How much do you charge?

I charge $30 per half-hour lesson. If you are interested in longer lessons, 45-minute lessons are $40, and 60-minute lessons are $50.

Where do you teach?

I teach out of my home studio located on the west end of Highlands Ranch, CO.

Do you provide in-home lessons?

I do not generally travel to students' home for lessons. However, I have made exceptions in the past for families with a larger number of children all taking lessons, or when there are multiple children in one neighborhood taking lessons. If you'd like to discuss this possibility, please contact me and I will see what I might be able to do.

What ages do you teach?

Generally, children can be ready for traditional piano lessons around 5 years old, though some may be ready a little earlier and some may not be ready for a while longer. If you’re not sure if your child is ready, please do contact me so that we can discuss this together. I have a special program available for children as young as 4 years old, though again, some kids are ready and some aren't. As an adult, whether you’ve always wanted to learn or you’re among the “I used to play; I wish I remembered something” crowd, I’m a huge proponent of the it’s-never-too-late school of thought. You’ll have to practice, but I can promise you it will be worth the effort.

Do you teach all levels and abilities?

Because my specialization in college was in composing, not performance, I am comfortable teaching beginner and intermediate piano students. Those with more advanced skills should seek a teacher whose education was specialized in piano performance and repertoire.

What styles of playing do you teach?

The first thing that I want to make clear is that I am not a traditional classical piano teacher. My piano education has a classical foundation; however, my advanced education was distinctly contemporary in focus. So, if you are looking for a teacher to take you or your child through the full classical repertoire, there are teachers better suited to those goals than I am.

 

So what do I play and teach then?

Well, I personally like to play the music that I like to listen to, which can range from Sting or Billy Joel or the Beatles to a classical piece every now and then to a jazz standard here and there to that one song by that one guy whose other work is terrible, but man, that one song is spectacular! I feel very strongly that the versatility of the piano as a vehicle of expression is not experienced by nearly enough students of the instrument, and that this is why many students lose interest over time and, eventually, never touch a piano again. I believe it is crucial to show students, particularly older children and teenagers, the relevance the piano can have to their lives and how it can tie in to their interest in music.

And how do you do that exactly?

Every student has to start off with the fundamentals, because without a strong foundation, there’s nothing to build on. Learning to read music, understanding the basics of music theory, and developing aural skills are all crucial tools for keeping the piano in a student’s life, long after he/she leaves lessons behind. Once a student has a sufficient foundation, we can start exploring how to connect the piano with the music he/she loves to listen to. This includes learning to play by ear, creating their own adaptations of songs they love, learning how to read and play from lead sheets, and continuing to develop their ability to play from written music. From there, students will start to build a personal relationship with the instrument, and they’ll start to see just how much they can do with it. Imbuing older kids and teens with a love for an instrument is all about showing them that practicing pays off in terms of the enjoyment it can bring to them.

How much do you expect your students to practice?

The textbook answer is: daily, for the length of your lesson. In other words, if your child has a 30 minute lesson, he/she should practice 30 minutes a day. I realize however that this isn't always realistic for kids who have a number of extracurricular activities. So here is my 'real world' answer: as often as your child can, for as long as the day's schedule allows. Ten minutes of practice are better than none at all. It is important to make time to practice, but if you can't set aside the ideal amount, don't just throw the day's practice out the window. Keep in mind, though, that when kids don't practice as much as they should, they don't progress as quickly as they'd like, and they often get frustrated. It is crucial to find a way to incorporate piano practice into their schedules as often as possible. I'd be happy to share suggestions if you are struggling with this for your child.

 

What is your cancellation policy?

Sometimes stuff comes up. I get it. I am happy to accommodate schedule shifts as best as I can within my own schedule constraints. If you can't make a lesson, let me know, and we will reschedule. Due to the nature of setting up childcare for my little son, however, same day cancellations will not be refunded or rescheduled. Besides that, though, I like to keep a flexible approach to missed lessons, because there will be some times that I have to cancel lessons too! As long as we can all work together with respect and consideration for one another's schedules, I'm good.

 

What does the name "Turning Leaf Music" mean?

The phrase “Turning Leaf” comes from a lyric by Sting, from a song called “I Was Brought To My Senses”: 

               

                And inside every turning leaf,
                Is the pattern of an older tree.
                The shape of our future,
                The shape of all our history.