John has participated in a wide range of performances in the Bay Area, the greater Cleveland area, and in Syracuse, NY. These include solo performances, chamber music, and accompanying work. He has worked with several vocal teachers as an accompanist and coach, including Hazel Zehner, Polly Thesmacher, Melvin Hakola, Noriko Fugi Paukert, and Donna Miller. He has participated as a staff accompanist in the Summersong vocal workshop in Lafayette, CA, as well.

John's teaching experience includes maintaining a private studio for applied piano, voice coaching, music theory, and studio classes since 1978; teaching applied piano with the Community Music Center San Francisco since 1994; and teaching at Syracuse University, Cleveland State University, and Baldwin-Wallace College.

John builds a strong musical and technical foundation through the use of a selection of fine materials which are form-fitted to the needs of the individual student.  He is not a method teacher, but some of the materials he uses include Bartok's teaching pieces; Czerny exercises; scale, arpeggio and octave studies; and a careful selection of high-quality classical music literature.  He also teaches ergonomic body mechanics in relation to the keyboard to maximize technical efficiency and to help avoid the physical problems often caused by the stress and strain of an inefficient technique.  And, he is a great believer in parent participation in the lesson process.