Private Lessons

Whether you’re looking to get started on music or hone your skills after years of training, a good relationship with a good teacher makes all the difference.

I am honored to have lead dozens and dozens of wonderful students over the years. Its a gift to be able to work with students of all ages and skill levels; its a challenge and a gift to discover new depths in music as I articulate a fresh story of musical practice for every individual I counsel.

Improvisation Sessions

“How must I be in order for you to be free?” — Orland Bishop

The study of improvisation invites us into a pedagogy of freedom. Embedded in temporal, socio-cultural relationships, we improvise ourselves in every moment. Our music researches who we are becoming. In practice, we strive to welcome in all of our senses — every sound, every intuition, every moment — and self-express through coherent music. Come join these delightful inquiries as we play towards the creation of a More Beautiful World.

Improv For All —
”How To Jam With Anyone”

Teaching overview

The first question I ask all prospective students is "what kind of musician would you like to become"?  “What are your musical dreams"?” My teaching is always tailored to meet the goals, personalities and potentials of each student — identifying where you would like to go is the first step on our shared path. While visions of the future always may change, we dialogue over time to sort out suitable yearly, seasonal, and weekly goals.

I teach disparate methodologies of creating music. You can become an improvising pianist, a classical pianist, a more confident singer, a refined songwriter, a better guitar player, or gain intellectual footing over several traditions of sound making. I’ve worked with computer programmers, poets, engineers and actors. I can communicate with you. Despite a robust communication and intellectual scaffolding, most of my music originates from embodiment and intuition.

As a pianist, I emphasize clear thinking and physical awareness. The body generates sound; developing kinesthetic awareness allows us to play with our body. This portal invites us into the present moment, so we benefit from the information our body collects in each moment. Thinking gently and creatively creates effortless originality in our work — and allows us to easily adjust and reconstruct our maps of reality.

Clear feeling is the third leg of the stool — the true goal of music is to be music, and move audiences with your expression. While the logical mind has plenty to take care of, music is an opportunity for the deep mysteries of your soul’s longings to commune with others’ realities.

Learning any embodied skill very deeply involves one core feature: learning how to practice. Music engages the full spectrum of human senses, abilities and sensibilities. Practicing well invites us to develop diverse tactics and outlooks: ranging from critical thinking to deep listening; rote learning to free play. Learning music . Studying music carries an adaptive advantage. Although all learning challenges us music especially challenges us to become aware of our strengths & weakness and over time, music especially invites us reshapes our preferred modes of perception and processes of collect sensory and intuitive information.

I welcome students of all ages and ability levels. My diverse skill set has connected me with a diverse group of learners. I've worked with kids with ASD, very young kids (3-5+), adults with learning disabilities, and lots of "recovering classically trained pianists".  No matter what challenges you have faced in your life, I know that with patience and persistence you can enjoy the beauty of your full musical self.