Michael Evock has performed professionally on piano and banjo. He now teaches piano, banjo and guitar at his studio in Pennsylvania Furnace, PA. He has played solo piano in numerous public and private venues between State College and Harrisburg, presented ragtime piano concerts at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, the People's Choice Festival and South Hills Summer Concert series. He is currently the banjoist with the Tarnished 6 Dixieland band, and Banjovial and past member of the Deacons of Dixieland. Michael received his Bachelor of Music degree from Penn State University. He studied piano with Marylene Dosse, composition with Bruce Trinkley and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. Michael has had students qualify to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association's (PMTA) Dorothy Sutton Showcase Recitals and composition students who have won the PMTA composition contest. He is the current president of the Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association. My philosophy on teaching music is focused on helping the individual pursue his/her musical goals. Music can be a very private passion or for public display. Some want to know why music does certain things and goes certain ways while others want just to play. Composing music provides a way to express and release thoughts and feelings that can be otherwise difficult to convey. Lessons are designed to help the student improve technique and increase their repertoire. Individual instruction can help a student perceive a problem area in a different light and introduce good practice techniques while using repertoire they find interesting. Private lessons are offered in piano, banjo, guitar, ukulele, composition and theory.