Colin Tucker

I have 20 years of experience as professional pianist, organist, cellist, music teacher, composer, and ensemble director. In addition to teaching a full private studio of music students for six years, I have also worked as a lecturer at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) (from whom I received a PhD in music), as a church choir director, and as the director of an experimental music ensemble. I have taught students ranging from young children to adults, from beginners to graduate music students in performance and composition, as well as musicianship/music theory. I have experience performing and teaching genres ranging from classical, jazz, rock, pop, experimental, electronic, early music, and more. I develop instruction plans customized to each student's goals, learning style, and background. I emphasize concrete practice techniques in order to equip students to maximize progress in their practice outside the lesson. Building on an interdisciplinary body of knowledge (classical performance background, in addition to studies in experimental music, improvisation, and somatics), my pedagogy is holistic in nature, focused on cultivating students' bodily and aural awareness; I've found that this approach can facilitate fluency, precision, and, yes, fun in playing music. I teach remotely, at my studio near downtown Buffalo, at Faith United Church of Christ in Williamsville, and at students' homes.