Piano Lessons in Denver, CO

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Synthesizer Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn Keyboard

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I do a pretty good job of placing students into regional, honors, and all-state bands. Usually there's someone in my studio who's all-state level. A few of my students have gone on to be professional musicians. One tours the world with his one-man Sax BeatBox" act; another plays in thee President's Own USMC band; etc. But I don't really measure success by how many of my students turn pro. If you've learned something, if you've grown as a person, if you retain a love for making music well after your last lesson is over, that's a success in my book.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Fundamentals, i.e. good tone, good time, solid technique, intonation, solid reading skills. You never really get beyond the basics; you just get better and better at them throughout your life. "Mastery" is a moving target where music is concerned; you'll pursue it your whole life.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
For piano, I like the Alfred Books - they have a very robust and well-rounded curriculum. But others like Schirmer and Bastien are good, too. For wind instruments, I can teach effectively using whatever method book you're currently using in band. Standard of Excellence and Essential Elements seem to be the two favorites right now, and they're both great. We won't always be using books, though. I have lots of my own supplemental materials, and I'm also a big fan of learning by ear and improvising.

When will I start to see results?
You should start seeing results right away. This all depends on the amount of time you want to put in. I only see you for 30-60 minutes once a week; the real progress happens during the other six days.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I had many great teachers along the way, starting in 1st grade and continuing on through college. Most of them were pretty great about encouraging me to get better and supporting me, while at the same time not "sugar-coating" how difficult it is to make a living in music.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
My mom was watching a cheesy music video one evening, right before we had out little 4th grade instrument "petting zoo." She made the offhand comment about how the saxophone was such a magical instrument to her. That was it - saxophone for me. Since that time I've branched out into several other instruments, but I still remember that moment.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Make a habit of it, every day. Even if you only play for a few minutes - you might be surprised what you can accomplish in 5-10 minutes every day. You'll definitely accomplish more than "cramming" for 1-2 hours right before your lesson.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
You're ready today! If you have the desire to learn something new, you're absolutely ready right now. That's literally all that's required. That and the actual instrument, of course, lol.

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