“Coaching” covers all the music teaching or mentorship I offer outside the context of regular lessons.

Unlike regular lessons, coaching sessions are available singly, and can be booked when you want them. This is useful if you are a musician who is already firmly grounded in your instrument or some area of musical knowledge, and are looking for targeted teaching or guidance in a specific advanced project or skillset.

Perhaps you are a professional musician, music teacher, highly advanced high school student who already has a regular teacher, music scholar, or high-level music lover. Regular lessons might be more than what you need, but you also need help with a music project or skillset that is beyond what your usual resources offer. This is where coaching can be useful!

I offer coaching in advanced musical topics and projects in piano, composition, and related skill areas. I am especially well trained to coach pianists who want to become accompanists (instrumental, vocal, choral, operatic) or ensemble musicians (for orchestras or other conducted groups). I am an excellent coach for composition projects, specific composition-related skills, and advanced music theory or ear training. I am also highly experienced as a chamber music coach—coaching for chamber groups looking for feedback as they prepare music together.

As an extension of my regular piano teaching, I am also available on a coaching basis to pianists for mock auditions; masterclasses for individuals or groups; and consultations on pedagogy, technique, repertoire, and teaching strategies.

Here are some specific projects and skills I have coached in the past:

Helping a composer put the finishing touches on their new album of original pieces before publishing them
Teaching an in-depth refresher on orchestration to a music professor preparing to teach college-level orchestration courses
Guiding an advanced high school composer through finishing a commissioned piece in time for their premier on short notice
Teaching beginning conducting for a composer interested in expanding their skillset
Helping a professional piano teacher gain deeper confidence in their performing abilities by coaching them in highly advanced piano literature
Teaching complex rhythms (20th-century complexity)

If you have a project you need help with or a skillset you would like to build or learn related to piano, composition, or another area of music, please contact me with details about what you are interested in. Particular specialties of mine include avant-garde and experimental music of the 20th and 21st centuries, orchestration, Baroque keyboard skills (figured bass), counterpoint, musical analysis, and improvisation in a classical style. I also coach basic conducting for musicians—such as composers—who may find themselves in need of basic conducting skills for their professional activities.

How to Schedule a Coaching Session

Coaching sessions last for 60 minutes, 75 minutes, or 90 minutes. Sessions take place either in person at my home studio (14418 SE Ellis St, Portland, OR 97236) or online via Zoom. I only travel for coaching sessions if the nature of the session requires it (such as observing someone conduct an ensemble, giving a talk to a group, or conducting a masterclass at someone’s studio or a school); in such cases, I charge an added fee for travel that will be invoiced separately.

To schedule a coaching session, please use the Calendly links to the right. Payment for coaching sessions are due upon scheduling. Payments are non-refundable, but you are able to reschedule your session to another available time if a conflict arrives.

Coaching sessions engage my active participation only for the time reserved. If you would like me to do advance prep work (such as reviewing your composition or draft in advance of a composition coaching session), please purchase prep time separately. You can do this by selecting the “prep time” option when you sign up for a coaching session. After the coaching session sign-up is successful, you will then receive an email follow-up with instructions for how to reserve prep time.

For online sessions, you will have the option of getting a recording of our session (highly recommended). If your session is in person, you can feel free to record the session for your reference. All recordings are for your private use only and must not be circulated.