About

Martin Buff is a Seattle area pianist, composer, and teacher, and the owner of a professional recording studio, The Piano Studio.

He was born in Spokane, Washington, but only spent the first three months of his life there, moving about every two years with his Air Force family to places such as Maine, Puerto Rico, Michigan, Turkey, and Idaho, finally returning to finish High School in Olympia, Washington.

Martin's most influential teachers were Professor Madeleine Forte (who coached Martin into winning the prestigious MTNA Junior young artist awards for State and Northwest Division three years in a row, including placing 3rd in Nationals); and University of Washington Professor Bela Siki, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance.

After being accepted into the Master's program in Piano Performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, Martin decided to secure a trade, and acquired a law degree from the Seattle University School of Law. He spent ten years as a licensed Attorney, after which he decided to leave the legal world to return to music. After classes at Boston's Berklee College of Music, Martin completed work on his first CD, entitled "My Journey".

During a brief residence in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he opened up a recording studio, moving the studio in May, 2006 to Seattle, and adding a 9' Concert Grand Steinway Model D.

In additional to teaching piano privately since 2006, for 8 years Martin was part of the Adjunct Music faculty at Seattle's Holy Names Academy.

He has been composing and recording original improvisational music for many years now, and his music can be seen and heard at The Piano Studio's VIDEO SITE!

Teaching

Martin is a classically trained, national MTNA award winning pianist, and have been playing for over 40 years (Bachelors in Music from UW with Bela Siki, Masters level classes at The Manhattan School of Music in NYC, classes at the Berklee College of Music).

Outside of his private teaching studio, Martin was on the music faculty at Holy Names Academy in Seattle for 8 years.

Lessons are tailored to each student and usually include all the basics of

  • Ear Training
  • Sight Reading
  • Fingering
  • Chord Chart Reading
  • Hand Strengthening Exercises
  • Music Theory
and more.

All Martin's students have the opportunity during lessons to have him professionally record their pieces as a teaching tool. This can help tremendously in developing critical listening skills, giving the student the opportunity to objectively hear what the audience hears. Also, for students who need a demo or audition CD, or just as a gift for friends and family, use of his professional recording studio is offered at your lesson rate, a significant discount from professional clients.

$75

per lesson

Lessons are 45 minutes (longer sessions are available).

Contact

Phone

(206) 851-3456

Email

martin@pianostudioseattle.com

Address

11716 23rd Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98125

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