A. B. Academy Of Music

One of the projects closest to my heart is the A. B. Academy of Music, where I serve as Managing Director—and, just as importantly, participate as a pianist myself.

I believe that making music in front of others changes the way we listen, practice, teach, and think. There is something irreplaceable about preparing a piece for performance, sharing it with an audience, hearing colleagues play, exchanging ideas, and returning to the piano with new questions and renewed energy.

That is the kind of musical environment we are creating at ABAM.

For Pianists at Many Stages of Life

The Academy brings together dedicated pianists of different generations and backgrounds: young musicians developing their artistry, adults returning to the piano after many years, experienced amateur pianists, and piano teachers who want to remain active performers themselves.

Through Piano Labs, master classes, performances, educational events, and musical gatherings, participants have opportunities to play for one another, experiment with repertoire, receive feedback, hear guest artists, and become part of an engaged musical community.

Not every performance needs to be a major recital. Regular, lower-pressure opportunities to play can be enormously valuable. They give us a reason to prepare, a place to test ideas, and the experience of communicating music to real listeners.

Especially for Piano Teachers

I am particularly interested in encouraging fellow piano teachers to make room for their own playing.

Teaching can easily consume all of our musical energy. We spend our days listening closely, demonstrating, solving technical problems, choosing repertoire, and helping students prepare for performances. Over time, our own repertoire and performance life can quietly move into the background.

Yet returning to the stage—even in an informal or supportive setting—reminds us what our students experience. We encounter nerves, memory, concentration, preparation, risk, discovery, and the challenge of communicating an interpretation in real time.

For me, continuing to perform is not separate from teaching. It keeps us connected to the artistic process that first drew many of us to music and brings something fresh back into the studio.

ABAM offers piano teachers a community in which they can continue that part of their musical lives alongside colleagues who understand both the rewards and the challenges.

Current members of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA) receive a reduced tuition rate for ABAM participation.

Come Join Us

Whether you are preparing ambitious repertoire, returning to pieces you once loved, looking for regular performance opportunities, or simply wishing for more musical exchange with fellow pianists, I hope you will explore what we are building.

A. B. Academy of Music is a place to perform, listen, learn, exchange ideas, and keep growing as a musician—at every stage of the journey.