Meet Trailblazer Catherine “Cat” Paz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine “Cat” Paz.

Catherine “Cat”, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started taking piano lessons at the age of 7 years old and continued through graduation. There were plenty of times as a kid that I begged my mom to let me quit, but she never gave in to my tears and she insisted that I was “too good to quit”. After high school, I didn’t play the piano much anymore. I married young, at 21 years old, I didn’t have a piano, and life happened.

Fast forward to 2012 when I had a serendipitous conversation with a stranger at Boondocks while our young sons were playing mini-golf nearby. She asked me the very simple but poignant question: “What is something that you’ve been wanting to do for yourself?” My instant response was: “Play the piano again.” To that, she responded: “then do it!” I realized in her response how truly simple it was…just do it.

Not long after that conversation, I scheduled some piano lessons with a very talented musician and instructor that I knew and started practicing. This time, as opposed to when I was a child, I selected music that I wanted to play, and not what the piano teacher told me to play.

I soon started to look for opportunities to perform in front of others. I started playing at the Ronald McDonald House on Sunday afternoons and various senior communities. I approached a restaurant near my house and asked them if I could play one night a week for tips only. All of these experiences helped me to improve and led to other opportunities and more exposure.

Just this past June 2019, I quit my corporate day job and inactivated my real estate license so that I could full-time and with all my energy pursue My Passion of People and Piano.

Has it been a smooth road?
There’s plenty of times that I observe other pianists and I feel so inadequate, but I try to remember that we all have something different to offer the audience. Also taking criticism can be difficult: sometimes the individual has a valid point other times, it’s a drunk patron being snarky. The challenge is in discerning if there is a kernel of truth to what the person just told me or if I just need to let their words roll off my back.

I don’t know that my advice is specific to women, but to anyone that has a dream, it’s worthwhile putting in the time and energy to pursue your goals. I was scared when I quit my day job, but so far, I’ve never once looked back with regret. I love that I get to wake up every day pursuing what is meaningful to me.

We’d love to hear more about Cat on the Keys.
I provide background piano music for various restaurants around town: Nonna’s Chicago Bistro, Officer’s Club Lowry, The Perfect Landing at Centennial Airport. In February, I had the pleasure and opportunity of performing in the Great Hall at Denver’s iconic Union Station. I couldn’t stop smiling it was such an honor to perform there.

Every Sunday evening, I have the opportunity of playing at Denver’s oldest piano bar, Charlie Brown’s, in the Capital Hill neighborhood, That is a fun venue because it is a true sing-along piano bar and I never know what to expect. I am also the pianist for St. Pius X and St. Therese in Aurora, so my Sundays are very busy playing for 4 Masses during the day and Charlie Brown’s in the evening.

I also perform at various senior communities throughout the Denver Metro area during the weekdays. This is particularly gratifying because the residents are so appreciative and the music sparks memories for many of them. I have a one-hour program of familiar songs from their generation that I play and sing while encouraging the audience to sing-along.

In addition to the above venues, I also play for weddings, parties, and private events. If there is no piano at the venue, I bring along my studio-quality, electric Yamaha keyboard.

Music is powerful and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to engage with people through the medium of my piano performances. People and Piano are My Passion and I am grateful for every opportunity to do what I love.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
When I was starting out, I sought out a mentor, a female pianist by the name of Jennifer Lane who I had seen perform at Elways Cherry Creek and with whom I had a mutual friend. I will never forget how gracious she was to meet with me for coffee one afternoon and answer my questions and share her experiences. I now enjoy the opportunity I have to engage with people during my gigs and I am always happy to answer questions and share my experience with others.

As far as networking goes, I have found the social media platforms of Instagram and Facebook to be beneficial for interacting with people and staying front of mind. It takes consistency though. Otherwise, I find that the best networking is meeting people and being outgoing…this isn’t a problem for me because it’s my nature. It also helps that I’ve lived in Colorado since 1996 and I’ve had several decades of forming relationships with people.

Pricing:

• For private events within the Denver Metro area, I charge $150 for the first hour and $100 for each hour thereafter.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.catonthekeys.com
• Phone: 303-250-6684
• Email: info@catonthekeys.com
• Instagram: @catonthekeys_pianist
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catonthekeys/
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.paz.5

Image Credit:
B&W image by Ashlee Bratton of Ashography

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