American Composers Forum

I started playing the piano around the age of 3 when i would sit at the bench and try to play. Supposedly I began creating interesting compostions. I began piano lessons at age 5 and had an evil piano teacher. I later found a much nicer piano teacher, however, I soon quit playing the piano because I hated it. When i was 11 years old I took up rock guitar and skateboarding instead. I learned guitar by ear (on my own) and continued to play it as my main instrument until I was 16. At that time, for some reason, I began playing the piano again. I started writing popular music on the piano with vocals.

Then one day, i was watching some action movie about terrorism and the main terrorist was a piano teacher (haha) . There was a scene where his student was playing the Chopin nocturne in F minor. I was very intrigued by the piece so i went out and bought a book of complete chopin nocturnes. I learned the F minor nocturne in a crude way without instruction from a teacher. I then learned the C# minor op. 27 on my own as well (again no instruction yet). Then one day my uncle played the Beethoven "Pathetique" sonata and I flipped out. I had to learn it. I spent all of the winter and spring of 2005 and 2006 learning the piece (again in a crude way without instruction). That summer I begged my mom to get me piano lessons again (to her surprise). I found an amazing teacher by the name of Thomas LaRatta. It's amazing how fast I have matured and progressed in my playing with his guidance.

I now have Chopin nocturnes #7 op. 27 no.1 , #13 op. 48 no.1 ; Brahms intermezzo op.117 no.3 ; Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableaux op. 33 no.1 ; Rachmaninoff prelude op. 32 no.10 ; Chopin prelude op.28 no.1 ; Beethoven Sonata op.13 "Pathetique" ; Bach prelude & fugue in c minor Bk I ; and have just finished the 1st movement of Rachmaninoff's piano concerto no.2. - All of this progression has taken place starting in July of 2006 up to now, February 2007. And I have my wonderful teacher to thank for this achievement i never thought possible.

As well as all this, I have been composing for Piano, Piano duo, Choir, and Orchestra. I am also a member of a local choral group by the name of "Masterworks Chorale" in San Mateo, CA. This group has premiered two choral works I have written within the last year. I love music, I love piano, and I love to sing.