Seth Ransom Osborn

I have been teaching piano for more than 21 years in both in-person and online settings. I am a classically trained piano player with a degree in music and visual art from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I was drawn to composition and songwriting from a young age and that passion has driven my musical career for decades, as I've composed for plays, soundtracks, and my with ensembles, recording and performaing around Texas. My music blends minimalism with American Roots, songwriting, rock, pop, and world music in experimental settings. I was nominated for the B Iden Payne award for Best Original Score and Best Live Music Performance for my soundtrack to Penfold Theater's performance of the play An Iliad, and I am currently working on the score for a documentary about Judy Humber, former world champion female Muay Thai boxer, in addition tp a string quartet inspired by American fiddle music.

My interest in American Roots music has always informed my compositions and perfrmances which include, in addition to piano, banjo, and mountain dulcimer. I am also currently composing a series of songs for banjo and dulcimer, inspired by the pastoral tranquility and magic of my small hometown. 

I am also a visual artist, writer, amateur woodworker, avid hiker and camper, book and art collector, and I have a passion for history, anthropology, mythology and folklore. All of this informs my music immeasurably, allowing me to blend styles in a unique, evocative, and exciting way.

I fell in love with teaching the minute I started. For me, creating art has always been about communicating in a unique and powerful language, and teaching is a way to broaden others' ability to communicate in that language. Being able to create and perform music is a gift that musicians can give to the world and to themselves over and over. Seeing and cultivating a joy for music in students is a real joy for me, and I feel strongly that encouraging the development of artists of all kinds is a vital and beautiful contribution to the world. I have recently begun teaching beginner block printing classes and that has been an amazing experience that has informed my piano teaching as well, expanding my ability to explain concepts and inspire others.

My strengths as a teacher have always been a friendly, not-too-formal approach, keeping lessons enjoyable, and pursuing a student's interests as much as possible. I arrange music for individual students regularly, and my skills as a composer and arranger, plus my knowledge of a wide variety of styles allows me to construct a curriculum tailored to each student's needs and preferences, charting a path through as much of their favorite music as possible while still ensuring that they learn the crucial fundamentals of technique, reading, theory, and understanding. I have been praised for my flexibilty, willingness to adapt to my what my students find exciting (or boring), and my authentic and personal communication style.