About Me
I first became obsessed with learning the piano when I was in the 9th grade. I wanted to play something cool at the school talent show. I learned the 3rd movement to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
Later, I studied piano at the university, learning from amazing teachers and delving into great music.
During summers, I worked as an accompanist at string music festivals and fell in love with chamber music, eventually exploring all of Brahms’ clarinet repertoire.
Discovering Jazz #
Around 2010, I started dabbling in jazz piano.
It felt like an unexplored world—a new language of creativity at the keyboard.
But learning jazz also meant starting over; I felt like a total beginner again. These days, jazz is where I spend most of my practice time.
Teaching & Musical Fitness #
I’ve helped students win classical piano competitions and coached others preparing to play in a rock band.
“Musical Fitness” is all about being ready for any musical situation. I love helping my students—and myself—continue to grow, no matter the style. See musical fitness.
I hold three degrees:
- A Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance
- A Master’s in Piano Performance and Pedagogy
- A second Bachelor’s in Computer Science
I’m done with formal schooling, but never done learning. 😉
At the university I taught music theory, aural skills, keyboard skills, and piano lessons.
Bio for Concerts and Gigs #
In the quiet land where mountains tall do stand,
there dwells a fellow named Ryan, with skills both bright and grand.
A Master's in Piano, a maestro with the keys,
from classics to jazz, his melody doth please.
By day, in software's realm, codes he doth engineer,
but on YouTube's wide canvas, his knowledge doth appear.
A teacher at heart, he guides with gentle hand,
in the world of music and tech, in Middle-earth he stands. 🎹🏔️🌄🧙♂️