Most of my piano and composition students do not pursue a degree, much less a career, in music. This is how it should be. While I am prepared to take a student to the college level, my main goal is enabling a lifelong joy of music through developing the accomplished learner. Additionally, I coach self-patience, perseverance, and high personal standards – skills useful in any career.

But when the stars align, it seems, I am blessed with a student interested in a career in music. I love the college audition preparation phase, where the literature is necessarily diverse and meaty. I love that the attention to detail is consistently deep. The student’s motivation jumps a few notches higher, and the rate of growth is that much more pronounced.

Getting into a music school is the immediate hurdle. However, I am aware that making a career in music is another hurdle usually not covered at all within the 4 year programs our students take. Thus I also coach how to make a living as a professional musician, or at least to find opportunities to play as a professional musician. More often than not, that means making your own opportunities.