Describe your approach to teaching?

My primary goal in teaching is to establish a well-rounded foundation of musical knowledge, appreciation, and piano technique which hopefully will benefit my students in whatever path they may take in the future. I think it is important to not only focus on piano, but to incorporate aspects of music history and encourage listening as much as possible. I feel each student demands a personalized approach and I strive to design long term plans which will speak to their individual strengths and needs. Being able to play the piano and appreciate classical music has been such an outlet for me creatively and emotionally, to pass on this gift to others is a huge privilege that I take very seriously.

What drew you to MUSIC AND THE piano?

When I was very young my father would often be playing the piano in the house. He introduced me to the works of American composers such as Scott Joplin and George Gershwin. He also began to teach me the basics of reading music and playing piano starting from when I was 5 years old.

Once I reached high school my interest in piano was taken to the next level by the late wonderful local teacher, Glenn Jenks. He instilled in me a love not only for the piano but for classical music in general. I remember picking up my first ever classical CD he recommended to me, a recording of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerti. Listening to these beautiful pieces changed my understanding of what it meant to be a pianist.  It was while studying with him that I realized that music is what I wanted to dedicate my life to.