About Susan Rancer
"As a person with perfect pitch, I know the struggles that many of my clients experience. I too was “turned off” to music in my early years. In my mind, I recorded a piece of music in my head and played it with perfection. Thus, repetitive rote instruction merely interfered with my progress."
Susan Rancer is a registered music therapist in Piedmont, California. She has been in practice for over 30 years and teaches music to special needs students of all ages. She specializes in piano, guitar, and violin, and also undertakes music therapy activities with students unable to learn an instrument. Rancer has perfect pitch, and was taught by teachers who never fully grasped her ability. By analyzing her own poor experiences with teachers she began to understand what it took to be a successful music therapist and instructor. She graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a bachelor's degree in music therapy in 1974. Rancer now teaches 47 special needs clients, including a number of savants. Twenty of her students also have perfect pitch. She also serves as music director for a local Jewish preschool and synagogue. Rancer focuses on the ability rather than the disability. It is a philosophy that sets her apart from many other teacher and music therapists. By searching for the innate gifts of her students, she is often able to discover hidden and unexpected talents.
You may reach Susan Rancer by phone at 510 654 5882 or by email at SusanRMT@aol.com.