Piano with Ian B.

I am a pianist. I am also a keyboardist, programmer, and music producer. But the title I probably most identify with is "composer." I realized early on that my own passion for performing was fueled by my hunger to actually CREATE music. So I set out to learn from the masters. I won competitions and scholarships in high school, then double-majored in piano and composition at the University of Kansas where I obtained my bachelor's degree before going on to record, write, and produce rock & electronic dance music. I love being a CREATOR of music; and that love just extends quite naturally into the collaborative creative process we have come to know as "œteaching." There is no greater joy than creating music...except maybe seeing someone else I have trained and inspired create something of their own...on their own...without my help. *** Lesson Details *** My specialty is empowering students with the tools to become not only a pianist, but a... -musician, -songwriter, -composer, -producer, -and more! My students develop a holistic, artistic point of view of the world. They also gain self confidence and self-esteem as they learn to TEACH THEMSELVES more and more. I can help you or your child reach these goals in a way that will have you falling in love with the music and worrying less about the challenges of practice and discipline. Just like anything in life, playing an instrument requires a focused mind and hard work. But when you're having the time of your life, you do not even notice the distinction between work and play. The way I teach focuses on each individual student's personality. I try to tailor lessons and assignments to each student, as well as introduce them to a variety of music styles. It all starts with your first lesson, where I will generate a "playlist" of songs and styles that each student and their family have already familiarized themselves with. Whatever style of music you listen to the most - whether it be Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Broadway, or even Electronic Dance Music (one of my personal favs!) - the songs on your playlist will reflect a very personal profile of aspirations and inspirations - your unique musical personality and culture. I will take that personality as a starting point and develop a lesson plan that will ultimately have you learning some of your favorite songs RIGHT AWAY!.... That's right, not in 3-6 months after hours of scales and practice. I believe that everything you need to learn is already INSIDE THE MUSIC. And so we'll start playing REAL MUSIC, RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. Sound like fun? Depending on each student's individual goals and speed of learning, I can also: -expose you to new music and musical styles, -give you the tools to learn ANY song by ear, -show you how to read musical notation without it feeling like a foreign language -help you write your first song or composition (of many!) *** Studio Equipment *** Full sized (88 keys), touch sensitive digital piano with weighted keys. Computer workstation with lab software and DAW (Ableton and Reaper). *** Travel Equipment *** Students need to have an instrument. Preferably a piano or keyboard with at least 60 keys. I provide everything else. Curriculum and repertoire will be either purchased directly by student or invoiced as needed. *** Specialties *** Classical, Pop, Rock, Modern, Electronic Dance Music (EDM)