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"MUSIC BY JENNIFER" customized lessons - Would you like to Piano/Voice lessons in the convenience of your own home! Hello my name is Jennifer Gustafson, originally from California, I have had the pleasure of teaching in the great state of Arizona since 1987.  I travel teach throughout the East Valley and have a few rare openings available to fill with good students at this time.  I have 38+ years experience teaching private lessons in Piano, and Voice Performance to students at all levels. My mission is to maintain my commitment in seeing each student reaching their full potential of talent and self confidence. These skills will carry them throughout their lives.  My teaching style is a balance of commitment to the music with a great deal of fun!  I teach all ages at all levels of experience. My piano students generally study classical and many varieties of music. My voice students generally study vocal techniques utilizing Broadway, Pop and Classical music I was first introduced to Broadway music by my mother, a former New York Rockette Dancer and was trained in voice, dance and acting at the age of seven . I continued performing for 22 more years while raising a family of five until I decided to teach, and I still love it! Along the way I have been fortunate and blessed to have been trained by the best California had to offer; Professors Adele Winslow, Greg Larkin, and Bill Pitzer including College study programs in both California and Arizona. Although I am a native Californian, I have resided in Arizona for over 30 years. I am currently a "TRAVELING VOICE AND PIANO TEACHER" specifically for the East Valley. I am currently a teacher at Arizona Music Academy and have been with them for over 10 years. Lesson Details include weekly 30 minute lessons at the rate of $25 Please contact me ASAP for lesson times and more information before they are taken at 480.335.2707 text/call Looking forward in meeting with you and remember to "Make it a day with Music"

Kevin Gorman holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Music degree in saxophone performance from Northwestern University. Additionally, he earned a Master of Arts degree in music history and literature and a Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance from ASU, where he has also served as a faculty associate in saxophone and chamber music. His teachers include Joseph Wytko, Frederick Hemke, Eugene Rousseau, Donald Sinta, and George Wolfe. A repeated winner in the prestigious Monterey Bay and Coleman chamber music competitions, Dr. Gorman has performed as orchestral saxophonist with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Arizona Musicfest Orchestra, the Sun City Symphony, the Mesa Symphony, the Sierra Vista Symphony, the ASU Symphony Orchestra, the Arizona Musicfest Orchestra, and the West Valley Symphony, in addition to guest soloist appearances with the Sonoran Desert Chorale and the Sierra Winds Woodwind Quintet. His playing can be heard on seven compact discs on the Summit Records and TimeGrabber Digital labels, and he is the featured alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone soloist on the companion discs to the internationally released Standard of Excellence: Festival Solos series (Book 2). For well over a decade, he has performed across the United States as baritone and tenor saxophonist with the Joseph Wytko Saxophone Quartet -- a critically acclaimed ensemble that was selected for broadcast on National Public Radio's Performance Today, among many other accolades. Dr. Gorman has served as the instructor of saxophone at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and several schools in the Phoenix Metro area, including Grand Canyon University and Southwestern College.Weekly one-hour or 30-minute lessons feature a complement of scales and scale patterns, technical and expressive etudes, and both transcriptions and original literature for the instrument. Emphasis is on the alto saxophone, for which most saxophone literature is composed. However, students of the soprano, tenor, or baritone saxophones will receive specialized study, with lessons focused on the specifics of their instrument. Jazz instruction (swing, latin, rock, etc.) emphasizes style by means of articulation, inflection, and interpretation, gained through careful listening and imitation. Lessons are typically structured and paced to prepare students for eventual entry into college-level study in saxophone. However, serious beginners, including adults, are encouraged to inquire about lesson availability as well. High school aged students most often audition for Arizona Regional, Solo and Ensemble, and All-State Festivals. In the past, advanced private students of Dr. Gorman have performed for visiting saxophone masters such as Frederick Hemke and Eugene Rousseau. Saxophone studio recitals are offered in the fall and spring, providing both solo and chamber music performance opportunities for all. Teaching locations service the east valley in the Ahwatukee/Chandler area and the downtown Phoenix arts district.

