Through thick and thin, I always had music and piano lessons that allowed me to escape the pressure and stress of school.  You helped me cultivate my artistic side and many of my favorite classical pieces are ones that I learned with you like Brahms’ “Rhapsody in G Minor,” Ravel’s “Sonatine,” Debussy’s “Pour le Piano,” culminating in my senior year when you guided me through the daunting “Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1.”  For me, playing piano was always out of love for the instrument and I truly thank you for helping me nurture that love for so many years.  It will stay with me forever.

Karina Choy

Nancie was the best piano teacher I could have had. We had fun. She didn't let me accept mediocrity but didn't sacrifice the fun and our relationship in pursuit of some elusive level of piano greatness. She played at my wedding years after my final recital. Life is busy now, kids, grad school plus a job. I haven't made the time to tell her how much it meant to me that she played at my wedding. How it made me feel connected to that time long ago when I would sit in the calm quiet of Nancie's studio, in the space before she arrived, and tap out some soft chords. Not imagining possibilities. Just being.

Andy Hanauer

I have so many fond memories of piano lessons with Nancie that it’s hard to pick just one! I always enjoyed the short walk to her house and knowing that no matter what else was going on in my life, for the next hour it would be me, Nancie and music.  Nancie always greeted me at the door with such a warm smile and made me feel right at home. We’d usually share a laugh or two over funny little things and even when I didn’t do the best job or when I didn’t practice enough, Nancie was always encouraging and sweet. 

I still play the piano and people who don’t know I play are sometimes very impressed.  It’s a skill and an accomplishment of which I will always be proud.  And that’s all thanks to Nancie!!

Eve Alley

Nancie has so many strengths--musician, composer, artist and devoted student of human nature.  As a student of hers for 12 years and one who began piano in later adulthood, I value the way she can zero in on problems and break them down into workable chunks using a vast array of different approaches, all the while relentless in support of my self-confidence.  Our lessons are a dialogue about the work, light-hearted in some respects, but thoroughly disciplined and productive.  She is an outstanding person to have as mentor and guide.

Susann Calkins, Adult Student, Private Studio

My classroom evaluation of Nancie Kester’s Music 150 (Beginning Piano 1) is very positive.  Nancie Kester has taught piano at DVC for many years as adjunct faculty, and continually strives for excellence.  She is a prominent member of the Berkeley music community, and a published composer and performer.  Her time-consuming project arranging many pieces for the ensemble aspect of our beginning and intermediate piano students, "Folk Songs for Piano Ensemble," was exemplary, and is used widely by all instructors.  The creation of these instructional pieces for our students is far beyond what an adjunct instructor should be expected to do.

Her continuing devotion to our piano program thus attests to a genuine love for imparting musical knowledge – indeed the love of music – to our students.  Her class is one of the most impressive I’ve observed.  Students consistently achieved success with activities, many of which were quite challenging.  Nancie interacts with students in the most positive manner.  Her use of humor is a definite asset for engaging students throughout a variety of activities.  She is of vital importance to the continuing success of our program, and one of the most professional and successful class piano instructors I’ve had the pleasure to work with.

Faculty Evaluation of Nancie Kester from Dr. Bruce Cook, Chairman of Piano Program, Diablo Valley College, 2005

Nancie, you have an impact on your students. You teach with your heart.  This is rare.  You have such a love for what you do and so much caring for the people you work with.  You also are lots of fun!  Thank you so very much for your wonderful teaching and kindness to us all!  You are a truly superior instructor as well a beautiful human being.

Diablo Valley Community College Student

Nancie is very competent in teaching the minute and finer points of performance for beginners. Her methodology is such that a student does not feel intimidated when confronted with what seems to be impossible tasks and performance.  Her pleasant personality and demeanor enhances students’ motivation to attain higher achievement rather than succumbing to discouragement or failure.

Contra Costa Community College Student

Fantastic work on this composition! You show strength in every category I could possibly comment on.  You are a uniquely musical person.  The musicality in your writing speaks of a seasoned and dedicated musician.  This composition is truly a great synthesis of music and historical forces.  Conceptually overlapping the Irish and Chinese immigrant experiences in song was done so tastefully and creatively.  I can say the same of your text painting in the percussion and piano parts.

Chris Thomas, film composer

I love this! This should be in the repertoire of every women’s chorus in California and nationwide. It has all the qualities that we love about folk music: simple, earnest, yet poignant. The piece is well constructed and shows a high level of compositional skill and creativity. The vocal writing is excellent. Prosody is perfect, not a syllable misplaced. You create a nice balance of textures within the chorus… I love the ostinato bass line. It has a quasi “boogie-woogie” quality that is very American.

Alex Lu, composer

I really like your piece, and enjoyed listening to its textures and relating them to your inspiration. The writing for piano and exchange of lines sound incredibly colorful. There are a lot of very sensitive and crystalline-like wide intervals in the upper register of the piano that sound beautiful.

— Paul Kerekes, composer

Wow! This is a major work! I think you captured a great deal of the Turkish musical spirit quite beautifully! Brava! Traveling abroad and hearing new musical influences is a great tradition for composers throughout history. We can understand why! It is so inspiring. It feels so good to express your experiences through music directly/literally sometimes!

Some of the highlights are the atmospheric writing, the creative use of quartertones to represent native inflection, your choice of instruments, your oboe writing, and the fluid use of mixed meter. All fantastic.  … I'm so impressed with your work; I so hope to hear it performed!

Michael Glenn Williams, composer