Meet our teachers
"I am so proud of the teachers at Downtown Piano Works. All have degrees in Music. All are working musicians. Every teacher gives students opportunity for feedback and growth. Students are enthusiastic about learning and I love hearing their progress. Not only do our teachers provide traditional structure that occurs in conservatory style lessons, but they teach students to create music and appreciate all genres. High level classical music, improvisation and arranging, applied music theory. singing and songwriting as well as the unique ability to help students find their own voice makes our teachers some of the best in Maryland."
- Theresa Shykind / Owner
Jordan Clawson
Jordan is a pianist and composer living in Frederick, Maryland. In 2006 he received his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Michigan, where he studied piano, composition and arranging with Ellen Rowe, Geri Allen and Dennis Wilson.
Jordan has been a performer in choirs, concert bands, jazz bands and combos, a cappella groups, church bands, and pit orchestras. As a composer, Jordan creates new music for different ensembles, environments, and film.
In 2013 Jordan received his Master's degree in Composition and Music Theory: Scoring for Film and Multimedia from New York University, where he studied with Mark Suozzo.
Having taught countless piano lessons, Jordan truly enjoys watching his students achieve their musical goals. Experienced in classical, jazz, and popular music, Jordan teaches students of all ages, and likes to incorporate into his lessons, music students are personally interested in playing.
Jamie Choi
Jamie Choi is a pianist with wide-ranging musical skills that span multiple genres. From classical to jazz, Jamie plays it all. He has a bachelor’s degree in classical piano performance and master’s degrees in jazz studies and collaborative piano from NYU.
Looking back, lots of things have happened for Jamie to get from a young piano student to where he is today. Jamie’s musical journey began to get serious after studying classical music at Peniel High School of the Arts in South Korea. He went on to attend Chungang University, and studied in the studio of Hyekyung Lee, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in classical piano. While there he won a piano concerto competition which awarded him a merit-based scholarship.
After years of focusing primarily on classical music, Jamie turned his attention to a new genre that captured his imagination: musical theater. He served as an associate music director and pianist in the original Korean productions of Agatha and The Interview. With a burgeoning interest in other exciting genres, he decided to move to one of the world capitals of music: New York City. There, he began studying jazz at New York University, where he worked with preeminent jazz musicians like Grammy Award winner Alan Broadbent and three-time Grammy nominee Alan Ferber. Jamie also arranged and self-produced his first album: Flowing Tide… which will be released in 2023.
Jamie performs as a collaborative pianist with vocalists, actors, choruses, choirs, and instrumentalists. Most recently, he had two collaborative recitals. He also played in a musical theater production of Wonderland at Frederick Loewe Theater in New York, working alongside composer Frank Wildhorn. He served as the associate music director and main pianist in the performance of City of Angels at New York’s Skirball Center, and performed as a soloist at “Piano City” concerts held in New York at One World Trade Center and St. John’s in the Village.
He has taught keyboard skills, group piano lessons, and private piano lessons at New York University. Now, he passionately teaches students at Downtown Piano Works.
Matthew Carey
Matthew Carey is a composer, musician and educator from Frederick, Maryland, where he owns and operates his own recording studio. He has studied Piano with Mr. Gary Mullenax and Dr. Robert Scott Beard at Shepherd University, where he was awarded accolades for his pianistic accomplishments. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where he studied electronic music and composition with Dr. Anna Rubin. In 2015 he was awarded research scholarship to pursue sound studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he studied with acclaimed composer Pauline Oliveros.
Matthew has publicly performed repertoire from the Classical and Baroque periods as well as Modern Popular Music. In 2009 he won the Mountain State Piano Competition for performing Aram Khachaturian’s Toccata, and was presented with Music Teacher’s National Association’s Student Achievement Recognition Award. He has performed professionally in the Hagerstown and Martisnburg, WV area with the jazz quartet The Rushin’ Blues and currently performs as part of an improvisational trio in Baltimore with Percussionist Shelly Purdy and Guitarist Matthew Burke.
