Piano

Lou Colonna

When I was seven years old, my father purchased a Hammond Organ Model H with a full pedal board. Since I was so young and so small, my feet couldn't reach the pedal board to operate it. My father, who was an engineer, designed and built extensions that sat on top of the pedal board so that I could learn to use both my hands and feet to play while taking organ lessons. Besides my father playing the accordion at home, organ lessons were my first formal introduction to music.

After a few years of organ lessons, I developed the desire to learn how to play the piano. Coincidentally, that was right around the time that organ lessons became more difficult, and I had a wild idea that piano would be a far easier instrument to master. Little did I know that switching my focus to piano would impact the rest of my life.

My first piano teacher was Anthony Rustocko, who used to come to my parents' house to teach me. The transition from playing the organ to playing the piano was more of a battle that I had anticipated - while they both have keyboards, they require two totally different techniques. I kept up with piano lessons through high school, and explored classic rock and progressive rock music by playing in various garage bands. Through those gigs and practices, I met and developed close friendships with several different band members.

While playing in a band, I met Craig Hoek, who not only became my best friend, but he taught me everything that I know about musical instruments. Later on, Craig became my business partner and founding member of Raritan Music Center.

Through Craig, I met two of my most influential teachers of both music and life: Mario Lisante and Margaret Stern Kinander. Through Mario's vocal instruction and Margaret's piano instruction, I was inspired and encouraged to make music my career. I decided to expand my musical education by taking music theory classes in college where I met Dr. David Stanley York.

When I decided to open my own music studio and store, Dr. York was newly retired and up for the challenge of helping me design Raritan Music Center. Over the next decade, Dr. York taught piano lessons, voice lessons, and music theory at RMC; he designed several summer camps and programs for students; and he continued to encourage and inspire me to expand the studio and its offerings. We have had students of almost all instruments, students of all ages, students with varying goals, and students who just want to learn for the enjoyment of music.

Over the last 25 years, I have watched thousands of students walk through our front door. I have hired teachers who supported the goals and environment of Raritan Music Center. Our teachers, both past and present, have all played a part in the evolution and development of the studio. We have hosted benefit recitals, summer camps, master classes, competitions - all in addition to providing quality musical instruction to students of all ages.

When the studio opened in 1997, it was never my intention to produce thousands of professional musicians. What I wanted to do was to provide the gift of music to students - and that is a gift that lasts an entire lifetime, regardless of career choice. I often think about something that Dr. York used to say regularly, "The closest you will ever get to God is when you create." I hope that Raritan Music Center provides an environment where each and every one of its students the opportunity to create.