Lynn Schugren,
pianist.

I was born in Berkeley into a music loving and musical family. I have wonderful memories of evenings of chamber music and song, sitting on the stairs and listening to the grown ups playing and singing. The piano drew me like a magnet, and at age 5 I began lessons with Nadya Lorenz, a protégé of Claudio Arrau, who would remain my teacher for over 15 years.
When we moved to Nevada City I continued my studies with Nadya, my mother would drive me to Berkeley every other week for 3 hour lessons. I attended the Music Academy of the West when I was 15 and after graduating from Mt. St. Mary’s went off to Mills College on a Ford Foundation Talent Award Grant. After graduating from UC Berkeley I began my teaching career.

I gave my first solo piano concert at the age of 18, and continued on throughout the years. I played throughout the western states, both solo and chamber music. I was guest soloist for many years with Music in the Mountains, and played recitals at Old First Church in San Francisco, Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley and at the Oakland Museum. I played live concerts on KPFA, KXPR and KQED Radio and commissioned and premiered several new American piano works. Performance has always been an important part of my life.

I have taught for over 40 years, students of a wide variety of ages and expertise. My students have been competition winners, scholarship winners, and have played at the Music Teacher’s state convention. For many years I was chair for the Alameda County branch Certificate of Merit program, and I still judge for the program every year. I have been a judge at numerous solo and concerto competitions as well as for the Young Composer’s Program of MTAC. Recently I have been pleased to help the Music in the Mountains Young Composer’s program by performing the students’ works in showcase concerts.

I approach teaching music as teaching a language, and want my students to understand music and be able to gain satisfaction from their learning. Each person learns slightly differently, so although I have certain goals for my students, one may arrive at the goal in a different way than another. I teach people of all ages, from 6 to 79—each student is unique and it is ever satisfying to me to help each student find the way to accomplishment and pleasure in their piano studies.