Background

I have been playing piano for more than forty years. My music education includes private instruction in piano, composition, theory, orchestration, counterpoint, choral arranging, improvisation, advanced harmony and songwriting. I have played by ear since the age of six.

In addition to being a keyboard recording artist, I am also an arranger, composer/songwriter, instructor, accompanist, studio musician, speaker, writer member and publisher member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and hold membership in the MTNA (Music Teacher's National Association), the Hawaii Music Teacher's Association and the Honolulu Piano Teacher's Association.

Teaching Experience

I have been teaching privately for more than 11 years.

In addition to teaching classical music, I also enjoy teaching contemporary jazz elements, blues, rock and r&b. Gospel and contemporary pop are my specialties.

I also teach Contemporary Music Theory to private students as well as Contemporary Music Theory Seminars for keyboardists and guitarists (who understand the keyboard).

Topics for the seminar include:

1. Chord Building in Depth
2. Methods for Creating Chord Progressions and Tools for Composition including Diatonic Harmony, Circle of 5ths, Chromatic Harmony, 2-5-1, Extended Chords, Pivot Tones, Substitute Chords, Altered Chords, Quartal Harmony, Etc.
3. Methods for Improvising
4. Creating the Sounds of Contemporary Pop, Rock, Blues, Gospel and Jazz
5. Using Chord Charts
6. Playing Effective Background Music (Padding)

I have played synthesizers for years and also teach how to play and arrange string and brass lines as well as other synth sounds.

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy and practice provide a positive, encouraging environment promoting excellence while also affording the students the freedom to learn without the pressure to be perfect. My students are exposed to the best teaching materials available today along with my own original methods for teaching chords, chord progressions, and improvisation. My passion as a music teacher is that each student achieves excellence in sight-reading, technique, theory, repertoire, ear-training, improvisation, composition, and arranging ... that each student is helped to realize and enjoy the potential of their musical gifts and talent.

Personal Performance Style

In piano performance, my desire is to play music that deeply touches the heart and brings healing to the soul. I have played on the US mainland as well as in the Hawaiian Islands and the Philippines.

Recording Credits

In 1996, I recorded a keyboard instrumental CD entitled, "Free Flow" of mostly original music. The musical moods/styles are majestic, mellow, and jazzy. There are also serene synthesizer soundscapes included. The CD has been distributed in Hawaii, the Philippines and purchased by distributors in Spain, Portugal and India.

Music Publishing

In February 2004, I started working on my first music book entitled, "Chord Progressions and Improvisations for the Contemporary Pianist." In July 2004, I started to publish some of my original piano solos as individual pieces of sheet music in the following genres: blues, contemporary jazz, classic pop, contemporary pop, pop-rock, easy-listening and soft rock. Demo CD's will be available for most of these songs. Special pricing is available to piano teachers, music stores, schools and also to my private students. Please contact me for more information about these sheet music publications.