Dr. Natalie Khatibzadeh

Dr. Natalie Khatibzadeh began studying Suzuki Piano at the age of three with Cathy Williams Hargrave, Master of Music (M.M.). From Cathy Hargrave, Natalie learned the importance of listening for beautiful tone production, mastering each practice step, and striving for excellence in every performance. As a child, Natalie performed in monthly play-ins and bi-annual recitals. As a result, she became accustomed to performing in front of an audience at a very young age. Natalie learned the importance of presenting a polished piece to the audience. This gave her a sense of accomplishment and instilled in her a great appreciation for music. 

Natalie loves to work with children. She encourages all children to take comfort and pride in the music that they perform. Since Natalie began to teach piano lessons as a teenager, she has been inspired by students’ innate talents. She enjoys working with each child to bring forth his or her creative intuition. Natalie wants to share her positive experiences from Suzuki Piano lessons with the next generation of children. Through the Suzuki Method, students build character, concentration skills, and a sense of community.

In August 2020, Natalie completed a Doctorate of Musical Arts, a Post-Master’s Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy, and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Historical Keyboard Performance at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. At UNCG, she studied piano and harpsichord with Dr. Andrew Willis. From 2015 to 2018, Natalie taught UNCG undergraduate students in Class Piano and Theory. She also taught piano lessons to children at The International School of Music (Bethesda, MD) from 2013 to 2015. From 2016 to 2018, she had the privilege of teaching at UNCG Summer Music Camp. Natalie received a Master of Music in Piano Performance from The University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Ithaca College. In addition to teaching piano lessons, she also enjoys collaborating with vocalists and other instrumentalists, performing at weddings and other special occasions, and playing for church services.