Piano

Robert Colby-Witanek

I have been teaching at Raritan Music Center for eight years.

I started taking piano lessons when I was four years old. I was brought up on the music of Yes, and I have been enchanted by the complexity of the sounds on the Fragile album for as long as I can remember. I have always been fascinated by the rhythms and harmonies that human beings can create in large groups, so my parents decided to enroll me in piano lessons.

I studied at Westminster Choir College for both my undergraduate and graduate studies. I studied with Mrs. Ingrid Clarfield, a renowned expert in teaching piano who has taught me everything I need to know about the practical side of teaching. I also took multiple classes with Professor James E. Goldsworthy, whose focus was on the intention behind the music. Both professors have made a tremendous impact on my personal teaching philosophies.

During my junior year of undergrad at Westminster, I had the opportunity to sing Leonard Bernstein's Mass with the Philadelphia Orchestra. This masterpiece whose compositional style spans across multiple different genres is an incredibly moving work and one of my favorite experiences I have ever had the privilege to be a part of.

Life comes with many struggles, but one thing that remains constant is the healing power that music can have. I want to do everything in my power to pass this on to other people.

In addition to teaching, I play piano for a variety of churches, choirs, and musical theater productions all over the state of New Jersey.

My favorite type of music to play is musical theater. I listen to music from almost every genre, most notably rock and EDM. When it comes to teaching, I like a good challenge, and I like repertoire that contains a little bit of everything, both technically and stylistically speaking.