Peter Brownlee

Lessons Offered

Where are Lessons Offered

About Me

Peter Brownlee began his piano studies at age seven. He made his concerto debut at age twelve as first prize winner of the Marin Youth Symphony's Concerto Competition. His later appearances include Barge Music (NYC), the SF Chamber Orchestra, Sing It Yourself Messiah at Davies Symphony Hall (SF), the Huntington Library (Los Angeles) and other well-known music series. His early teachers include Marilyn Thompson, Nancy Lyle Bennett and Istvan Nadas. Studies continued in Toronto during his later teens until he returned to the San Francisco Bay Area to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Studies continued in New York with David Hollander, Sophia Rosoff and Albert Fuller. Peter maintains a full-time studio in Bend, Oregon and accepts students at all levels, although advanced students continue to be a specialty. Upon graduating from high school, on average two students from his studio choose to major in piano performance at universities and conservatories through-out the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Some have appeared as concerto soloists with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and Aurora Borealis. And closer to home, with the Central Oregon Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Gesme and the Cascade Festival Orchestra under the direction of Murray Sidlin.

My Musical Education Background

I belong to the Royal Conservatory, the Oregon Music Teachers Association, Royal Canadian College of Organists and the American Guild of Organists. I encourage all my students to consider seriously taking the annual evaluation offered by the RC or OMTA. Two recitals are offered at Central Oregon Community College's beautiful Hitchcock Auditorium during the teaching year. The Cascades Classical Music Foundation's competition (open to all classical instrumentalists), Central Oregon Symphony Concerto Competition, the Junior Bach Festival and State Solo and Ensemble are events in which I encourage my qualified students to participate.

Genres and Subjects Taught

Making music at the piano continues to be one of the great joys of my life. My primary aim as a teacher is to help others learn how to experience this joy, too.

Therefore, being at the piano must be fun, first and foremost. Otherwise, why do it? To achieve a high level of proficiency requires a commitment to which I do not expect all my students to aspire. It is the teacher's responsibility, along with the parents, to help the student discern to what extent music will play a role in his or her life, and to provide a course of study which is based upon the aspirations of the student. My approach is necessarily flexible to meet the goals of all students.

The focus is on repertory, but learning keyboard patterns, challenging the ear and mind to experience fully what one is creating and basic music theory are essential for a thorough understanding of what one is playing.

I also teach problem solving, independence and confidence in one's abilities, whether one is brilliantly gifted or endowed with more modest gifts.

Thank you for your interest in my services, and feel free to email or call me (late mornings are best) if you would like more information.


Yours in music,
Peter Brownlee
BM, AGO, RCCO

Lesson Rates

Please call for additional information or to schedule an appointment.

Ages / Skill Levels Taught

I welcome beginning students as there is a special pleasure in building a pianist from the ground up. After all, we were all beginners at one time. In recent years I have acquired more and more adults. These are also a pleasure to work with and it's never too late to learn the joy of simply being at the piano.

My Certifications and Awards

"He is one of the top five independent piano studios in Oregon." --Music Department, University of Oregon at Eugene.

My Musical Influences

Strictly classical

Service Area

Lauren F
Tacoma, WA

Because of Peter, music is the happiest part of my life. I can learn whatever I wish to on my own. I enjoy playing daily. I took lessons for a few short years with him nearly 20 years ago, and the impact it had on my youth carries over to this day.