“Her creativity and depth in writing and performing spills over into her teaching. As her student, I was challenged, inspired, encouraged and changed as a musician.” —Melisa
I equip my students to perform at a high musical and technical level, tailoring my teaching to the needs of each individual student and bringing music to every aspect of their lives to inspire them and foster personal growth.
Colleen is the Founder and Director of Lifesong Piano Studio in Vancouver, Washington. As a private instructor of more than 35 years, she offers a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum with the course of study being tailored to the individual student. Whether exploring a musical experience as a K-12 student or an adult recreational player, Colleen provides inspiration and expertise to every student. She challenges her students to give their musical gifts and skills for the benefit of others by encouraging them to perform in various venues, including assisted living facilities, school programs, and church settings. She also provides pedagogical guidance to advancing students who are teaching students of their own. Colleen has had several students go on to pursue advanced degrees and establish their own private studios.
In addition to private instruction, Colleen has coached young string players and pianists in ensembles ranging from jazz to classical to church music in both the school and church settings. She has also presented sessions to Clark County music teachers and students alike on the topic of writing creative, compelling, and artistically nuanced arrangements. Colleen has served as adjudicator for various music festivals and competitions in Oregon, Washington and Michigan, and has served as co-chair for Clark County Music Teacher Association adjudications for several years. She is a frequent visiting artist in other private studios, teaching students arranging technique.
As a Legacy Teacher with Michael Allen Harrison’s Ten Grands shows, Colleen has mentored several young artists who have performed with the series, rehearsing with the students as they prepared challenging two-piano, eight-hand duos written for the show, and coaching them in engaging performance skills. Her passionate commitment to music education backed with her longstanding experience as a nationally recognized performing artist helps to sculpt her studio curriculum and foster the joy of music making.
Recommendations
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Colleen’s enthusiasm for playing the piano is contagious. I could not have asked for a better teacher and would highly recommend Colleen to anyone!
- Karissa S.
I am enjoying your adjudication comments so much. They are insightful and so personal! I truly appreciate the time and care you took with each of my students in writing those comments.
- Shad Ryan Wenzlaff, Independent Piano Teacher.
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Although Colleen is an accomplished performer she approaches her students with patience and creativity, making sure to connect on a personal level. She looks for ways to motivate or spark interest customized specifically to an individual while maintaining the intended goals. Her approach is classical but she is capable of integrating principles and concepts of harmony that transfer to improvisation and jazz. Despite planning carefully and outlining objectives to her students with lesson notes, she strives for self-direction by the student to produce maximum success. Even though she has years of experience, she studies new practice techniques and shares ideas with families. We are privileged and grateful for her love of music that she communicates to her students.
- grandfather of student and school band instructor
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Colleen is a wonderful teacher, skilled in evaluating where a student is at, where they want to take their study, and how to get there. She addresses skills in a kind, creative, self-assessment style that helps you learn, adjust, grow, and apply what you've learned to the future. I studied with Colleen for 16 years and we never ran out of new things to work on.
- Christa D.
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Colleen is more than a piano teacher, she's a mentor and someone I look up to, always patient and kind. She took my piano playing to levels no other teacher had, expanding upon my strengths and showing me ways of connecting and expressing emotions through every piece.
- Heidi O.
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I am an adult who has played for years (though only taken about 4 years of lessons). After seeing Colleen perform, I was inspired to take lessons again and begged her to teach me. While my lessons were incredibly humbling, they were so full of encouragement and I was amazed (and appalled) by how much I didn't know! She had the patience to teach me the remedial things I'd never learned while encouraging me to explore the skills I had developed--building on what I knew while helping me break bad habits. I have gained a deeper appreciation for the piano...and an amazing friend because of the time I have spent with her.
– Julie H.
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Thank you, thank you for your inspiring and beautiful music. You have blessed me again and again.
- Merv M.
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Under the tutelage of Colleen, I grew to understand and love the piano more and more through her enthusiasm and thoughtfulness. She taught me when to pause and when to fly, the importance in a breath and the flow of movement to glide the fingers in a seamless brushstroke across the keys. I would recommend her to any person looking for a teacher who will not only teach but will be a friend.
– Avonlea K.
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Colleen's enthusiasm for playing the piano is contagious. She teaches with excellence and leads by example. My time under her instruction was invaluable, and I will continue to use the techniques I learned and the insight I gained for decades to come. I could not have asked for a better teacher and would highly recommend Colleen to anyone!
– Karissa S.
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If there is someone who can take a polyrhythm, glissando, or some complex passage and make it effortless to play, it’s Colleen. I’ve grown tremendously as a pianist thanks to her positive encouragement and endless patience to find and explore what works. Her passion and joy for music radiates in every lesson.
– Angela K.
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Colleen, you are an inspirational pianist and a thoughtful teacher. I learned so much from you during my four years of lessons! Thank you!
– Hailey K.
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Colleen is truly one of the most talented and capable musicians I have ever met. Her creativity and depth in writing and performing spills over into her teaching. I was challenged, inspired, encouraged and changed as a musician. My years as her student were some of the sweetest in my life. She prepared me so well to earn my Bachelor’s of Music in Piano Performance & Piano Pedagogy. And she changed permanently me along the way.
– Melisa.
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