Chris Bangert-Drowns
Piano
Chris Bangert-Drowns is a Washington, DC–based pianist and experienced music educator offering piano lessons for all ages and skill levels at Takoma Music School. With a background in classical, jazz, pop, and funk, Chris brings a warm, student-centered approach to teaching that helps beginners and advanced players develop confidence, musicality, and a lifelong love of piano.
Teaching Style & Specialties
Chris focuses on tailoring lessons to each student’s goals and interests, helping them stay motivated while building strong foundational skills. He teaches:
Classical piano
Jazz piano & improvisation
Pop and contemporary piano
Music theory & ear training
Songwriting and composition
Beginner and advanced technique development
His lessons are designed to support students whether they’re brand-new to piano, preparing for auditions, or expanding their creative musicianship.
Musical Background
Originally from Albany, NY, Chris trained in both classical and jazz performance and is a two-time regional Chopin competition winner. His classical repertoire includes works by Bach, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, and Debussy. His jazz repertoire spans Gershwin and Cole Porter through Coltrane and Monk, reaching into modern influences such as Roy Hargrove and Esperanza Spalding.
Chris is also an active composer, writing original music for several of his groups, including the indie-jazz project Yellow Velvet, the jazz-hop outfit Great Question, and the big-band jazz-pop ensemble Nadie Nadia.
Performance Highlights
Chris performs regularly across the DC and Baltimore music scenes. Recent venues include:
The Pocket
DC9
Galactic Panther
Metro Bar (Baltimore)
City-State Public House
Green Island Cafe
600 T
He also performs and hosts community-focused house shows with his band Yellow Velvet, creating an inclusive space for improvisation, collaboration, and high-quality live music.
Beyond Teaching
Outside of his life as a pianist, Chris works as a researcher at a progressive economic policy nonprofit, bringing together his background in union organizing, communications, and economics. His interdisciplinary perspective informs a grounded, thoughtful, and encouraging teaching approach.
