Embrace Your Music 

  • I offer piano lessons, guided independent study, and collaborative music experiences for children, teens, and adults. 

    But more precisely, I guide people into a deeper relationship with their music. 

    That means we work with: 

    • The thinking part of music, patterns, harmony, structure 

    • The feeling part of music, expression, mood, story 

    • The body part of music, technique, breath, posture, nervous system 

    • Some students come for traditional piano study. Some come to rediscover music after years away. And some come because they want a creative, transformative process, not just instruction. 

    If you want to play more skillfully and more honestly, you are in the right place. 

  • That is not a flaw. It is very human! And it is information we can work with. