“Doc Collins has been my piano teacher the past few years. His ability to integrate his in-depth knowledge of music theory and its endless applications, along with a remarkable understanding of human behavior, result in his unique teaching style. This perfect combination has given me a sense of stability reward and the desire to learn more. He manifests genius.”

— Vera Williams, age 86
PhD in life experience
Compassionate caretaker

I’ve known Doc both personally and professionally for forty years. I know him well. He is a consummate songwriter, musician, singer and teacher; a professional who remembers himself.

— Morty Wiggins
President/CEO Second Octave Talent
Former V.P. Bill Graham Mgm.
Former GM A&M Records

“I wanted to play the piano my entire life. I started lessons twice as a child and again as adult with teachers who had a traditional approach, focusing on memorizing scales and reading notation. Although I learned to play a few pieces nicely, I gained little understanding of what I was doing, and there was nothing creative about it. I decided not to take lessons again unless I found a teacher who could at least help demystify the piano for me.

Doc’s approach has offered infinitely more, and I am grateful that I’ve had eight years now of continual discovery of sound musical principals and my own musical voice on the piano. I hope the journey never ends.

Everything Doc teaches comes from and leads back to the same place – Presence.”

— Peg Banker
Life Science Executive Search

“Gary “Doc” Collins has been my piano teacher for more than fifteen years, and has guided me skillfully into a completely new and deeper understanding of piano music of many diverse kinds, as well as practical ability in improvising and composing. He is a superb teacher and coach, whose patient and compassionate guidance has helped me overcome childhood anxieties and self-doubts. He has also assisted me and collaborated on several musical recording projects that I’ve been involved and opened up vast realms of creative exploration.”

— Ralph Metzner, Ph.D.
Psychologist and Author

“I came to study with Doc in my mid-50’s, having previously studied piano for several years as a child and having sung in a choir as an adult. Nevertheless, I remained shy and self-critical about performing music, to say nothing of creating my own songs.

Doc has been exceptionally helpful in supporting me through that process, which for me has been a gradual one. At the same time, I have seen my musical understanding, appreciation, playing skills, and now my ability to connect with my own musical creativity grow tremendously.

As a psychotherapist with 30 years of experience, I have been continually impressed with Doc’s ability – grounded in both experience and intuition – to assess what is the right kind of help, support, suggestion, technique, or confrontation to use the various stages of my development as a musician.

Doc’s teaching centers on improvisation as the root of musical creativity, whether performing or writing one’s own songs. The more I study with him the more I appreciate his approach. It is an unfolding path of self-discovery and creative expression in all aspects of my life.”

— Paul Tamminen
Sebastopol