I have been a musician for as long as I can remember - whilst my current focus is on songwriting, composing, and arranging, I grew up studying piano, violin and singing in choirs throughout my life. I attended UC Santa Cruz and Berklee College of Music, where I got my BA in Songwriting with a piano emphasis
Over the years I have shared my own music throughout the US, UK, and Europe. I enjoy classical, folk, blues, jazz, and instrumental music but really appreciate anything that is moving or catches me sonically in some way.
I try to provide my students with a variety of musical choices and styles while focusing on some classical foundation (healthy technique and note reading), chord knowledge, musicality, emotional expression, and developing listening skills.
I also draw somewhat from Suzuki Method philosophy, which I grew up with but don’t use exclusively - Sinichi Suzuki proposes that each student has an innate ability to acquire musical language, much as they learn to speak in their native language – through listening, practice, repetition, and immersion.
I also draw from many years working in early childhood education. I have done professional development with the Helen Gordon Center (PSU), The Opal School, Arts for Learning NW and Right Brain Initiative, Youth Music Project, and CAST. I do my best to support learning differences by incorporating multiple methods and styles of instruction and taking the time to learn from my students what works best for them.