Owner and Founder of Hammer & Strings Conservatory, Dr. Karali Hunter is an award-winning performer and pedagogue based in Phoenix, AZ. Praised for her performance of Richard Cumming's 24 Preludes,The River Reporter of New York stated "[she] delicately transported listeners through diverse shifts of mood and tempo". Hunter's reputation as a dynamic, sensitive, and passionate performer has led to solo and chamber performances across the country and internationally. Hammer & Strings Conservatory exists to provide the highest level of music instruction to students in the East Valley and beyond. H&S provides instruction in Voice, Piano, and Strings, all from highly educated and accomplished professional musicians who have degrees in their field. Visit our website at www.hammerandstrings.com to find out more. Dr. Hunter made her Carnegie Hall debut performance in 2011 after winning first prize in the American Protégé Piano and Strings Competition. She was also the First Place winner of the Duxbury Summer Music Festival Chamber Competition in Massachusetts. She is a prize winner in Musician's West Piano Competition, Festival for Creative Pianists, Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artists Competition, Coeur D'Alene National Young Artists Competition Finalist, as well as many other local and state competitions. Hunter has studied with and performed for some of the world's foremost musicians, including the legendary Ruth Slenczynska, Gary Graffman (Curtis Institute of Music), Frederic Chiu, John Perry (USC), Yong Hi Moon (Peabody), Nina Svetlanova (Manhattan School of Music), and Monique Duphil (Oberlin Conservatory), and the critically acclaimed Orion Quartet. An active performer, Dr. Hunter is a founding artist of the chamber group, Salonnières, performing regularly throughout Arizona and in the western United States. Salonnières was recently featured on the College of Southern Idaho's Piano Celebrations Series. Hunter is a pianist for Millennial Choirs and Orchestras (MCO) where she performs in numerous concerts annually, as well as recordings. This season, Dr. Hunter performs Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Symphony of the Southwest and the West valley Symphony. She recently performed Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Piano Trio No. 2 in concerts with the MCO Symphony Orchestra in Arizona and Los Angeles, CA. As a featured student artist of Music Fest Perugia, Hunter performed Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Italian orchestra I Solisti di Perugia. She made her orchestral debut at the age of 15 as the featured soloist of the Magic Valley Youth Orchestra. She gives concerts and masterclasses at colleges and universities across the Mountain West. Dr. Hunter is a highly sought-after teacher and pedagogue. She was awarded the StAR Award in 2008 by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) for her "academic excellence, successful teaching experience and demonstrated leadership abilities", the Oscarson Grant from BYU in 2006, and was also elected to the Presidents Leadership Council of BYU in 2007 for her distinction in academic and musical achievements. Her students have gone on to compete, teach, and have been accepted to music programs at various colleges and universities. Student achievements include first place, alternate, and honorable mentions in the Arizona MTNA competition, followed by honorable mention in the Southwest Division MTNA competition; National Gold Medal from the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program (awarded to students achieving the highest mark in the country on their playing and theory assessments); second and third place awards from The American Protégé competition resulting in performances in Carnegie Hall; and many other awards in local and state competitions. She has given masterclasses, presentations, and judged festivals and competitions across the western United States. Dr. Hunter co-presented at The Forum of the International Association for Word and Music Studies: Music and Sexuality, and she is involved in research involving Norwegian folk music and its appearances in classical Norwegian piano works. Dr. Hunter received her Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University, a Master of Music Degree from Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music, and a Doctorate Degree from Arizona State University. email: karali@hammerandstrings.com

I taught for many years (piano and music history) at Wittenberg University in Ohio, but am now located in Tempe. You can get complete background information on me at my studio website: https://www.pianosage.net/studio.html

I discovered that playing the piano was one of my great joys in life at a young age. I completed all 12 graded levels of the Arizona Study Program receiving outstanding performance and theory scores each year. In high school and college, I played keyboard and piano in multiple bands; including bands affiliated with Grand Canyon University. I was a lead pianist for my church for many years. As a piano instructor, my goal is to help students develop their own joy for the piano. Every student is unique, and I adjust my teaching methods to ensure to the best of my ability that I am educating each student in the most helpful way. Piano lessons are generally comprised of theory, technique, and repertoire. My teaching focus is early beginner through intermediate.

I graduated from the Arizona State University School of Music with a degree in Music Therapy in 2010. I have been playing the piano for 25 years and I have been teaching for 12 years. My performances have included solos, duets, quartets, and accompanying small and large ensembles. My studio accepts individuals of all ages, abilities and levels. Because I have a background in Music Therapy, I am able to assess, adapt, and make each lesson tailored to the individual and their learning style.  I use a wide variety of percussion instruments as well as boards, charts, and keyboards to implement what is being taught. I am a member of the East Valley Music Teachers Association nd my students participate in  recitals, performing at the mall, and Achievement Day. Lessons are once a week and payment is due at the first lesson of each month. Tuition is $20 per half hour lesson, and $30 for a 45 minute lesson.  I love to teach, and I am currently accepting students. Call or text me at 480-246-1216 for a free intro lesson.

