Classical Music/Expert Profile

Expertise

I have listened to classical music most of my life, usually for many hours a day. I play piano, organ, some classical guitar and recorder, and I sing. I studied piano and organ in college. I am familiar with different composers and styles of classical music, and different eras, as well as the music theory behind the different types of classical music, such as baroque, romantic, impressionistic, neo-romantic, and other styles.

Experience in the area

I have been playing piano since I was 3, and I am now 65 years old. I took formal lessons for about 11 years, and took some piano and organ performance courses in college. I also sang in the Tucson Masterworks Chorale for a number of years, and can sing anything from baritone to first soprano. We performed twice a year, usually a major choral work, ranging from requiem masses to Carmina Burana. I also attended recorder society meetings once a month. We would read compositions and perform them together. I took several children to their music lessons and rehearsals and usually stayed and watched intensely. Our children studied violin, viola, flute, French horn, trumpet, and trombone.

Education/Credentials

I studied piano and organ in college, and took courses in music theory. I have also taken seminars in pre-Columbian folk music with Xochinoki, as well as played a short while in a gamelan, and a balalaika orchestra, where I played autoharp.