I have taught piano, guitar and voice lessons in various parts of Montana and Wyoming for over 30 years. My students have achieved recognition in local, state and regional events. One of my students achieved first place in a national piano competition at the state level in 2007.

I have two Bachelor's degrees in music and elementary education from the University of Wyoming. I contribute time to professional music teaching organizations at the local, state and national levels - all which help me stay fresh as a musician and teacher. I also draw from my experience with tour bands, choirs, and serving as music director for churches and public schools.

My favorite music activity is to take a folk tune and “play” with it: put in chords and then perhaps change them, improvise different versions of the melody and its patterns while still keeping the spirit and mood of the original tune. Some of my favorite composers are Beethoven, J.S. Bach, Chopin, and Dennis Alexander.

I love a good hike in the South Hills of Helena (thank you, Prickly Pear Land Trust!). I love planting trees and watching them grow. I love natural scene jigsaw puzzles, modern dance moves, reading good books by Steinbeck, Zakov and Brene Brown to name a few. I make excellent Marinara sauce on pasta and a great Bavarian raspberry cream pie. My husband Ken keeps me company through all that and more. I have two grown sons: Collin lives and works in Bozeman and Ian and his wife Kate live here in Helena; they run Sunflower Bakery, noted for its long-fermenting sourdough artisan-style bread.