Ben Raznick, M.Ed is a pianist, composer, recording artist, filmmaker and teacher from Colorado. He has trained with piano professors in the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Spain. Raznick is the President of DAMTA (Denver Area Music Teachers Association), Vice President for Teacher Enrichment of CSMTA (Colorado State Music Teachers Association) and is a 5x recipient of Steinway & Sons Top Music Teacher Award. Raznick is a Dual Member of the Recording Academy and Latin Recording Academy, and serves as a Governor of the Recording Academy's San Francisco Chapter Board. His project, Birds of a Feather, was the winner of The American Prize.
Jump Rope & Diving | Boulder
Raznick's childhood can only be described as unique. His participation on the Skip Its, a local competitive jump rope team, took him on journeys across the US and world to places like Puerto Rico, Canada, Belgium & Denmark to perform, teach and compete. By the age of 16, Raznick was a jump rope US Grand National Champion and 2x World Champion. You might have seen Raznick jumping rope in the basketball halftime shows of the CU Buffs, Denver Nuggets, & NBA All Star Game. He was featured in Boulder's Daily Camera, Colorado's 9 News and ESPN's National Jump Rope Championship coverage.
As a teenager Raznick transitioned his acrobatic skills into diving, setting two diving records before graduating Boulder High School. He achieved a scholarship to University of Wisconsin-Madison where he lettered, set a 5-meter platform record and competed in the Big 10 Championships. Raznick's Boulder High records still stand, and you can see his name on the record board in the swimming pool of North Boulder Recreation Center.
Teaching & Film | Spain & Colorado
In 2010, Raznick accepted a two-year position in Spain as a public school English teacher. While abroad, Raznick and friend Eve Richer co-created a nine-episode comedic web series called Pueblo chronicling the adventures of an English teacher (played by Raznick) in small-town Spain. The final installment, filmed in Barcelona, won a film festival award and features two of Raznick's compositions.
In 2012, Raznick returned to Colorado and earned his teaching license and Masters in Education. Raznick taught in Boulder & Denver public schools before opening his piano studio and serving from 2018-2021 as 2nd Vice President, and 2021-present as President of the Denver Area Music Teachers Association (DAMTA). Raznick has also serves on the Advisory Council for Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA).
Spotlight Foundation & Lázaro Project | Nicaragua & Denver
Raznick cofounded and serves as president of Spotlight Foundation, a Denver based non-profit working as a conduit for communities to support local charities and international organizations doing great work. After meeting and developing a partnership with Lázaro over the years following a 2004 Amigos organization visit to Nicaragua, Lázaro Project became an official initiative providing educational supplies, supplemental meals and health initiatives for students in Nicaragua.
Albums | Buenos Aires, Barcelona & Denver
While busy with many projects, Raznick has never lost sight of his musical aspirations. He recorded his first album Tango y Folklore Argentino (2010) in Buenos Aires, his second album Memory Maze (2016) in Barcelona, and his third album, Birds of a Feather (2020) in Denver. Support Raznick by purchasing his music and feather merchandise at Raznick's store.
Raznick's childhood can only be described as unique. His participation on the Skip Its, a local competitive jump rope team, took him on journeys across the US and world to places like Puerto Rico, Canada, Belgium & Denmark to perform, teach and compete. By the age of 16, Raznick was a jump rope US Grand National Champion and 2x World Champion. You might have seen Raznick jumping rope in the basketball halftime shows of the CU Buffs, Denver Nuggets, & NBA All Star Game. He was featured in Boulder's Daily Camera, Colorado's 9 News and ESPN's National Jump Rope Championship coverage.
As a teenager Raznick transitioned his acrobatic skills into diving, setting two diving records before graduating Boulder High School. He achieved a scholarship to University of Wisconsin-Madison where he lettered, set a 5-meter platform record and competed in the Big 10 Championships. Raznick's Boulder High records still stand, and you can see his name on the record board in the swimming pool of North Boulder Recreation Center.
Teaching & Film | Spain & Colorado
In 2010, Raznick accepted a two-year position in Spain as a public school English teacher. While abroad, Raznick and friend Eve Richer co-created a nine-episode comedic web series called Pueblo chronicling the adventures of an English teacher (played by Raznick) in small-town Spain. The final installment, filmed in Barcelona, won a film festival award and features two of Raznick's compositions.
In 2012, Raznick returned to Colorado and earned his teaching license and Masters in Education. Raznick taught in Boulder & Denver public schools before opening his piano studio and serving from 2018-2021 as 2nd Vice President, and 2021-present as President of the Denver Area Music Teachers Association (DAMTA). Raznick has also serves on the Advisory Council for Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA).