Kirk’s Studio for the Performing Arts was founded by Kirk Taylor, a professional musician and teacher since 1986, in 2002 and started in the living room of Kirk and Pam’s small home. A year later, the studio found a new home at Frank Lloyd Wright and Via Linda in Scottsdale and continued to grow rapidly.In 2008, a second location was opened at Cave Creek and the 101.We now have nearly 40 instructors who offer private and group lessons in piano, voice, guitar and drums. In addition, we teach most band and orchestra instruments such as violin, viola, cello, brass (trumpet, trombone, french horn, baritone, tuba) and winds (flute, clarinet, saxophone).Our instructors have many years of experience and most have advanced degrees. For a complete lineup of instructors and instruments offered, click here. Many of our students have gone on to scholarships at prestigious universities and careers as musicians. We’re thrilled to work with the very young beginners up to the aspiring professionals. We offer performances annually at nursing homes and at the mall. We also have recitals, open-mic nights and spotlight concerts. We do a huge Showcase every year at a major venue and all students are invited to perform. Check out the studio, teachers, parent comments and Showcase highlights on this video. 

Patricia Cole is a professional classical violinist who has performed alongside famous artists including Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Kanye West, and pianist Lang Lang. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Violin Performance at Arizona State University.Ms. Cole welcomes students of all ages from beginners to advanced players and teaches a wide variety of genres including: Classical, Fiddle, Contemporary, and Mariachi music. For younger players she's an advocate of the Suzuki Method developed by Japanese violinist, Shinichi Suzuki and accepts students under the Suzuki method as early as age 4.For intermediate-advanced players, she works out of a variety of method books tailored to each student’s playing level within their desired music genre. Please message her for scheduling and tuition rates.

Dr. Jessica Yam received her education from New England Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Arizona State University.  She has a particular affinity for Chopin and was one of two national recipients of the Chopin Foundation of the United States Scholarship in the early 2000s.  Her teaching is primarily based on the Russian school, which has been fundamental in her training, and she has taught for over 15 years.  In addition to instructing preparatory level students, she teaches at ASU and has also taught as piano professor at Southwestern College.  She currently serves on the ASMTA Board of Directors and is the chairman of the 2016 ASMTA Conference.  

Private piano and violin lessons for all ages. (I also teach beginning cello, viola, bass, and guitar.) My studio is located at Baseline and Power Roads. In rare cases, I will come to you for an extra $60/month. Weekly lessons are 30, 45, or 60 minutes long (depending on skill level, age, and experience), and I give prizes, rewards, incentives for practicing and achievement (Music needs to be FUN). I have a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Arizona State University. I teach students (any and all ages) music in a way that reaches them and instills a lifelong love of music. I adapt lessons to the student's individual needs and learning styles. Working with the student, I help them understand where we're going in lessons and why we're covering the things we're covering. I help my students set goals, explaining what the goals will do for their overall playing. Learning to play music takes discipline and commitment, but it can also be fun and enjoyable and inspiring. I give prizes, rewards, and incentives for achievement (long-term and short-term) to motivate, inspire and nurture my students. I also offer lots of varied performance opportunities throughout the year to spice things up and remind them why they want to learn music. Seeing other kids doing what they do (playing the piano, etc.) always gives kids a boost of energy to keep improving. It helps them see what they could sound like in the future. Seeing their peers playing makes them want to play better. It's a very important part of learning. I also help students prepare to play at their own performance opportunities such as church functions, Regional and All-state auditions, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, East Valley Youth Symphony, Phoenix Youth Guild, Mesa Youth Orchestra, Mesa Young People's Orchestra, school orchestras, school choirs, school bands, and school jazz bands, etc. (All these activities promote learning in my studio.)I teach all aspects of music including, but not limited to, classical music training, technique, scales, chords, arpeggios, phrasing, feeling, styling, ear training, reading music, playing by ear, classical repertoire, popular repertoire, jazz, music history, music theory, how to write your own songs(composition), improvisation, sight reading, fiddling, etc.I've been teaching for 20 years, and I've been playing violin and piano since I was five years old (my mother was a piano teacher, so I grew up with music and teaching). I've also studied voice, cello, viola, bass, guitar, organ, and a bit of brass, woodwinds, and percussion. I've played in