“We feel incredibly lucky to have found Carl as a piano teacher for our son. Carl’s teaching blends kindness, patience, and sensitivity with exceptionally skilled musicianship. He seamlessly introduces music theory and technical skills while cultivating students’ natural love of musical sound and the emotion it carries. Carl approaches each student as an individual, responding to their specific needs and interests. When our son was younger, and we were present for his lessons, we could see how Carl’s gentle encouragement, sense of humor, and precise instruction helped our son grow musically. Lessons take place in a relaxed and cozy atmosphere, but there is always serious music happening. Now that our son is a teenager, we don't get to see the magic that happens in the lesson, but we do see the results! Carl continues to connect with and motivate him, always finding music for him to work on that he loves, and keeping him going through the challenging parts of the learning process. The sense of accomplishment and pride that our son feels when he can finally play a difficult piece beautifully carries over into all aspects of his life!”

- Karen Strassler

“Studying piano with Carl was, in two words, totally great. I’m a returning adult, and hadn’t really touched a piano in many, many years. Then a piano came into our lives, and I took the opportunity to come back to music. I’m a busy parent with a busy professional life, I naturally don’t have much time to practice my piano pieces. And sometimes I really don’t have any time at all. Carl was excellent in working with where I was at. The lessons were always a positive and productive time, regardless of my lack of time to prepare. In fact, this was an unexpectedly lovely aspect of the lessons - they created the space of ‘my time,’ for me to be just here, doing my music. But, even more, the lessons were extremely productive with real results. When I came to Carl, he introduced me to the beautiful music of Erik Satie. It looked and sounded beyond me, but it was thrilling to jump right away into a mature piece of music. Carl’s approach to teaching - which is methodical and patient and thorough - helped me take what looked so complex and not just understand it, and be able to play it, but to play it beautifully. In just over two months, I went from essentially a beginner to performing Satie’s Gnossienne #1 in the Winter recital. It was exhilarating. In the next semester, in addition to several pop songs that I had been wanting to learn for years, Carl helped me to start exploring jazz. My teenage son plays trumpet, and for the Summer recital we performed Miles Davis’ Freddie Freeloader as a duo. Carl helped me understand the music, to play in the style of the original recording, and even take my first jazz solo in front of the audience. I couldn’t ask for more, and whole-heartedly recommend Carl as a music and piano teacher.”

- Katy Hansen

“Our son Lucian has been taking piano lessons from Carl for almost 3 years. I need to find words capacious enough to describe who Carl is in our lives and what he offers Lucian as a teacher. Piano, yes-- Carl is patient, fun, supportive and extremely skilled technically. His taste in music is always inspired as he pushes the kids to work across styles and genres into the areas that they are interested in. They choose the pieces they like from a bevy of sophisticated selections, and work toward them over months. The musical pieces themselves are never boring. At all skill levels Carl suggests work and composers of unique pieces of music, not the same stuff everyone grows up playing. My own knowledge of music has thus expanded too. Then, there is the atmosphere. Pupil and parent in Carl and Jill's lovely home during the lesson. Wonderful recital potlucks occur multiple times per year creating a community of student players and parents which deepens the experience. What Carl provides is an exciting, interesting and passionate teacher of piano, but has too a greater position in our lives, a positive mentor to our son and a friend in the shape of a piano teacher.”

- Tina Tyrell

“To see and hear Carl work with my children for an hour at the piano is inspirational. Patience, listening, and laughter find their way into every lesson as Carl’s generous and loving spirit guides them on their journey to play piano.”

- Anthony Edwards

“Carl was very patient with me as a piano teacher and always gave me encouragement and helpful direction. Music theory is complicated, but Carl managed to explain it in a way that made it understandable, so it was never intimidating. When I was struggling to learn a new piece, he helped me to overcome my fears. I learned so much in the six years I was his student, and continue my appreciation for piano in my own time after my lessons. I really value my time as Carl’s student.”

- Ella Walsh

“Carl is the perfect combination of caring and focused. Each week was carefully planned, without feeling rigid.”

- Julie

“Carl is, quite simply, a wonderful piano teacher. Our daughter started taking lessons from him as a seven year old and she’s now almost done her first full year. In less than one year, she went from being a complete beginner to reading music, learning scales and playing beautiful short pieces, including tricky Bartok exercises. She’s also even started some music theory. Most importantly, she’s really enjoying it and loves going to her lessons. Carl is compassionate, patient, fun, captivating, and kind—both with her, and with his other pupils, many of which have seen him for a long time. We have seen them at their lovely seasonal recitals progressing by leaps and bounds: the older pupils play stunning, moving, and often complex pieces—Bach, Debussy, Philip Glass, and even bebop improvisations. They have stuck with it—and with him—for years. He is a devoted and purposeful teacher with a deep love of music. I HIGHLY recommend Carl; he is a rare find, and we feel very grateful that he is teaching our daughter.”

- Gabriele Caroti

“I've had the pleasure of studying with Carl both as the parent of a student and as a student myself, returning to piano after a 30-year hiatus. As the parent of a student, I was intrigued by and ultimately thankful for Carl's policy of having a "practice partner" sit in during children's lessons. This encourages a team approach to learning and gives the practice partner a unique insight into the learning process that helps kids progress quickly. And I enjoyed the hour I spent listening to Carl teach so much that I eventually started taking lessons myself. Carl's approach to teaching adults is more free-flowing and I now find myself noticing patterns in everyday music that I never knew existed. I've had more than five years of lessons as a parent and student, and every time I walk out energized and enthused about music.”

- Jack Erwin

“Carl is a wonderful teacher. He treats students with respect and humor and pushes them to excel. My granddaughters have been taking lessons for four years. He treats even the youngest students like they are serious accomplished students which motivates them to practice. As the "parent" coach I have thoroughly enjoyed the many hours I have spent together with Carl and my granddaughters. They both are becoming great pianists. The oldest one played a Glass etude for her elementary school talent show as a 5th grader!”

- Sherry Baron

“In addition to being an artist himself, it was immediately obvious that Carl is a deeply involved parent and values the importance of connecting with each child and following their curiosity. Carl is a great friend and role model for the kids he teaches. It was really heartwarming to see our very, very shy five-year-old play the piece he learned at his recital, confident for the first time ever to perform in front of people. Carl has remarkable patience and ability to focus even the most fidgety child.”

- Jon

“Carl has been an incredibly dedicated and engaging piano teacher who has the rare gift to reach children at their level with patience, humor, and heart. It’s a rare privilege to find someone gifted in both classical and avant-garde traditions with the kind of passion and drive he brings to lessons. Both my kids have achieved goals I thought were well beyond their reach in a relatively short time. More importantly, the quality of attention he gives has deepened their patience, boosted their self esteem, and definitely lifted their musical spirits.”

- Zach Wollard

“Our twin fourteen-year-old boys began studying with Carl when they were eight. With great patience, and always ready with a laugh, he has developed each child’s skill and musicality according to their individual mindset, energy and connection to music. It is a moving experience watching and hearing our children play beautiful piano music whether one is exploring a mood through music at home or performing a polished piece at one of the two annual recitals in Carl and Jill’s living room. We can’t recommend Carl’s teaching highly enough.”

- Justine Kalb