Stevens Point Area Music Teachers Association

I am a native New England Yankee, growing up in a small town in Connecticut. I  LOVE the ocean [I wanna go sailing again!], baseball [go Yankees!], hiking, cooking, gardening, looking for great bargains [rummage sales, craigslist or eBay], reading 'Stephen King'  and spending time with my family.  I hate winter...

Music has always been in my blood.  My grandmother used to dance and sing with me as a child (love that Quebecois music!).  I distinctly recall one time when I was given a choice--a new pair of KEDS sneakers or the latest Beatles album--well, you can probably guess what I chose! 

I was the first person in my family to go to college, and did so with a lot of sweat and hard work.   I skipped a grade in high school in order to pursue my love of music in college.  During my college 'hey days', I had a part-time job as a bartender in a large dinner theater (made lots of 'Grasshoppers' for ladies to swoon at Mel Torme and Jerry Vale) and spent the weekends racing [stock cars, drag racing or demolition derby--I drove!].   

One of my more colorful jobs was working as a Music Therapist at the oldest private  psychiatric hospital in New England [it was rumored that President Lincoln's wife came there to 'retreat' for a spell after his assassination]. I worked in several musical productions in Hartford  (CT) and also played lead keyboards and sang backup vocals in a band [similar to Adam Sandler's the "Wedding Singer"], doing gigs in the tri-state area [CT-NY-MA]. 

The family relocated to Wisconsin in 1991--we were told it's just like New England, but flat (haven't found your ocean yet or a decent 'grinder').  Met some wonderful folks at Mitchell Piano Works, who have taken me in 'like family' and have been there ever since!