Piano Instructors

Alex began playing piano when she was 6 years old. As with many students Alex did not always enjoy learning, but through her mother’s encouragement she stuck it out and flourished. Today, those 14+ years of classical training have taken root and Alex not only loves playing piano but she loves to teach others how to play. Her favorite part is creating something intricate and moving, and then working on it until it is mastered. The song then becomes something beautiful that’s all her own.

As an instructor, Alex desires to instill in her students a love and enthusiasm for learning and playing the piano. Her hope is that it will develop into a passion that they can enjoy and express for the rest of their lives. Having been affectionately dubbed “the worst student in the world” by one of her teachers, Alex understands and sympathizes with her students. She hopes to make learning fun by giving them music they like while encouraging them to stick it out.

Alex continues her musical training and believes learning is a lifelong journey. She has had the opportunity and privilege to be an accompanist for her high school choir and currently plays piano at her church on a regular basis.

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It was Christmas time in a little country church, and five-year-old Maureen, along with her two younger sisters sang about the Christmas candles. Thus began her life-long love of music. In grade school she accompanied the school orchestra and by junior high was asked to play for the high school choir and orchestra. High school brought accompanying soloists and playing for ensembles, orchestra and choirs, including the Washington all-state choir.

As an adult she has been involved in her local church as well as accompanying, arranging, directing choirs and ensembles. She has taught for many years as piano instructor and at a private school where her students qualified for national competition thirteen years in a row.

Maureen loves teaching – all ages – and believes it’s never too late to start! She says, “Mastering the basics enables you to branch out into the styles of music you enjoy.”

She is married to George, who holds a land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the “Saltosaurus,” a C/gas lakester. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Maureen is a member of the Olympia Music Teachers Association, Washington State Music Teachers Association, and Music Teachers National Association. In addition to teaching, she is currently the director of “Seasons,” a women’s ensemble and pianist/vocalist for “Off Boulevard,” a swing/jazz vocal group.

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Laurel’s musical education started very young on the piano with her dad. She has many memories of him quizzing her on different chord structures and key signatures along with teaching her short jazz “licks.” In her teens she began teaching piano lessons and also began to take lessons from a local classical piano teacher. As her love of classical music grew, she left behind her jazz roots and focused primarily on the romantic and classical periods.

Laurel graduated high school with a National Guild of Piano Teachers High School Diploma as well as receiving outstanding marks for her National Piano-Playing Guild Audition. In 2011, she graduated from Grays Harbor Community College with many honors including Outstanding Music Student of the Year. She has competed in many competitions and is a WSMTA Adjudication Competition silver and gold medalist, and was selected to perform with the Grays Harbor Community College’s symphony.

Laurel has worked hard as a performing classical pianist, however, her true desire is teaching and sharing music with her students. She attends each lesson equipped and ready to help each student master piano performance and beginning to intermediate theory AND have a great time! She loves working with children and young teens. She says about teaching, “Nothing is so exciting as the moment when one of my students finally ‘gets it.’” Laurel loves sharing music with her students, “it’s an amazing connection between music, learning, and maturing as a human being.”

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Music has been a passion for Dennis since he was very young. He started out playing the piano on his own learning as much as he could. He began taking lessons and in his first year he advanced quickly and was chosen to represent his class in the State Audition Recognition Recital. In his senior year of high school, he received the Outstanding Choir Member Award and also received a piano scholarship.

Dennis was a double major in school. He received his AA from Centralia College in Music and Business Administration. He first studied piano under Dorthy Scott Bloomingdale and Kenneth Kimbal and then also began studying voice under Wayne Bloomingdale. During that time, Dennis was involved in Symphonic Band, Madrigals, and Concert Choir and was selected as the student conductor of the choir.

He transferred from Centralia College and attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA where he maintained his double major and received his bachelor’s degree. During his time at Western, Dennis studied voice with Bruce Pullen and piano with Karen Mock. His emphasis was directed toward post secondary education with expertise in theory, music history, ear training, performance and composition.

Dennis has spent a major portion of his life as a minister of music for several churches and denominations. This has taken him from Olympia to Federal Way, from the central coast of California to Texas. During this time, he has invested a lot of time and energy in teaching piano and voice. He not only enjoys teaching but is passionate about finding out how the individual student learns and tailoring each lesson to their learning style. He then loves watching as the lights come on.

Dennis has been married to his wife Vonda for over 28 years with two children and two dogs!