church functions, national orchestra events, school orchestra, honor orchestras, accompanying singers, etc. for my entire life. Music is what I do. Tuition Policy: For a 30 minute lesson once a week, it's $127.50/month, every month, regardless of how many weeks there are. Payment is due at the beginning of the month for the whole month. I accept cash, checks, venmo, paypal. (go to bottom of page for details of tuition policy) I am a member of: East Valley Music Teachers Association (EVMTA) Arizona State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA) Desert Valley Music Teachers Association (DVMTA) American String Teachers Association National Music Teachers Association Events: DVMTA/EVMTA/ASMTA events including: MARATHON DAY/MUSIC IN THE MALL: a recital at the mall, or a retirement community; COMPOSERS CELEBRATION CONCERT: an opportunity to perform in a concert dedicated to a specific type of music; ARIZONA STUDY PROGRAM: an intense theory training program with a written theory test at the end of the year as well as a chance to play for and be critiqued by a master adjudicator at ASU; ORIGINAL COMPOSITION FESTIVAL: where I help students write their own songs; CAVALCADE/ENSEMBLE: where students perform duets as a group at Mountain View High School or ; MUSIC CARNIVAL: preparation for the AZ Study Program, where students play fun music games and review theory concepts in a fun way; ORGAN STOP PIZZA PARTY: a pizza party at Organ Stop Pizza; AWARDS IN EXCELLENCE: a competition where winning students receive a trophy and a cash prize; ACHIEVEMENT DAY: an opportunity to be critiqued on songs, playing ability and technique, composition, music theory, music history, ear training, duet playing, etc. Students receive a ribbon or trophy depending on the level they enter; DEVOTED PERFORMER AWARD: where students meeting the requirements get a large trophy and a cash prize; OUTSTANDING SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP: where graduating seniors can apply for a scholarship (cash prize) toward college due to their dedication and talent in music; FALL/SPRING/SENIOR RECITALS: opportunity for the best, most prepared students to perform among the best of other teachers' students at My First Piano; HONORS RECITAL/PIANO COMPETITION/PRIZE PERFORMERS: more opportunities to compete and perform; I also hold my own private recitals each year of just my own students at My First Piano.   Parents always ask me about how to MOTIVATE their kids to practice, so I'm including a bit here: First, nobody wants to practice. They want to "play" piano/violin, not "practice" piano/violin. Unfortunately, playing requires enough practice to get to the point where you can just read and play music, or just sit down and make up your own music. (Just like it takes years of learning to read and write before you can sit down and enjoy reading the Harry Potter or Twilight series.)That being said, here are things that work well for most people:Routine: If you can find a time for practicing that works on a consistent basis, this is the ideal situation. Some people practice before they go to school, some practice right when they get home from school and before homework [homework will get done no matter what because it has to, but practicing doesn't "have" to get done, so if it's the last thing of the day, most people are too tired to do it.] So in general, the earlier the better, although that's not the case for everybody. You'll have to see what works best for you. Again, I emphasize that it should NOT be the last thing you do for the day. If you're tired, and all you want to do is relax, anything you do besides relaxing is going to be un-enjoyable. And if it becomes the routine, you'll eventually start to resent practicing, not because you don't want to play/learn music, but because you're associating music with being tired and everything else that goes along with trying to wind down at the end of the day. In rare cases, I've seen the opposite be true, where practicing helps the child unwind from the day - but that is extremely rare. Environment: The ideal environment varies from person to person - some need absolute quiet and isolation, with no one else in the room to distract them. Some need the parent sitting in the same room so that they don't feel alone, or even sitting with them on the piano bench helping them practice. Others can't have their parents near them because they feel like they're being watched/controlled/judged/et cetera and it makes them anxious and resentful. Etc. Etc. The dynamics between parent/child, sibling/sibling, and student/practice are extremely varied. Just pay attention to whatever your kid is presenting, and don't hesitate to ask for suggestions. Punishment/Reward: Practicing should never be a punishment. But it can be a "chore". If you do chore charts, like cleaning your room, taking out the garbage, etc., practicing can be on the chore chart too. And then they can mark off their chores as they finish them, and if they don't get their chores done, they don't get to go play with friends, watch TV, play video games, or whatever fun thing is happening that day. On the flip side, if they do get all their chores done, they can go play with friends, or they can go play video games, or watch TV, etc. (As a side note, if there's something genuinely unique or special happening, never use "you didn't practice, so you don't get to go to