* Welcome *

My piano improvisation features original compositions and fresh interpretations of popular songs, traditional tunes, blues, jazz standards and Latin music. The music can provide relaxing background for a restaurant or dinner party, or it can be high energy and dancable. I perform improvisational music in combinations ranging from solo to sextet. The world-beat jazz band One Sun is one of my special offerings. You can listen to examples of some of these combinations on my samples page. View a listing of upcoming and past performances on my schedule page.

I am also a founding member and keyboard player for the Latin band Saludos Compay, which has its own web site.

I have a music teaching studio for individual instructon in a variety of keyboard styles ranging from traditional classical to many kinds of popular music. My emphasis is on enjoyment of music making and mastery of techniques. I help students of any age develop skills and encourage them to perform well at their particular level, rather than demanding flawless perfection at all times. I currently (Dec 2007) have two openings for school age students and am also available to teach adults that are willing to practice and are available for lessons in the daytime.

On September 22, 2007 I performed live piano improvisation for a showing of Buster Keaton's silent film The General in Nic Beery's Century Center Cinema film series. You can watch a clip from the movie with his piano accompaniment by clicking here. I will perform again in this capacity at the same venue on January 26, 2008, for Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush and on March 15, 2008, for Keaton's Sherlock Jr.

Click here to listen to a report by WUNC's Rose Hoban about music and memory loss including an interview with me (12/29/2006) about music that I do with the elderly participants at Charles House in Carrboro. Rose won the best health news of the year award from the Radio and Television News Directors Association of the Carolinas for this piece.

To find out more, explore this site and contact me at:

919.270.3440
email: erich@erichlieth.com
PO Box 7, Carrboro NC 27510