Spotlight Foundation & Lázaro Project | Nicaragua & Denver
Raznick cofounded and serves as president of Spotlight Foundation, a Denver based non-profit working as a conduit for communities to support local charities and international organizations doing great work. After meeting and developing a partnership with Lázaro over the years following a 2004 Amigos organization visit to Nicaragua, Lázaro Project became an official initiative providing educational supplies, supplemental meals and health initiatives for students in Nicaragua.
Albums | Buenos Aires, Barcelona & Denver
While busy with many projects, Raznick has never lost sight of his musical aspirations. He recorded his first album Tango y Folklore Argentino (2010) in Buenos Aires, his second album Memory Maze (2016) in Barcelona, and his third album, Birds of a Feather (2020) in Denver. Support Raznick by purchasing his music and feather merchandise at Raznick's store.
About Ben Raznick, M.Ed:
Experience:
Pianist, recording artist, composer, filmmaker & teacher with 25+ years experience
Masters in Education, Colorado State Teaching License, Regis University
BA in Spanish Language and Business Certificate, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Affiliate Faculty, Metropolitan State University's DIME-Denver 2019-2020: Class Piano I, Group Performance Instruction I & II (Piano), Music Theory I, Music Theory Lab I
10+ years experience public school teacher & educational counselor:
Denver Public Schools Guest Teacher 2015-2022
Denver Kids, Inc. Educational Counselor 2013-2015
Spanish Public School English Language & Culture Assistant 2011-2013 (Andalucía & Catalunya)
Awards:
2023 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Community Engagement Grant (DAMTA Student Musicale Celebrating Black History Month)
2023 Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA) Local Association Grant (DAMTA Student Musicale Celebrating Black History Month)
2022 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Teacher Enrichment Grant (Taubman Approach Independent Study)
2022 Local Association of the Year (DAMTA) from Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA) (Raznick serves as DAMTA President)
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 Steinway & Sons Top Music Teacher - Profile on Steinway & Sons Teacher Directory
2021 The American Prize Winner in Arts Marketing
2021 The American Prize Finalist in American Music, Soloist division
2019 The American Prize Semi-Finalist in Professional Solo Piano Performance division
2019 The American Prize Semi-Finalist in Composers (Instrumental Chamber Music) division
2018 Alpha Sigma Iota awarded "Friend of the Arts"
Community Engagement:
President, Denver Area Music Teachers Association (DAMTA) 2021-present
Vice President for Teacher Enrichment, Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA) 2023-present
Advisory Council, Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA) 2021-present
2nd Vice President (Newsletter), Denver Area Music Teachers Association (DAMTA) 2018-2021
Recording Academy (GRAMMYs®) District Advocate and Voting Member
Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Member
MusicLink Foundation Teacher
Experience:
Pianist, recording artist, composer, filmmaker & teacher with 25+ years experience
Masters in Education, Colorado State Teaching License, Regis University
BA in Spanish Language and Business Certificate, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Affiliate Faculty, Metropolitan State University's DIME-Denver 2019-2020: Class Piano I, Group Performance Instruction I & II (Piano), Music Theory I, Music Theory Lab I
10+ years experience public school teacher & educational counselor:
Denver Public Schools Guest Teacher 2015-2022
Denver Kids, Inc. Educational Counselor 2013-2015
Spanish Public School English Language & Culture Assistant 2011-2013 (Andalucía & Catalunya)
Awards:
2023 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Community Engagement Grant (DAMTA Student Musicale Celebrating Black History Month)
2023 Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA) Local Association Grant (DAMTA Student Musicale Celebrating Black History Month)
2022 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Teacher Enrichment Grant (Taubman Approach Independent Study)
2022 Local Association of the Year (DAMTA) from Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA) (Raznick serves as DAMTA President)
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 Steinway & Sons Top Music Teacher - Profile on Steinway & Sons Teacher Directory
2021 The American Prize Winner in Arts Marketing
2021 The American Prize Finalist in American Music, Soloist division
2019 The American Prize Semi-Finalist in Professional Solo Piano Performance division
2019 The American Prize Semi-Finalist in Composers (Instrumental Chamber Music) division
2018 Alpha Sigma Iota awarded "Friend of the Arts"
Community Engagement:
President, Denver Area Music Teachers Association (DAMTA) 2021-present
Vice President for Teacher Enrichment, Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA) 2023-present
Advisory Council, Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA) 2021-present
2nd Vice President (Newsletter), Denver Area Music Teachers Association (DAMTA) 2018-2021
Recording Academy (GRAMMYs®) District Advocate and Voting Member
Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Member
MusicLink Foundation Teacher