Piano with Owen S.

I'm a pianist, saxophonist, composer, teacher, and the bandleader of Mente Clara. I began teaching piano as a teenager in 2004, when I assisted one of my former teachers at a summer piano institute. I've operated my own studio since 2007. I teach students of all ages and skill levels. I'm conversant in a variety of styles, but I especially love working on improvisation, composition, jazz, and the music of Brazil. My ultimate goal as a teacher is to spark a love of music in every one of my students, whether it be as a listener or player. I want this to be fun for everyone involved! I stress strong fundamentals in young students and usually teach beginning students out of the Faber Piano Adventures method, although I supplement the method books with a variety of exercises and pieces of my own. I generally prefer that beginning students go through some classical repertoire before expanding their horizons, but we can often work concurrently on other styles of music. From every student's very first lesson, I challenge them to consider the bigger, often overlooked musical picture. Needless to say, all lessons are tailored to the student's desires and needs. More broadly, I believe that music is an essential part of life and that studying it develops and stimulates our minds in ways that have positive outcomes in other facets of life. I don't expect my students to become professional musicians, or even that they continue to play music into adulthood. Music encompasses the entire range of human emotion. It has ineffable qualities that can give us solace in times of pain and inspire us in times of joy. I hope to show that to all of my students instill a lifelong respect and passion for music.