Hello!  I'm Lee Larsen.  I love music of all kinds and teaching music to all kinds of people!  I've been teaching students of all ages for 30 years, as a piano teacher, choral director, and classroom general music teacher.   I also perform regularly as a church musician and occasionally in other settings, such as accompanist, rock bands, jazz ensembles, and I  sometimes also play on electric bass, ukelele, alto recorder, or percussion as well as piano.  

I believe piano lessons should be fun and well-rounded, with theory and ear-training, duet and ensemble playing, and even improvisation skills a goal for all students to experience and develop.   In my studio, we might sing a phrase, play a rhythm on my djembe or congas, or even get up and march, tip-toe, or stomp around the room!  Music involves our whole mind, body, and spirit and there are many ways to draw out the understanding of and expression of music, and we should use any and every way that works and facilitates musical learning.  I believe children should be challenged but not stressed out about their learning and progress.   Students of all ages, even very young beginners, can learn to see and hear and feel the difference between music that is 'meh', just okay, and music that is excellent!  So by 'fun' I do not mean low expectations, but music, as with sports and other endeavors, can and should be both fun and challenging.