About Us
Current Students:
- Sunny D. a 17 year old from Lenexa has taken 10 years of lessons and with
his consistent and intelligent practice habits has completed and mastered 7
comprehensive levels of our piano course. He has learned to play a wide
variety of styles of music including Pop, Rock, Blues and Jazz through both
reading music and improvising. He has also performed Classical pieces at
recitals up to level "Advanced F" including Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata
Mvts I, II & III. Sunny demonstrates what any student can accomplish if
they properly implement what we teach! In our Spring 2011 Piano Recital
Sunny played Classical and Jazz music, including: J. S. Bach's "Sinfonia No.
3," Chopin's "Minute Waltz," "Romanze Sonate" composed by his instructor
Tim De Atley, and "I'll Take Romance" a Jazz standard in which Sunny
created his own unique arrangement. He also improvised a solo on a Latin
Jazz tune composed and performed by his instructor titled "Bossa Nueva."
- Caleb T. a 16 year old from Overland Park has played piano for 11 years
and trombone for four years. Not only is he becoming a good Classical and
Jazz/Pop pianist he also played trombone in the Kansas City Youth Jazz
Band and participates in band in school. In our Fall 2011 Piano Recital
Caleb played Mozart's Sonata K. 545 Mvts I, II, III, a Chopin Nocturne and
"Water Colors" - a Contemporary Jazz Suite by Evans. He also accompanied
another student named Kavya who sang "Ice Castles" and accompanied a
choir of our students singing "Christmas Time is Here" by Vince Guaraldi
composer of the much loved music of the Peanuts cartoons. He improvised
the accompaniments for these pieces by using a lead sheet - a basic sketch
of the melody and chord symbols.
- Kavya K. a 9 year old from Lenexa has taken 2 1/2 years of piano lessons
and consistently practices five to seven days a week for 30 minutes a day.
She is a good example of one of our young students who enthusiastically
puts into practice our high quality teaching and reaps the benefits both
musically and in life. She is improving at an impressive pace and enjoying
the process. Along with playing the piano she is a budding singer as well. In
our Fall 2011 Piano Recital she played several piano pieces and sang "Ice
Castles" with piano accompaniment by Caleb. She also sings in the Allegro
Community Children's Choir proving that our piano lessons not only create
excellent pianists but also prepares our students to become active and
successful musicians beyond piano. And following in Kavya's footsteps is
her five-year-old sister Anuva who has taken one year of lessons and doing
equally well.
- David S. a retired biology teacher from Overland Park has taken lessons for
10 years. An avid music listener all of his life he had never taken any kind of
music lessons before studying piano. He has now become a proficient
pianist and enjoys playing music as well as listening to it. He also has a
deeper appreciation for music and the dedication it takes to become a good
musician. Through his growing understanding of music his taste in music
styles has expanded to include Jazz along with his previous interest in Rock
and Classical (The Beatles and Bach being his favorites).
Former Students:
- Chris H. from Overland Park took lessons for 14 years from age three - 17.
In our Spring 2009 Piano Recital he performed solo, duet and larger
ensemble pieces in a variety of styles of music. He played a J. S. Bach
Invention, Lee Evans' Contemporary Jazz Suite "Water Colors," David Lanz'
tribute to the inventor of the piano "Cristifori's Dream," and an original
composition he titled "Time Away." He also played The Beatles' song "With a
Little Help from My Friends" with his 11 year old brother Cullen (who is a
current student, now 13, and has taken lessons since he was 3) and a
group of students singing. He improvised his part using only a lead sheet
(basic sketch of the melody and chords) of the song. Chris also participated
in the Jazz program at Rockhurst High School and received a score of 4
(highest) for his performance of a Mozart Sonata.
- Grant and Laura P. siblings from Kansas City, Missouri, both took lessons
for 6 years during the 1990s successfully learning to play the piano. With the
thorough music background they attained they were able to transfer that
knowledge when learning to play other instruments (tuba and clarinet) and
performed in the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. Their mother Kay drove
them the distance to our studio every week because she appreciated the
quality education her children received and told us, "My kids really respect
you and what you say and always try to do what you tell them to do!"
- Sunny D. a 17 year old from Lenexa has taken 10 years of lessons and with
his consistent and intelligent practice habits has completed and mastered 7
comprehensive levels of our piano course. He has learned to play a wide
variety of styles of music including Pop, Rock, Blues and Jazz through both
reading music and improvising. He has also performed Classical pieces at
recitals up to level "Advanced F" including Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata
Mvts I, II & III. Sunny demonstrates what any student can accomplish if
they properly implement what we teach! In our Spring 2011 Piano Recital
Sunny played Classical and Jazz music, including: J. S. Bach's "Sinfonia No.
3," Chopin's "Minute Waltz," "Romanze Sonate" composed by his instructor
Tim De Atley, and "I'll Take Romance" a Jazz standard in which Sunny
created his own unique arrangement. He also improvised a solo on a Latin
Jazz tune composed and performed by his instructor titled "Bossa Nueva."
