ABOUT ERIC

 

Eric arrived in Virginia by way of Minnesota, where he was raised and educated.  He graduated with a degree in Piano Performance (95) from the University of Minnesota, and later went on to study organ at Augsburg College (08), which eventually evolved into study toward a Master of Music Education degree.

 

Eric has spent nearly 3 decades teaching, traveling/performing around the world, and serving in various music director and church music roles. His specialties include jazz and classical performance and instruction; and while his teaching style incorporates many traditional elements, he is anything but conventional. Eric's students will learn all of the fundamental building blocks of a solid music education, but he also incorporates improvisation techniques, composition, and contemporary chart reading skills to reinforce understanding and to keep his students challenged and engaged. 

 

Eric is a member of MTNA and the local chapter - the Charlottesville Music Teachers Association (CMTA).  Additionally, Eric is a certified Royal Conservatory of Music teacher and all of Eric's students have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program.

 

Eric is the music director at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlottesville, VA near the University of Virginia (where he has successfully managed to weave Motown, funk, rock, and other non-traditional genres into the service music), and teaches private lessons out of both his home and church studios, and several client's homes. 

 

Eric and his wife Sarah met as fellow music majors at the University of Minnesota nearly 30 years ago (how is that possible??). They make their home in northern Albemarle County in the Stony Point area. In his spare time, Eric enjoys spending time with his family which, in addition to his wife, includes a cool daughter (who's grown now, but occasionally opts to drop in on the empty nest now and then), and menagerie of four-legged friends and fish. He also enjoys playing a variety of other musical instruments (accordion, guitar, bass, percussion), exploring the great outdoors, fixing things, and learning about history.