Career
I absolutely love playing the piano. It’s one of the things that make me feel most alive. Teaching my students to play at a high level and seeing their progress and accomplishments is incredibly satisfying as well.
Professional Accomplishment
My performances as a soloist with orchestras have been some of the highlights of my career. There is an exhilaration in playing masterpieces of the piano literature with the backing of a large ensemble of musicians. I documented my journey to the 2021 performances of my favorite concerto, Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1, in the video series "Prelude to a Masterpiece."
Teaching Style
I try to find out the students’ own goals and steer them towards those goals within the context of the curriculum. I also think that demonstrating and showing one’s passion to one’s students often helps spark the students’ own passion for learning, and in turn can motivate hard work, which is the most important element of education.
Performing
Except for the semester when my daughter was born, I have performed every semester that I have been at Mount Union, playing works for solo piano, chamber groups and in solo concerto settings.
Behind the Keys
I get to play and teach piano every day. Those are the things I love to do most, and I am lucky enough to do them for a living!
Faculty
Mount Union has a very dedicated faculty. A student is able to receive personal attention, and that means students receive not just a fact-based education, but personal mentoring as well. As far as the music faculty, all the full-time members in our department are regular performers in their area, which makes us unique as our students can hear and see our passion for and dedication to music.
Preparing Students
We try to teach students the knowledge necessary in the field, but perhaps more importantly, we prepare them for adult life by providing guidance and serving as positive role models.
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