Doug Peterson

Doug Peterson plays and teaches guitar, piano, accordion, and brass-wind instruments (Tuba, Euphonium, & Trumpet). He also does workshops in theory, composition, and songwriting.  Having been classically trained on piano since first grade, he minored in Music Theory and Composition from Western Michigan University, where he also first started playing guitar.  Doug has now been teaching private lessons for over sixteen years.

Though his primary influence is classical, Doug performs and writes in several genres:  Celtic and folk rock being his two favorites.  He has been a part of the Escanaba City Band (a long-standing traditional brass band), Laurie’s Fault (an Irish pub band), and Sweet Geek (an Indie Rock group.)  Mostly performing as a solo singer-songwriter, he also has fifteen years’ experience playing as a bard at Renaissance and other festivals.  Two years ago, Doug was also featured as a finalist on AMC’s nationally televised talent show, “Showville.” Having completed two albums, one of his Celtic songs, and another of his modern compositions, Doug Peterson has also performed on three other albums with the Celtic band, Laurie’s Fault, and has been featured on the internationally distributed compilation album, “Celtic Dreams”.

Doug believes, first and foremost, that anyone should be able to play and enjoy music. As he is classically trained on piano, Doug tends to emphasize note reading, especially to younger beginning students, He also believes that having a basic sense of notes and theory can be indispensable to anyone.  That said, he accepts students of all levels and interests, and will help them learn anything they want in the way they want.

Doug Peterson knows from personal experience that HOW you practice is more important than how much you practice. He likes to challenge his students, making sure they are constantly bettering themselves.  Any of his students will tell you that having lessons with Doug is a combination of hard work, and lots of fun and laughter.

Doug teaches Classical, Folk, and Rock, and most enjoys working with beginning and intermediate students