ABOUT LINDA
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I started playing piano as soon as I could reach the keys. Since the beginning, I have always created my own music even before I took any professional lessons. Putting my emotions into the keyboard has been a way of expressing myself through my whole life. I began piano lessons at the age of five, and through my teen years I studied with a private composition teacher for two years; followed by two years of private training with an improvisation specialist.
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Once I started high school, I was quickly added to the jazz band. I enjoyed jazz competitions and tours, taking every chance I could to play on stage. At this time, I decided I needed to learn to read as well as I could play. I studied with a very well known piano teacher from Newport Beach at the Merle Valdez School of Music where I was educated in the four different periods of classical music. I studied with her for five years and began to match my reading with my playing skills. I have performed my personal compositions at school, churches, and recitals. I composed pieces for groups of pianists that we played on five grand pianos on stage at multiple recitals.
I began playing professionally for private parties at beautiful estates on Lido Island and Newport Beach. After high school, I was accepted to Juiliard School of Performing Arts in New York. I chose to stay close to my family in California and continued studying piano for two years at Orange Coast College and Golden West College, as well as continuing at the School of Music in Newport Beach.
After I was married, in the early 90s, I joined a worship band in southern California where I played piano, sang, and lead the worship team for several years. Through the next twenty-something years, I raised and homeschooled six children. During this I always carved out time to privately challenge and continue my love for piano playing. My kids were raised in a house where piano was a normal background sound.
After moving to the island of Kauai in spring 2017 I quickly joined some local artists who soon became good friends, and began playing at multiple local establishments and with musicians of different styles. Through this I have learned Hawaiian hymns and classics, pop songs from the 70s, and a variety of love songs.
Playing by ear and knowing my chords allows me to learn songs very quickly or jump in with the band halfway through a song I've never heard before. I have a love for creating an atmosphere at a party with captivating and delightful music to capture the moment, which allows people to relax and enjoy their time together.
I began playing professionally for private parties at beautiful estates on Lido Island and Newport Beach. After high school, I was accepted to Juiliard School of Performing Arts in New York. I chose to stay close to my family in California and continued studying piano for two years at Orange Coast College and Golden West College, as well as continuing at the School of Music in Newport Beach.
After I was married, in the early 90s, I joined a worship band in southern California where I played piano, sang, and lead the worship team for several years. Through the next twenty-something years, I raised and homeschooled six children. During this I always carved out time to privately challenge and continue my love for piano playing. My kids were raised in a house where piano was a normal background sound.
After moving to the island of Kauai in spring 2017 I quickly joined some local artists who soon became good friends, and began playing at multiple local establishments and with musicians of different styles. Through this I have learned Hawaiian hymns and classics, pop songs from the 70s, and a variety of love songs.
Playing by ear and knowing my chords allows me to learn songs very quickly or jump in with the band halfway through a song I've never heard before. I have a love for creating an atmosphere at a party with captivating and delightful music to capture the moment, which allows people to relax and enjoy their time together.
