Donn Rochlin

Composer, Pianist, Educator

Composer Musician, Donn Rochlin, was born in Los Angeles, CA. He grew up pursuing music--first playing French horn on his way to a Juillard scholarship when he decided that reading other people's music wasn’t how he wanted to spend his time. At that point he switched to guitar and then taught himself piano as he started composing his own music. Several years later while practicing on a church piano, the church minister offered him a paying gig. That started Donn’s performing career. Never having formal piano lessons, he was encouraged and inspired by the responses of his first audiences.

His compositions started catching on and he soon produced his first solo CD: “Manifestor”. He composed for and toured with the Intimate Flight Dance Company from Flagstaff, AZ. Soon thereafter, he was commissioned by a New York playwright to compose for an off Broadway show. Several years later he landed writing and performing gigs with The Fourth St. Kids Dance Troupe, Tucson, AZ.,  P.A.T.H. or Performing Arts Theater of the Handicapped in Medford, OR and Children's Dance Theater of Ashland, OR. Donn describes his music as eclectic “movie music” that draws on multiple genres and styles.

Donn currently maintains a schedule of live performance, piano clinics, private lessons, and public speaking on the topic of creativity.

His teaching method and philosophy of playing music from the heart rather than by reading notes helped free thousands of students from their fear of making mistakes and holding themselves hostage to perfectionism and performance anxiety.

 I teach a program I developed for beginners as well as classical pianists who would like to play with more freedom and creativity!

 "Six Steps From Beginning  To Pro" is based on the "Chord System". You will learn how to play your favorite songs easily, compose your own music if that interests you, play in a band, play solo piano and improvise.

 For those more advanced, we can cover any topic you'd like.