the temporary appearance of musical skill to impress parents and other teachers.
I’ve seen many music teachers. The ones who produce the happiest and most successful students are the ones like Ms. Pate, who possess a special talent to make learning fun and rewarding.
Charles Chao
William Pearce’s letter to Kathy upon high school graduation (after 11 years of lessons):
Words cannot express how truly thankful I am to have had you in my life. Your radiant smile and your caring, loving nature has greeted me every lesson and although I was not that great at piano, you were always patient and taught me so much. Learning piano was not even the only thing you showed me. I learned so much about patience, endurance, passion, rhythm, and the true beauty that is music. Again, I am eternally grateful for everything you have done for me. I am who I am today partly because of you.
Sincerely, William Pearce
Alexandra Paez’s letter to Kathy upon high school graduation:
Thank you for all the positivity you have continuously instilled in me over the years. Your constant faith in me has never gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all you have done for me. I consider you a blessing and a true friend in my life. Your honesty, friendship, advice, encouragement and warmth have left an imprint on my heart, my soul and my voice. Thank you for being real with me and for allowing me to be free of all worries when I am lucky enough to have my (never quite long enough) lesson with you.
Love, Alexandra Paez