New Orleans Piano Teacher & Music Producer

I assess their level by having them play something they know from memory.  I come to understand what their motives are for learning piano.  Do they want to learn a certain style?  Most of them have a reason for starting lessons.  Perhaps it is a specific piece of music that has inspired them.  Whatever it ends up being, I have that as our goal and then we start to build towards it.  Along the way, I teach the fundamentals of piano performance and sight-reading.  I also focus strongly on music theory and ear training.  I am very passionate about music and want to instill in my students that sense of inspiration.

I received a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the Univ. of Mississippi.  In 2008, I received an award for "Outstanding Pianist of the Year" during my senior year for my work on Mozart. 

From 2010-2015, I held numerous residencies at New Orleans hotels and clubs as a jazz pianist, including the Windsor Court, Roosevelt, Hotel Monteleone and The Inn on Bourbon. 

I have worked in New Orleans as a full-time professional musician for almost 15 years.  From 2010-2014, I taught music as a choir director at the Academy of the Sacred Heart.  I have served as a private instructor at McGehee School since 2016.  

I have written music for film and won the award for "Best Score" at Southern States Film Fest (2017).  I have played Voodoo Fest, Gretna Fest, Family Gras and French Quarter Fest.  My original music has been featured on TV and reviewed in news publications such as The Advocate, The Times Picayune and Offbeat Magazine.  My original music was featured on NY Times Bestselling author Chris Rose's story-telling shows about Hurricane Katrina.

I charge by the month (4 lessons at a time). 

I have different rates, depending on the length of the lesson (30 mins or 1hr).  Most commonly, my lessons are 1 hour, unless the student is under 10 years old.  

30 mins: $150/4 lessons

1hr:      $300/4 lessons

I started teaching piano after I graduated from college.  I began by putting up fliers in coffee shops and posting on Craigslist.  Soon after, I became a choir director for a middle school and began teaching more private lessons.

All kinds!  Literally.  I have taught some as young as 5.  Some of my "students" are retired and are learning piano as a hobby.  I have taught absolute beginners and I have taught advanced players.  Some just want to learn pop songs; some want to learn intense classical pieces!  As I said, I take the student where he or she is at and we improve from there.  I am very keen on how to make things interesting for my student.  There is a whole world of music and so there is always something to find interesting!

Playing piano for Allen Touissant, before he passed.

What are your goals?  What are you inspired to learn?  Why do you want to learn piano (or any other musical instrument)?