Jane Buttars

Today's flight from NJ was canceled due to the Tower Fire in Chicago. Rebooking tomorrow would have me arriving at the dinner at 8pm, so I made the HARD decision to stay put here. SO disappointed to miss all the activities and seeing everyone!! Maybe at the 60th?


After a career of university and studio teaching and performing on classical piano and harpsichord, I took a break in my mid-40’s and found a new path-- music improvisation. I completed the 4-year certification in music/movement improv facilitation with Music for People, where I now teach on staff, direct the Graduate Program and contribute as a board member. I give solo and collaborative concerts of freely improvised music, and have released two CD’s, one with David Darling, Grammy winner (see links above). I direct my own program of music improv workshops for adults, still teach privately, and am an active board member of the NJ Piano Teachers Forum. I’ve kept up my dancing (body willing) by facilitating, improvising at the piano and serving on the board of the monthly dance improvisation group, Dance Improv, Live!

In 2007 my husband and I founded a group of 600 who sued Princeton Township for illegal zoning of an environmentally sensitive area of mature forest in the middle of Princeton; after 2 years we achieved a donation of 80% of the site (17 acres) to open space.
Bachelor of Music, Master of Music: Indiana University
Doctor of Musical Arts/ Keyboard Performance: University of Colorado, Boulder

Does anyone remember Mr. Gaynor’s geometry class, and the way he would draw little faces in colored chalk on all the board drawings of triangles and rectangles? It was in his class I first heard about Kennedy’s assassination. Miss Smith’s English class in front of the fireplace (2nd floor?). And Miss Miller’s endless energy and enthusiasm for Gilbert & Sullivan and Brigadoon productions as well as French. Frank Kratky I will always thank for the confidence he gave me in pursuing music.