this" or practicing and music will immediately and suddenly become something the kid resents.)Then, you can also have an overall reward system, like, if they do all their chores every day for the whole week, or the whole month, then they get a treat (i.e. a new piece of clothing, a new toy, a new app for their tablet, an ice cream, a trip to the movies, a play date with friends, a lunch date with a parent --- whatever will excite and motivate the individual kid.)You can also set up a point system - they get 1 point for every day they practice or 1 point for every ten minutes they practice, and then have different rewards/prizes for certain amounts of points - 300 points = xbox game, lego set, trip to Castles and Coasters, etc. Or 1 point = $1, so they can save up points and then buy whatever they want with the points they've earned - remember, 1 point can be whatever you make it - ten minutes, thirty minutes, whatever. The point system for time practiced has very tangible results - it's not an all or nothing system. Every time they practice they're earning points toward a "big" goal, like a lego set, or video game, or a sleepover, or something that they wouldn't otherwise get. And make sure that whatever system you use is only used for music, to make sure that it's a reward they wouldn't otherwise get. For some people, it helps to set a timer to let them know how long they need to sit at the piano. Or a stopwatch that will keep track of how long they practiced, then they can add that time to their points chart. I've seen parents use practicing as a way to get out of doing things the kids don't want to do, such as, "If you're practicing the piano, you don't have to be doing yard work. But as soon as you stop practicing, you're joining the rest of the family and doing yard work/housework." You'd be surprised at how much time kids can spend on the piano when it gets them out of cleaning the bathroom or doing dishes. Another straightforward way to motivate kids to practice is having them earn electronics time by practicing. So many minutes of practice equals so minutes on their electronics. With these methods, they could easily run out of things to practice and get bored, but that can be a good thing - after they've practiced their normal lesson stuff, playing around on the piano, being creative, making up songs and just seeing how different things sound can inspire them not only to grow talents they didn't even know they had but also to enjoy playing more because "playing" and "practicing" are two very different things. If all we ever get to do is the admittedly sometimes frustrating practicing stuff, it can become stale and joyless. But if you're sitting at the piano longer and just goofing around and creating stuff, that creative part of the brain gets sparked and it can reignite the passion and excitement for music. So while it is necessary to insist on proper practicing, you do also want to encourage that playful part too. A good general rule for how much a student should be practicing is this: practice five days a week, each song/scale/item three to five times each day. (Of course this varies with age and skill level. Every person is different and I will help them figure out the best ways for them to practice.) I also recommend students listen to classical music each week, and/or the CD that correlates with their music curriculum. The more they listen to (and move to) music, the better. You can set up a similar reward system for listening to classical music too. Or just put it on while you're driving around in the car, while they're doing homework, etc. (Listening to classical music has a ton of benefits aside from helping them to learn music better and faster - just google it and you'll find tons of data on this.) Hope this helps!  Details of Tuition Policy: Some months there are 5 weeks, some there are 4 weeks, some there are 3 weeks. Over time, it all balances out. My basic rate is $60/hour, or $30/half hour. There are 52 weeks in a year, minus one week for the week of Christmas equals 51 weeks. 51 weeks x $30/half hour lesson = $1530/year. $1530 divided by 12 months = $127.50/month. So, it's $127.50/month for a half-hour lesson once a week, regardless of how many weeks there are in a month, including one week off for Christmas. For vacations/missed classes/illnesses/makeups: If you know you'll miss a scheduled lesson for a valid reason (i.e. family vacation, school concert, illness, etc.), let me know as far in advance as possible. If you let me know in advance, then I will do my best to reschedule that lesson. If you no-call/no-show, you forfeit that lesson and its payment, and do not get a makeup lesson or a refund. If the student is sick, and you call to let me know, I will do my best to schedule a makeup. If you no-call/no-show for any reason, you forfeit that lesson and its payment.  