Richard Rau

There was always music in my home as a kid. Mom played piano by ear, mostly on the black keys. My piano training began in third grade, after I recovered from a broken arm. I had difficulty memorizing music but I could improvise. Then I learned other instruments, clarinet and guitar, which gave me more opportunities for improvising and collaborating. Formal training continued into college and during my Master's program in Music Therapy at NYU. I began arranging when I was part of an a cappella quartet, known as Top Forty. Then onto conducting and arranging for a high school a cappella ensemble. We began experimenting with the variety of vocal sounds and harmonies. As I approached retirement from my career as a Clinical Psychologist, I found composing to be very satisfying, combining formal music theory with personal exploration and communication.