Touchtone Studio
One-on-one piano practice in Portland.
Tired of dabbling?
Whether you’re a returning student or serious beginner, I would love to help you learn to make steady progress at the piano. You don’t need to be musical, just curious.
I teach one-on-one, which plenty of tricks, but no shortcuts. Each lesson is a unique investigation of that hour's puzzle. We work on what interests you and cultivate artistry and technique. When you love the practice, the skill takes care of itself.
What to expect
• Weekly private lessons in Woodstock
• Classical technique, improvisation, and musical fluency
• Embodied practice, not app-based drills
• Optional recitals, only when meaningful
• First lesson is freeCurious? Book your free first hour with me, or fill out a short survey. Or (best) both. You can also reach me at [email protected].
"David Lyons is a dynamic and patient teacher, with an incredible knowledge and skill base. He is passionate about playing and teaching a diverse repertoire of piano music. Students are supported and encouraged within their current skill level, while also challenged to learn new techniques and music theory. He is dedicated to seeing students grow and develop in their musical talents, and his kind and gentle nature create a welcoming environment to learn. I highly recommend David as either your first or next piano teacher!" - Allison
Past Recitals
As a student, you'll be invited to participate in recitals throughout the year (when you're ready). Whether you're playing Liszt's sonata or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, it's a chance to share your music in a supportive space.I'm sharing my own performances (and one of my student's) from the past few years, first, because it's relevant for you as a potential student to gauge my piano skills. But second, because these recitals are unpolished and imperfect, and taken together they show the sort of step-by-step progress I would aim to inspire in you over our time together.
March 2025: two preludes by Debussy.
March 2025: my very talented student, Allison, playing Chopin's prelude op. 28, no. 6. This was a huge challenge for her and she crushed it!
December 2024: Beethoven sonata, op. 109, second movement. You can hear my nerves! I'm targeting the full sonata of December 2025.
June 2024: Mozart sonata for two pianos with my teacher.
Also June 2024: Messiaen "dead moments" prelude. The audience didn't know what hit them, but I was so excited to be able to play one of my favorite weird composers.
December 2023: clunked through a full mid-period Beethoven sonata, by far the hardest thing I'd learned to that point. I can hardly listen to this, but I gained so much from studying it.
June 2023: need to track down a recording of my Schubert D 899/2 impromptu.
December 2022: my first recital with my current teacher. The latter two thirds of Beethoven's famous "pathetique" sonata.
David Lyons
[email protected]
Woodstock, Portland, OR