94. The Long and Winding Road

After having taught thousands of piano lessons to a generation of piano students of all ages at the Portland Conservatory of Music, at several music schools in California and privately for the last 20 years, my last teaching day has arrived.

I have put my heart and soul into providing piano lessons using teaching tools that encourage students to look forward to their lesson by emphasizing relevance to their musical needs and interests, methodical building of playing skills, playing expressively and cultivating effective working relationships. (Most of my teaching principles can be found on the Music Ed. page of this website.)

I want to thank my students and their families for helping me to grow through our work together. I have been blessed by the memorable experiences and relationships formed throughout the process and by a supportive wife. One final word of playing advice is contained in the title of a piece by the great jazz bassist Charles Mingus called "You Better Git It In Your Soul." Truer words were never spoken.

I am keeping all my options open, but the main reason for making this change is to give myself the time and opportunity to look for new collaborative working relationships and market my original music, lyrics, plays and other written material. (also referred to elsewhere on this website.)

The story of how the long and winding road led me here is contained in the thread of this blog starting with the first one entitled Long, Long Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away. But for now, BOOM! Here's a cannon for the next 20 years....

Please stay in touch and watch for updates.