Hi, I’m Matt!
I’m glad you’ve visited my website. I teach piano lessons in Austin, TX and have two decades of teaching experience. (And nearly three of playing and performing!) Besides teaching, I’m an avid reader, interested in fitness and self-improvement, and president of the Austin Piano Festival. Besides founding Greater Austin Music Academy, I’m involved with Premier Music Academy, which offers Piano Lessons as well as Guitar, Voice, Drums, and more in Round Rock, TX.
Why Piano Blog?
After many years of professional teaching, I’ve come to accept that I can’t teach everyone, but I can help everyone understand what path is best to reach their musical goals. Not only adult readers, but parents learning what works the best for their children.
I view Piano Blog as an extension of my private studio. It’s my chance to share day-to-day stuff as well as my own ideas, tips, tricks, advice and the like surrounding piano study.
My Story as a Teacher
I had my first piano student when I was 15 years old! An older gentleman named “Scotty”. And during high school I actually built up a respectable little studio of 4 or 5 clients.
I taught and freelanced through undergrad as well, but it wasn’t until my early twenties that I a started teaching as my primary source of income. At the time I was studying with some of the best pianists and teachers in the world, but I still had a lot to learn about teaching.
What started as a small business soon blossomed into an immensely busy studio! Not only have I learned how to teach, I’ve gotten to know hundreds of amazing students, learned a ton about myself, grown as a musician, and worked to help start a piano festival here in town.
I’d like to share with you some of what I’ve learned.
A Piano Studio Is Like a Laboratory
When you teach for a long time you start to notice that your studio becomes a laboratory of different personalities and learning styles.
After a while, you notice that certain patterns emerge – regardless of age or level: Some types of student succeed where others fail, certain learning styles and temperaments are more successful.
A lot of my writing on Piano Blog is directed at what works – whether you’re an adult student, a parent of a child, or whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pianist.
So welcome to my website. Piano teaching has been one of the most fulfilling and incredible learning experiences in my life – both as a musician and as a person! In a way, Piano Blog is my way of saying “Thank You” to pianists and students everywhere – I hope what you find here is helpful in your own musical journey.