Growing up in Iowa, my piano lessons started around age 7. Learning quickly, I was invited to accompany my school choir by 5th grade and a children's choir at my church, as well as accompanying vocal and instrumental soloists.  Learning the tenor saxophone from 5th grade through High School, I won the 2nd Chair in the Iowa All-State Band my Junior year, as well as earning a few Jazz Band awards.  Although friends thought I would stud music in college,  I decided on a different path and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1986. As a Mom, I wanted to stay home with my children, so, after my son and daughter started piano lessons with a teacher that made them dislike the piano, so I started teaching them myself.  They made progress and began to love the piano. Soon their friends were taking lessons from me as well. I decided to make it official in 2003 by joining Music Teachers National Association, Colorado State Music Teachers Association and Aurora Music Teachers Association.  I started taking lessons to learn how to teach piano in the best way, which led to me entering and winning a few competitions, then going on in 2013 to earn a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Cum laude.