Teacher Profile: Justin Hansen, Piano

At AWSOM we value the personal connections we make with our students, and we want you to feel the same way.

That's why our teachers have taken a moment to answer some questions in between their busy teaching schedules. Read on to learn more about our amazing piano teacher Justin Hansen!

How long have you been playing music?

30 Years

What first got you interested in playing?

Seeing my bestie’s sister play

What is your favorite song/band/genre of music?

Chopin’s Ballade no 4/Radiohead/Classical

What is your favorite part of teaching?

Finding new ways to approach the same concept

What is your greatest musical accomplishment?

Composing, orchestrating, conducting, recording, and mastering my Master’s final

What is your greatest non-musical accomplishment?

Becoming a Sous chef of a fine dining restaurant after 1 year with no prior experience

Besides playing music, what is your favorite thing to do?

Reading books, learning a language

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Spain—For the culture, the people, and the food

What advice do you have for anyone interested in playing piano?

If you have the desire, invest the time. And stick it out!

Why is piano the coolest instrument to play?

Endless possibility

When you first started playing music, was there anything particularly challenging about learning it?

Was self-taught so finding the right teacher was a challenge. Most of them didn’t know where to begin

Why do you think playing music is important?

It channels energy (bad and good), speaks directly to the soul, entertains, and is plainly the best thing for your brain. Period.

What profession, other than your own, would you like to try?

Astrophysicist

What musician do you find most inspiring?

Martha Argerich

Last book you read?

Complete Stories of Flannery O’Connor

Last movie you watched?

Beetlejuice

Your idea of an ideal day would be:

Sailing and reading a book on the ocean

Anything else you would like to highlight about yourself?

I love video games and peanut butter

To learn more about Justin, visit his teacher bio page.

Interested in taking piano lessons? Fill out our enrollment form, and we'll have you playing in no time!