Mr. Link, a native of Farmington, IL holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL, a Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, and a second Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University in Austin. 

Most recently, Mr. Link served as Director of Music at First United Methodist Church in Allen, TX. Prior to that position, he was an adjunct faculty at the University of North Texas after retiring as Director of Orchestras at McKinney Boyd High School in McKinney in 2021.  After being officially retired for three years, Mr. Link decided he missed working with students on a daily basis and has come back to teaching. 

Mr. Link has taught private piano for many years and played for many churches, along with teaching band, choir, and orchestra. He has served as conductor for the Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra and Region Conductor for All-Region Orchestras in Texas and outside Texas. His orchestras, band, and choirs have all received numerous UIL SWEEPSTAKES Awards along with many Superior Ratings at festivals throughout the state. HIs orchestra was invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago in 2014. 

He was named a McKinney ISD "Most Inspirational Teacher" on five occasions, "Teacher of the Month" at McKinney Boyd HS and nominated for UIL Sponsorship Award. 

Mr. Link is very excited to be teaching piano, his first instrument, in a classroom setting. 

Contact: Michael Link

Our facility contains 18 digital pianos for the students to use during class.  The keyboards offer a real piano keyboard feel with some fun and exciting extras.  Students can choose from a variety of different electronic sounds to personalize the music they’re playing, and choosing to record their playing allows them to hear their performance immediately.  The recording component includes recorded performances of over 50 masterworks from great composers.  The students can listen to themselves on the headsets that are provided, and ask me questions using the headset’s microphone.

Our classes contain students in all three grades at a variety of ability levels from beginner to advanced.  No prior piano training is necessary, and those who study piano privately may enroll to take advantage of the extra practice time and our wonderful equipment. 

Our curriculum includes basic to advanced keyboard technique, method book study, work at-your-own-pace practice time, and solo and ensemble opportunities.  A piano ensemble is simply a group of 2 or more pianists performing at the same time.  Too often, pianists play only by themselves.  But with our lab setup, our students have the opportunity to play together through their headsets while actually playing on separate keyboards.  Our students perform on an Ensemble Recital in the Fall in the AAE Cafeteria. 

In addition to the Fall Ensemble Recital, we have a Spring Recital in May.  In December, I take the Piano Lab students into the community to perform in recital.   Also, this year, nearly one-quarter of the piano lab students chose to participate in our district’s middle school Piano Solo & Ensemble Contest with the majority of the students receiving a 1^st division rating.

It meets every day at 8:00 and is a class for a grade just like any other class that meets during the day.  Transportation is the parent’s responsibility since the buses don’t run that early.  There are strict attendance guidelines so be sure your student could be here before signing up for this time.  Also realize that 0 Hour piano is a very popular course and usually has a waiting list of students so not all can participate.   If you have questions about 0 Hour, please speak to a counselor.