Matthew loves teaching and has been teaching Piano for over a decade. He is experienced teaching students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. His approach is to find out what interests the student, and then develop a personalized curriculum to help the student reach their goals. Whether it be Classical, Jazz or Popular music, Matthew loves finding ways to keep lessons fresh and fun. He looks forward to working with you at Downtown Piano Works!
Charlie Murdock
Charlie Murdock is a vocalist and pianist, and a recent graduate of George Mason University. With a degree in Jazz Vocal Performance, Charlie studied The Great American Songbook and mastered scat singing under the fantastic faculty of GMU, including Dr. Darden Purcell, Wade Beach, Victor Provost, and others.
Performing music of all genres, he began playing at age 10 in his parents’ folk duet ‘Shrinking Violets.’ He has performed as a featured soloist at Blues Alley, the Jazz Education Network 2023/2024 (JENN), the Virginia Music Educators Association, the Reagan Center, and had the privilege of performing a piece with Maria Schneider during her Spring 2022 Residency at GMU. He is currently gigging and teaching privately in the DMV, working up to an EP release of originals as he develops his own eclectic style from his large range of influences.
Charlie is accepting students age 18 and above, interested in playing and performing Jazz.
Dr. Eric Pazdziora
Dr. Eric Paździora has been a pianist since the age of six and a composer since the age of eight. His compositions have been performed and published around the world, with recent premieres by ensembles including Chorosynthesis, Artifice, Daraja Ensemble, PERI Trio, Voces Inauditae, and Les chevelures. Pazdziora has also collaborated on projects with award-winning author Jane Yolen, GRAMMY-nominated soprano Laura Strickling, and literary scholar John Patrick Pazdziora.
He performs regularly in the DMV area and on tour as a pianist and organist in styles including classical, jazz, folk, Latin, and contemporary Christian. Pazdziora holds a doctorate in composition from the University of Maryland, where he studied with Mark Edwards Wilson. He was also a student of Mark Engebretson, Alejandro Rutty, and Edwin T. Childs.
Additionally, he is a graduate of the European American Musical Alliance summer composition program in Paris, studying with pupils of Nadia Boulanger. His academic works include published research into folk music, liturgy, and early childhood silly songs. Dr. Pazdziora has taught students at all levels from infancy to university. His composition students have completed original projects including concert performances, full-length albums, and theatrical productions.
His exciting teaching style combines classical technique with creativity and improvisation, helping students understand how music works and what makes it fun and meaningful for everyone. To hear selections of Eric’s music, visit www.ericpazdziora.com.
Rachel Panay
Rachel has almost 20 years of teaching experience for piano, voice, music theory and songwriting.
As a teaching artist, Rachel seeks to share her passion for music with her students, and strives to impart a respect and reverence of tradition and an appreciation of both a contemporary and classical aesthetic. Her work in both the disciplines reinforce each other through her energetic teaching style, emphasizing sensitive listening, a deep feeling and understanding of music and how movement connects to that music.
A graduate of Duke Ellington High School for the Arts and the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Rachel believes in maintaining high standards of artistic training while still enjoying a friendly, fun rapport with students, learning and discovering together through music!
Rachel is proud to have taught as a Wolftrap Resident Teaching Artist, licensed Music Together instructor, and former dance instructor at the non-profit Sitar Arts Center, and Levine School of Music's summer program.
Her interest in diverse musical styles lead her to experiment in the Dance/Electronica genre where she was embraced by audiences and critics alike with several releases under the umbrella of Act 2 Records and Music Plant. From 2004 to present, Rachel enjoyed a string of consecutive hit singles including underground club anthem, "The Walk of Shame" and Billboard Club Play smash hits, "Back to Love" (#2), "I Still Believe" (#7), and several others. Rachel’s songs also provided musical backgrounds for mainstream television shows like the Oprah Winfrey show & Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous & as well as edgy indie films like "Signage" and "A Four Letter Word" and "The Big Gay Musical" in Fall 2009!
Nominated twice for Best Breakthrough Artist at Winter Music Conference's International Dance Music Awards in Miami for 2005 and 2006 and receiving a WAMMY for Best Electronica Vocalist in 2005, Rachel continued to work in Jazz and Adult Contemporary groups in DC and NYC on stage and in the studio, constantly working on refining her vision and sound.