I decided to become a musician the summer that I was 8 years old when an aunt introduced me to the piano--a shiny, magical thing that I immediately loved! In high school I was the pianist for the jazz band and organist at my church. After graduation I enrolled as a music major at Occidental College where I earned a bachelor's degree in piano performance. I moved to the East Coast to pursue graduate work in music, earning Master of Fine Arts and Doctorate degrees from Princeton University.
My piano studio has included students from ages 7 to 84, and from all backgrounds. Among them have been elementary, junior high and high school students, college music majors, hobbyists, attorneys, nuclear scientists, tech employees in Silicon Valley, retired people, teachers whose employment requires piano proficiency and people who just play for fun. I have served as a professor of music at Cal State University, Stanislaus; Santa Clara University; Loyola University Chicago and Saint Martin's University, often accompanying student recitalists in performance and participating in faculty recitals, both in America and in Italy. I have taught music theory, music history, writing about music, performance pratice, dance and theater history, music in Western culture, etc. An area of related interest--research on the history of Italian Renaissance keyboard composers--has kept me busy publishing in journals in Europe and the U.S. I hold current membership in Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC).
My own piano performance encompasses many styles, and I also enjoy traveling, reading, writing and playing with my Roman cats Rosso and Claudio.
Teaching Philosophy and Approach
As a pianist and educator, I am dedicated to helping my students reach their goals! This includes mastering classical pieces, learning to put chords to melodies, improvising, preparing for a recital or just playing for enjoyment. Usually, my students play some pieces that they select, and I also supplement with songs that will help them gain musical and pianistic proficiency. I take special pleasure in teaching beginners and helping adults who are returning to the piano after taking some time off.
