Lori Perkins M.Ed. – Piano

Performance History:
Up until and through high school most of Lori’s  performing was done as a vocalist singing in many church and school choirs, musicals, and jazz bands.  In 1990 she began performing mostly on Hammond Organ in a number of Boston local bands.

Since then, performing professionally as a keyboardist has taken her all over New England and beyond.  She has recorded and released four full length CD’s, has been on a number of music compilations, has received a Boston Music Award, and has had multiple nominations for best keyboardist in Boston.  Her recordings have been used on MTV’s “Real World Paris” and “Road Rules”.  She continues to perform regularly in multiple bands of a wide variety of styles. Her most prominent project currently is “What Time Is It Mr.Fox?” which performs regularly in the Boston area (and beyond) and is currently working on it’s second full length release and music video.

Education:

Lori has been playing piano since she was 6 years old and took private lessons continuously  through her college years.  In addition to piano she studied singing, flute and guitar.  Lori’s first year of college was spent at Indiana University where she focused her energies solely on piano and chose music composition as a major. After Indiana University, she went to Berklee College of Music where she received her degree and certification in Music Education, K-9.  After taking a few years off from school, she decided to return to Lesley College and received a Masters and ceritfication in Special Education N-9 and Elementary Education 1-6.

Employment:
After Berklee College of Music Lori began working at the Medfield After School Program (MAP)  at which time she also began teaching private piano lessons driving house to house in Medfield, MA.  She also taught children with special needs at Camp Echo Bridge in Newton, Ma during the summers.  After two years at MAP she decided to leave that work and to focus on her piano teaching business.

The Birth Of MMM:  In 2003 Lori decided to fulfill her dream of opening a  music studio where she could expand the opportunities she could provide her private piano students.  In a studio with all possible teaching materials conveniently at hand (listening library, book library, convenient internet access) and with  many teachers teaching many different instruments in proximity she could create a true music learning environment that benefits all.  Her students which were previously isolated now had opportunities to play with others in duets, small groups and create bands and such. Yea!

Continued Education: Lori continues to take lessons and learn more as a musician.  She would not bring a teacher to MMM that she would not study with herself.  Since the opening of MMM she has taken guitar, drum, piano and violin lessons from MMM teachers and has enjoyed them fully.  She is still primarily a pianist/organist but what she has learned from her teachers on these secondary instruments has truly made her a better musician.

“ There is no better way to spend your day than teaching and playing music.  My growth as a performer inspires my teaching, and my students inspire me as a player.  I am renewed every day as I watch young minds grapple with, master, and then redefine music.  There is nothing more wonderful than a child at an instrument, you never know what will happen next.”

To listen to or purchase some samples of Lori’s recordings, visit http://www.bomba.com