Education: In 2005, I earned my Bachelor's Degrees graduating Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University (ASU) via the Barrett Honors College. As a student of piano, I began at the age of 6 in 1988. The majority of my advanced piano training comes from Master Pianist Larry Clapp, a student of his since 2000. Under his instruction, I passed the Level 12 Arizona Study Program Exams in 2005 with a Superior Performance Rating and Theory score in the 90s. In addition, I have acquired both my Beginning and Intermediate Piano Pedagogy Certifications (CCL) from Mesa Community College under the generous guidance of Drs. Radmila Stojanovic-Kiriluk and Ruth Yandell.
Career: Professionally, I have been both a private instructor and teaching group lessons in the local public schools around the valley under Elementsmusic LLC since 2003. Many elementary and middle school students around the valley have probably seen my performances during school assemblies and lunches to promote our after-school club. I have a been a member of the MTNA and EVMTA since 2008, teaching both classical and pop styles while incorporating Theory into every lesson. As a teacher, I have successfully coached students through Level 12 of the Arizona Study Program (ASP) Theory and Performance Exams, the final and most challenging level of the program. In a typical year, only around 100 students in the entire state of Arizona complete Level 12 category A. It is with great pride that I can claim to have 7 students accomplish this feat in 2020.
Style: Generally, simple arrangements of Top 40 Songs/TV Show, Video Game, and Movie Themes are taught to students in order to awaken their interest. Later on, classical music is encouraged to incite a deeper appreciation for the finer nuances of music-making. One of my first questions when interviewing students for the first time is often "What have you always wanted to learn to play on a piano?"
Easier models of difficult pieces can usually be modified to suit the student's ability. One does not have to know any Beethoven or Bach (Although you really, really should) if their goal is to play the Star Wars or the Theme from "Halloween" at a Costume party. The most important thing is to determine the student's goals and proceed with the most efficient means of realizing them.
Career: Professionally, I have been both a private instructor and teaching group lessons in the local public schools around the valley under Elementsmusic LLC since 2003. Many elementary and middle school students around the valley have probably seen my performances during school assemblies and lunches to promote our after-school club. I have a been a member of the MTNA and EVMTA since 2008, teaching both classical and pop styles while incorporating Theory into every lesson. As a teacher, I have successfully coached students through Level 12 of the Arizona Study Program (ASP) Theory and Performance Exams, the final and most challenging level of the program. In a typical year, only around 100 students in the entire state of Arizona complete Level 12 category A. It is with great pride that I can claim to have 7 students accomplish this feat in 2020.
Style: Generally, simple arrangements of Top 40 Songs/TV Show, Video Game, and Movie Themes are taught to students in order to awaken their interest. Later on, classical music is encouraged to incite a deeper appreciation for the finer nuances of music-making. One of my first questions when interviewing students for the first time is often "What have you always wanted to learn to play on a piano?"
Easier models of difficult pieces can usually be modified to suit the student's ability. One does not have to know any Beethoven or Bach (Although you really, really should) if their goal is to play the Star Wars or the Theme from "Halloween" at a Costume party. The most important thing is to determine the student's goals and proceed with the most efficient means of realizing them.