I started the School of Music Theory in 2019 after teaching music theory and composition both privately and at higher education level for 20 years. I've taught at the University of Pennsylvania (PA, USA), Interlochen Arts Camp (MI, USA), Plymouth University (UK), Dartington College of Arts (UK), and in my own studio at home. I own and operate the Totnes School of Piano.

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I entered my undergraduate studies completely focussed on studying piano performance, but I quickly found that studying music theory improved my sight-reading and my ability to learn and memorize music quickly; it heightened my musical expression and understanding at the piano; and it eventually led me to composing music.

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I hold dual undergraduate degrees in piano performance and music theory, an MA and PhD in composition from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and two MFAs in performance with an improvisation emphasis and in electronic music & recording media from Mills College in California, where I won the Flora Boyd Piano Performance Prize in 2011.

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But most importantly, I have a passion for teaching music theory. I believe it is the key that unlocks all musical treasures. It can be engaging in its own right, but music theory, for me, is best viewed as a means toward greater musical expression and creativity.​​