Deb received her Bachelor of Music from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and her Master of Arts in Musicology from the University of Iowa. Being blind since birth, she is always accompanied by her wonderful dog, Wade. Although Deb is blind, she offers a unique set of skills to her students. She has a highly attuned and keenly enhanced sense of hearing, which enables her to know exactly which note is being played and precisely which finger is playing it, without ever seeing the keyboard. She has the ability to transpose on the spot, identify and play back advanced harmonic progressions, and has an amazing memory for music – in fact she always performs from memory, including when she plays organ at St. Wenceslaus Church. Deb incorporates her passion for music, education and music history into her teaching of theory, certificate program class piano and Suzuki piano. She joined the Preucil School of Music faculty in 1982 and is currently co-chair of the piano department. Deb has been a keyboardist for St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City since 2000.
