Philosophy: My primary goal is to foster a life-long love of music for my students. The joy found in studying and mastering a piece of music (whether a C-scale or a sonatina), performing for friends and family, composing an original song -- all these can instill a sense of self-worth and accomplishment that in today’s world can be hard to find. I've taught for decades, but serving as teacher, guide, and fellow-adventurer to students on their own musical journeys is a good feeling that never gets old.
Background: My own musical adventure began in a large family where the guitar was brought out for after-dinner folk singing and I often found my mother practicing the violin when I came home from school each day. Add four older siblings playing instruments, two church-musician grandparents, plus another grandmother who wooed her suitor by playing the harp and singing “Dear One, The World is Waiting for the Sunrise," and you have a serious mash-up of musical influences. When asked in 6th grade to play piano for the Girls’ Chorus concert I was on my way.
Whether chamber music, choral accompanying, piano teaching, nightly gigs at the old Café Budapest and Colonnade Hotel in Boston, recording a Bach Concerto in the Czech Republic, touring Spain with an orchestra, leading church choirs for 20 years, or learning to play the banjo, music always brings me joy.
Education: B.A. Mills College M.M. New England Conservatory
