Livonia
Area
Piano Teachers
Forum
Welcome
Livonia Area Piano Teachers Forum (LAPTF)
is deeply rooted in a commitment to our craft & an intention to
generously share knowledge, experience, and insight
with the next generation of teachers.
"One who dares to teach must never cease to learn."
― Richard Henry Dana
Monthly Meetings
September - May
1st Wednesday of each month*
10:00 AM
*Details - including location - are included with speaker bios and meeting topics below. Please note specific date changes to accommodate holidays and local school schedule.
Visitors Welcome!
October 2-3, 2026
Michigan Music Teachers Association
2026 Conference
Join us for the 140th Annual MMTA Conference — sponsored by LAPTF. You'll benefit from professional development, inspiring content, brilliant performances, master class expertise, and critical networking opportunities. Come meet Michigan's best music educators!
See the MMTA official website for registration and scheduling.
Location: Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI
We
Are
You.
We are every piano teacher.
Fresh Entrepreneur.
Veteran Instructor.
College Professor.
Side Hustler.
Grad Student.
If you teach, you belong in LAPTF.
Mary Siciliano
BE INVOLVED. There is no greater inspiration than meeting fellow piano teachers and working together to create meaningful projects and events for our students and our community.
Soonghee Ha, DMA
When I moved to Michigan 14 years ago, I did not have anyone with whom to discuss, "How to teach a beginner." Attending monthly meetings with my colleagues at LAPTF has helped me gain a better understanding of teaching piano than I had studied in school. As I learn more about teaching music, I find myself enjoying it even more than before. Serving as a board member at LAPTF has been a great way to develop myself. I am grateful to LAPTF for this wonderful experience!
Janice Derian
LAPTF monthly meetings provide me an excellent source of friendship, mentoring, and educational growth. My students have thrived through LAPTF events such as recitals, fund raisers, The Monster Concerts, and Student Achievement Testing. It is a wonderful community of intelligent pedagogical and musical minds and hearts.
LAPTF 2026 - 2027 Board
Vice President
Dr. Yalan Piao
Yalan received her Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance from Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She moved to the US to pursue higher education at Michigan State University where she gained a MM and DMA. Beyond her performances, Yalan is an educator and adjudicator for piano competitions and adjunct faculty member at Madonna University.
Treasurer
Amber Allmen
Immediate Past President
Gail Gebhart
Amber holds an MM in Piano Pedagogy from Michigan State University. She has been an active instructor since 2009 and currently teaches in her Farmington Hills studio.
Gail teaches private piano in her Farmington Hills studio. She is a former faculty member at Wayne State University. She holds degrees from University of Michigan and Wayne State University and is a piano Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Standing & Special Committees
Please click name to send email
Immediate Past President - Gail Gebhart
Membership - Shiranthi De' Silva
SAT - Deidre Myers
Website Custodian - Gail Gebhart
Honors Recital - Pinlin Liu
SAT LAPTF Semi-final Chair - Mary Siciliano
Charity & Outreach - Joyce McClure
Program Coordinator - Linette Popoff-Parks