During the summer, we can schedule double lessons on the weeks you're here to makeup for the weeks you're gone, or have two lessons in one week - the second lesson turns into a "how to practice" session, which is always very beneficial. If I could have two or more days every week with my students it would be amazing! They would excel so fast. But that's not usually possible, so the weeks where we do a makeup and have two classes are very valuable. As a side note, I do have students that I see multiple times every week and they move at a much faster pace, so if you're interested in that let me know. Here's what a few students have said about me:  "Tiffany is an amazing instructor and my kids have done so well in the year that we have been working with her! They enjoy lessons and always talk about how she tries to incorporate their personal likes and interests into the music that they are learning to play. I have had experience with many instructors as a student myself, and I am so pleased with Tiffany's work, attitude, and commitment to my children's music education. I highly, highly recommend Tiffany Westlake as a piano instructor for your student regardless of level." --Anjie "My boys have been working with Tiffany for almost a year. The change I've seen in them musically has been invaluable. All my boys sing in choirs and have voice coaches but since starting piano, they've excelled in areas of range and technical identification of chords. For instance, my 14 year old recently scored top three in the Regional chorus auditions in "sight reading". (A classical piece is given to the student 5 minutes before they go before the judges to sing) When my son came home he was ecstatic -- his first words were "I know its because of Tiffany! I was imagining myself playing it on the piano and I could hear what it was supposed to sound like. . ." My boys range from 17 years old to 7 years old and Tiffany works fabulously with all of them! She's patient and encouraging and a welcome presence every time she walks through the door." ---Lori 

Joshua Hillmann has entertained audiences for years as both a solo and collaborative artist with his energetic and colorful musical interpretations and outstanding technical ability. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Piano at Grand Canyon University, and a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in piano performance at Arizona State University, studying with Dr. Baruch Meir, with whom he also earned his Master of Music Degree. This means he has completed all coursework, recitals, and all doctoral comprehensive exams required for the DMA degree in piano performance. He earned his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at ASU, also with Dr. Meir. His Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance degree was earned at the University of Kansas, studying with Dr. Jack Winerock. His earlier musical training came from the St. Louis Symphony Music School, studying with internationally renowned artist/teacher Jane Allen. Joshua has been the recipient of numerous awards in national and international competitions. Most recently he was awarded the special prize from the National Society for Arts and Letters for the “Most Outstanding Arizona Pianist” in the 4 th BösendorferUSASU International Piano Competitionin Tempe, AZ, and was awarded 1st Place in October 2006 at the 1st WPPCPIANOvision Most Wanted Piano Competition: Etude Invitational in Atlanta, GA, was an Alternate Winner of Arizona State University's Concert of Soloists Piano Concerto Competition in 2005 in Tempe, AZ, was Winner of the 2003 Kansas City Musical Club Collegiate Piano Competition in Kansas City, MO, and was awarded 1st Place in the Kansas Music Teachers Association Collegiate Piano Competition in 2002 in Kansas City, MO, and also 1 st Runner Up in 2001. He has also performed in master classes with renowned pianists Jeremy Denk, Anne Schein, Robert Hamilton, Hugh Sung, Philip Kawin, and Arbo Valdma among others. He has also performed in chamber master classes and received coaching from the internationally acclaimed Brentano String Quartet, currently Quartet-in-Residence at Yale School of Music. He is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) and is a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Arizona State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA), and East Valley Music Teachers Association (EVMTA). He has performed solo recitals in St. Louis, Lawrence, KS, Kansas City, and Phoenix, and has performed as collaborative artist in South Korea with the Kansas City Chorale, and in the USA with the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and as soloist with the Arizona State University Sinfonietta. He has also been very active as a professional singer as well. He was a member of KU Jazz Singers and Chamber Choir, as well as Music Director and singer in the college a cappella group Genuine Imitation. At ASU he has been a long-time member of their choirs. He sang with the Chamber Singers and Symphonic Chorale, the Herberger Singers and Heatwave Vocal Jazz. He has appeared as bass soloist with the Phoenix Symphony with Michael Christie conducting the opera in concert "Ainadamar". He has appeared with professional choirs around the country including the Grammy-winning Phoenix Chorale, Grammy-winning Kansas City Chorale, Grammy-nominated Seraphic Fire, Grammy-nominated Tucson Chamber Artists, and Spire Chamber Ensemble, and has shared the stage with such great artists as Kitty Carlisle, Dawn Upshaw, and Kelley O'Connor. He has also appeared internationally with Ireland's National Choir, Anúna, in an extensive tour of China that culminated in a performance at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. He is currently a bass singer with the Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale and sings several times a week at St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church in Paradise Valley.