Piano Lessons in Boulder, CO

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Organ Synthesizer Ukulele Recorder Euphonium Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I started lessons in 3rd grade but quit in fifth grade after getting bored and losing motivation. In sixth grade, Elton John music became a thing for me and one of his pieces especially drew me back to the piano. My father, hearing me bang out the introductory opening line of that piece - rather badly - said "If you're going to keep doing that, you need to go back to lessons." That was all it took. We found a teacher who would let me bring my Elton John music as long as I played whatever she had as well. There were other defining instances in addition, but that was the BIG one.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I started taking piano lessons first - in third grade. I remember being very excited to get started with that. As my father was a band director, I started playing in band in fourth grade. The shape of my mouth was a concern as we were aware I would be getting braces soon. It was highly recommended I stay away from certain instruments including trumpet, which I did have an interest in. My father took me to visit his band room where we looked some instruments over. Since my father played trombone, I decided to make that my choice as well.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
1. I would go into business for myself. Invent something, perhaps write a book. Then market it. I love the entrepreneurial spirit of defining a need, creating something then making peoples' lives a little better by fulfilling that need. 2. I do have a desire to work with wood and make things, however I presently have no skill that way and no shop to work in. That may change someday, but presently that is not a reality. 3. I occasionally collect things. A buy/sell business that restores and trades antiques/historical items interests me.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I play music in churches every Sunday. I play various dinner/nightclubs quite frequently. Between these two types of gigs, I cover a lot of types of music. I dabble in classical and enjoy the challenge. I dabble in jazz with varying degrees of success. My favorite music to play however has to be my own improvisations and compositions. I have been officially composing since 1981 in college. But, even before I started taking lessons in third grade, I found myself piecing together melodies that seemed to make sense to me.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
As a musician who has varying degrees of taste crossing many different genres, I have musical influences that lead my wish-list all over the spectrum. Here is a small portion of that list: Keith Emerson - "Piano Concerto 1, Mvmts. 1, 2 & 3" Keith Jarrett - "The Moth and the Flame Parts 1,2,3,4,5" Keith Jarrett - "The Köln Concert Parts 1,2a,2b,2c" Herbie Hancock - "Dolphin Dance" Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata No. 21 in C Major Op. 53 "Waldstein" Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata No 8, Op 13 "Pathetique" Sergei Rachmaninoff - "Piano Concerto No's 2 & 3"

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music definitely runs in my immediate family. My father was a band director and often filled in as church choir director. His passion for music and education ran deep. We were identified in our community as a family deeply embedded in music. My mother was educated at college in English Education, but spent a lot of time in music endeavors, including directing the church children's choirs for many years. She has sung in the church adult choir for as long as I can remember, as did my father. My sister took lessons and played in band, as did my twin daughters.

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