- Caleb T. a 16 year old from Overland Park has played piano for 11 years
and trombone for four years. Not only is he becoming a good Classical and
Jazz/Pop pianist he also played trombone in the Kansas City Youth Jazz
Band and participates in band in school. In our Fall 2011 Piano Recital
Caleb played Mozart's Sonata K. 545 Mvts I, II, III, a Chopin Nocturne and
"Water Colors" - a Contemporary Jazz Suite by Evans. He also accompanied
another student named Kavya who sang "Ice Castles" and accompanied a
choir of our students singing "Christmas Time is Here" by Vince Guaraldi
composer of the much loved music of the Peanuts cartoons. He improvised
the accompaniments for these pieces by using a lead sheet - a basic sketch
of the melody and chord symbols.
- Kavya K. a 9 year old from Lenexa has taken 2 1/2 years of piano lessons
and consistently practices five to seven days a week for 30 minutes a day.
She is a good example of one of our young students who enthusiastically
puts into practice our high quality teaching and reaps the benefits both
musically and in life. She is improving at an impressive pace and enjoying
the process. Along with playing the piano she is a budding singer as well. In
our Fall 2011 Piano Recital she played several piano pieces and sang "Ice
Castles" with piano accompaniment by Caleb. She also sings in the Allegro
Community Children's Choir proving that our piano lessons not only create
excellent pianists but also prepares our students to become active and
successful musicians beyond piano. And following in Kavya's footsteps is
her five-year-old sister Anuva who has taken one year of lessons and doing
equally well.
- David S. a retired biology teacher from Overland Park has taken lessons for
10 years. An avid music listener all of his life he had never taken any kind of
music lessons before studying piano. He has now become a proficient
pianist and enjoys playing music as well as listening to it. He also has a
deeper appreciation for music and the dedication it takes to become a good
musician. Through his growing understanding of music his taste in music
styles has expanded to include Jazz along with his previous interest in Rock
and Classical (The Beatles and Bach being his favorites).
Former Students:
- Chris H. from Overland Park took lessons for 14 years from age three - 17.
In our Spring 2009 Piano Recital he performed solo, duet and larger
ensemble pieces in a variety of styles of music. He played a J. S. Bach
Invention, Lee Evans' Contemporary Jazz Suite "Water Colors," David Lanz'
tribute to the inventor of the piano "Cristifori's Dream," and an original
composition he titled "Time Away." He also played The Beatles' song "With a
Little Help from My Friends" with his 11 year old brother Cullen (who is a
current student, now 13, and has taken lessons since he was 3) and a
group of students singing. He improvised his part using only a lead sheet
(basic sketch of the melody and chords) of the song. Chris also participated
in the Jazz program at Rockhurst High School and received a score of 4
(highest) for his performance of a Mozart Sonata.
- Grant and Laura P. siblings from Kansas City, Missouri, both took lessons
for 6 years during the 1990s successfully learning to play the piano. With the
thorough music background they attained they were able to transfer that
knowledge when learning to play other instruments (tuba and clarinet) and
performed in the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. Their mother Kay drove
them the distance to our studio every week because she appreciated the
quality education her children received and told us, "My kids really respect
you and what you say and always try to do what you tell them to do!"
Tim De Atley - Piano Instructor, Piano Technician, Pianist, and Composer
Studied Classical and Jazz piano at the Conservatory of Music at UMKC. This
extensive background, along with a lifetime of musical discovery, allows him to
teach both Classical and Jazz/Popular music styles equally well. He has taught
piano lessons for over 25 years to students ages 7 - adult.
Kimberly Eichman - Piano Instructor and Early Childhood Educator
Specializes in teaching piano lessons to students ages three - 12. With an
education degree and over 25 years of piano teaching experience she
understands how children learn and how to teach them on their level. Her caring
and patient personality gives students a supportive environment in which to learn.
Tim and Kim have developed a very effective lesson program for any age student.
Both are dedicated to the belief that anyone can successfully learn to play the
piano and that this process should be an enjoyable, positive, and life changing
experience!
We have taught piano lessons to one thousand students in the past 25 years.
Whether it was to play at an easy level and learn the fundamentals of music
(which also prepared them to learn to play other instruments or sing); or to
play at a higher level and learn their favorite Pop songs, Classical pieces, and
Jazz standards we have helped our students realize their musical aspirations.
(You can read about some of our students below.)
You or your child can become our next success story!
Studied Classical and Jazz piano at the Conservatory of Music at UMKC. This
extensive background, along with a lifetime of musical discovery, allows him to
teach both Classical and Jazz/Popular music styles equally well. He has taught
piano lessons for over 25 years to students ages 7 - adult.
Kimberly Eichman - Piano Instructor and Early Childhood Educator
Specializes in teaching piano lessons to students ages three - 12. With an
education degree and over 25 years of piano teaching experience she
understands how children learn and how to teach them on their level. Her caring
and patient personality gives students a supportive environment in which to learn.
Tim and Kim have developed a very effective lesson program for any age student.
Both are dedicated to the belief that anyone can successfully learn to play the
piano and that this process should be an enjoyable, positive, and life changing
experience!
We have taught piano lessons to one thousand students in the past 25 years.
Whether it was to play at an easy level and learn the fundamentals of music
(which also prepared them to learn to play other instruments or sing); or to
play at a higher level and learn their favorite Pop songs, Classical pieces, and
Jazz standards we have helped our students realize their musical aspirations.
(You can read about some of our students below.)
You or your child can become our next success story!
Success Stories
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| We Bring Harmony to Your World! |
| DE ATLEY PIANO |
| A Trusted Name in Music Since 1980 |
| 913-962-9000 |
| Excellence in Education & Superior Service |