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Music has been my passion since I was a child.  Growing up in the coal mine fields of impoverished Appalachia,  I discovered in music a means by which to travel to beautiful places and times.

I studied music theory, history, and composition at the Creative Arts Center of West Virginia University.  I had the great fortune of studying piano with Dr. James Miltenberger, a teacher who, with gentleness and patience,  nurtured my love for music and for piano in particular.   I continued my education to receive a Master of Music degree in Music Education.  While studying at WVU, I played trumpet in the Mountaineer Marching Band and sang in the select choral group, University Singers.. 

I began teaching music lessons to children while in college, and I have continued to teach music  ever since.  I began teaching piano full time in 1991, and within a few years had, through referrals, increased my piano studio to more than 70 private students.  I found that, through teaching music, I was able to teach with the same  gentle and patient style that I had learned from Dr. Miltenberger.  I delighted in how the children's self confidence grew as their musical abilities grew.  Today I try  to share with my students the same elements of the wonder and magic of music that meant so much to me as a child.  I know that music truly has the power to bring so much beauty into people's lives both through playing and listening.

I love music, and I love children, so there is nothing that I would rather do than teach music to children.  It is important to me that I do not let the children down, that I help them to discover the same joy in music that I have discovered and to give them the tools to create beautiful music and to reach their fullest potential. In addition, I wish to make leaning to play music a joyful experience that a student will look forward to each week.  I work very hard to be the very best music teacher that I can be, and it is my hope that I am one of the very best music teachers anywhere.

My greatest passion is for composing music, through which I can express my most profound feelings.  I hope that the music that I compose may stimulate in others feelings of beauty and/or of deep emotion.  I hope to be able to find a way to perform music for, and to give the gift of playing music to, the least fortunate of children, those who may not have the love and stability of nurturing parents in their lives for whatever reason.

I also immensely enjoy performing music, and I hope that the music that I play may bring to others a measure of the joy that it brings to me. Upon request, I perform  classical, popular, and light jazz music for private parties in the Washington, DC area. 

I love nature, and  never take for granted the beauty of the trees, clouds, moon, the animals, and nature all around us.  I also enjoy reading and movies.  I have a passion for peace and am saddened by those who might destroy the peace and beauty of our world..