My first experiences with piano involved learning simple duets with my Mom. I loved playing Chopsticks and Heart and Soul with her the sound was always so much bigger when we played together. I began formal piano lessons at age six, though my first piano teacher wasnt a great fit. Her lessons were quite rigid and I was disappointed that I didnt get to choose any of my pieces. I struggled to maintain my love of music until finding my second teacher, who opened up a new world of technique and fun for me. She was kind and funny and tailored my lessons to my individual needs.
As I grew older, my love of music extended into dance and musical theater, which led me to audition for my first musical, Annie, at age eight. I was cast in a lead role and loved everything about the experience. I continued to perform in musicals through college, earning a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Sam Houston State University.
After graduation I moved to Austin and began performing in musicals professionally. At the same time, I began teaching voice lessons to kids - it was an instant fit. I loved working one-on-one to help another person discover their musical interests and skills. I was also excited to notice how much teaching allowed me to really dig into the details of music, exploring the nuts and bolts of everything from technique to music history.
I enjoyed teaching so much that I became a preschool teacher at Childswork Learning Center soon after moving to Portland in 2007. I was the lead music teacher for my class, and I noticed that my favorite part of every work day was the 15 minutes that I taught music to my students. I left Childswork in 2010 to teach piano full time and had the honor and great pleasure of teaching piano to 10 of my 12 preschool students (some of whom Im lucky enough to still teach to this day).
I am truly grateful to have found work that I love and that feels so very meaningful. No two students are the same, which makes every teaching experience fresh and engaging. I look forward to building relationships and facing new challenges with students for many years to come.
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