The Piano Lessons Book: The Piano Student's Guide For Getting The Most Out Of Practicing, Lessons, Your Teacher And Yourself
Neil Miller lives and works in Ramona, California, about 40 miles outside of San Diego. He has been teaching piano privately since 1983 and maintains a roster of about 25 students, making him one of the most successful teachers in the area. His formal studies were with concert pianists and noted teachers Melody Lord and Alan Swain in Chicago, and Florence Stephenson in San Diego. Among his many students who have gone on to successful performing and composing careers are jazz pianist Virgil Benton, pianist-classical composer Brian Curry, and pianist-new age composer Josh Turov.    "I'm a good piano teacher because I have a bad memory." Neil Miller realized at a young age that memorizing did not come easy, and this hampered his desire to perform the way concert pianists perform - playing from memory. As a result, he relentlessly investigated and researched, finding the answers to how someone with an ordinary memory could capably memorize music. "I was astounded at the empty answers I got from some teachers - they were ignorant of how an understanding of scales and chords is the cornerstone of memorization. Once I got that behind me, I learned more about memorization methods and became a successful performer. The understanding of music construction became my teaching specialty, along with finding the music's dramatic and emotional content, and employing effective practicing methods."    Neil Miller has been a regular performer in the San Diego area. From 1984 to 1990, his jazz-rock trio Beyond entertained at nightclubs and parties. In the 1980s he gave a series of chamber music concerts with varied instrumentalists; he also lectured and performed in piano recitals on various classical music topics. Since 1997, he has given a weekly performance of classical music and jazz standards at Ramona's San Vicente Inn.