Piano with Cathy H.

I am a professional musician teaching for 20 years. I love to inspire students by focusing on highly creative programs that not only teach the fundamentals of music but also encourage a student's natural creativity through composition and improvisation. My background includes formal voice and piano with the founding members of Opera San Jose-New York Metropolitan Opera Singer Irene Dalis, Oberlin College Professor David Rohrbaugh and SJSU Choral Director Dr. Charlene Archibeque. I have performed with the San Jose Symphony and San Jose Opera. I was a scholarship recipient and graduate of San Jose State University, received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, a secondary teaching credential in music education and have attended courses at the University of California Davis Mind Institute for a certificate in autism studies. Credentials include: Former Co-Representative for the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the California Partnership of Kindermusik Educator’s, and currently a member of the Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Achievement Program. In addition, I am the founder of the San Diego International Music Teachers Symposium, Innovative Music Conferences, The Special Needs Resource Fair and was recognized by Kindermusik International as a maestro. During the first months of my teaching I received several inquiries from parents with children on the autism spectrum who could not find a piano teacher who would take them. After researching and working with these families, my studio became one of the largest that provided all inclusive and adapted music lessons to students with just under 400 students. My work with special needs students was the focus of a 2009 documentary film in which several of my students and parents were featured discussing the effects music education had on their child.