About Me

Passionate about forming community and connection through music. Music education that has inner logic. Music education through experience. Music education that is seamlessly both technical and expressive. is grounded in personal mentorship, and seamlessly merges technique with expression. Music expresses culture, belonging, tradition, history, share experience and growth. I am passionate about bridging music theory and practice with music communication and performance aspects to help preserve.

I first discovered a love for teaching at the age of 14, when I owned a martial arts school with my family. I taught classrooms of 12-15 students, including ages 5 through adults. As an educator at such a young age, planning classes, and learning what it means to show up for others and give them a good experience. The experience shaped my concept of what it means to educate people of all ages, and be part of a rich tradition and legacy. I judged competitions, tested, promoted and taught weaponry, forms and sparring. Learning sequences, memorizing new skills, and gaining self-defense skills taugght me discipline, perseverance and hard-work. I learned through this experience the value of community, perseverance and diligence—a framework that has extended into my educational approach today.

Music and Psychology

I attended Duke University at the age of 17, and entered as a music major and pre-med student. Thinking I would “do it all” as both a pianist and a doctor, I quickly came to realize that I had overlooked the true dedication and commitment it would take to take music to the level that I wanted to. Thankful for parents who believe in me, I focused on music composition, studying. During this time, I studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, taking courses like “Child Development” and Introduction to Counseling. Here, I uncovered my love for both music and psychology. My culmintating project consisted of a piano recital and a composition, called Memorialz. )Include the paper there). I majored in music and minored in psychology. My project incorporated both: exploring, through music, a journey of somehow from life through Alzheimer’s. The programmatic piece exemplified to me how I see music as meaning.

Methodologies

At UNC School of the Arts, I learned the Russian School of Piano Playing. It was there that I was introduced to a firm pedagogical system for the first time through which my creativity was able to blossom through the acquisition of firm technical development from Dr. Dmitri Shteinberg. When it came to the nuances of piano technique, learning them as an adult gave me the privilege of knowing how to teach everything that I was learning. Hearing things explained so clearly for the first times in my life, with structure, systematic, and objective information about the mechanics of the body and instrument, I was fascinated and intrigued. The effectiveness of such a method in my own playing and artistry, led by an excellent mentor, was a combination that left a lasting impact on me. I also shadowed Yulia Roubtsova, educator with Royal Conservatory of Music. I took Kodaly Classes, AP Music Theory Teacher Training Courses, and I taught online video serires using Russian Methods through UNC School of the Arts.

Applications

During COVID, I served as a music director, piano teacher, and staff accompanist. I had the priviledge ofThese experiences were exceptional, but I wanted to take my knowlege to the next level, and my expertise. I sought out my doctorate. I enjoyed being a musician in my community. Leaving some of my students was very difficult, but I wanted to grwo more.

Movement

Moving across the country to Tempe, AZ, I was challenged with many things. I taught both group piano and music theory and aural skills. It was there that I worked with Dr. Lindsey Reymore, and came across the work of Marianne Ploger. I also estbalished a meditation practice, and developed my philosophies as an educator. I worked as a dance accompnaist and ballet accompanist, merging my love for both. I became a dance accompanist, began painting, gave my first classical solo voice performance, and wrote a dissertation combing piano playing and music meaning

Arrival

Now equipt with both Russian and Music Fundamentals Pedagogies, I am excited to merge the two and offer excellent education to my students. It is my hope to impact the next generation of musicians. In the age of disconnection with social media, now more than ever it is important for things to make sense, for learning to be mentorship based and for connection to be emphasized wherever possible. What better way to help preserve what it is that makes us human than through music, an expression of culture, belonging, tradition, history, shared experience and growth.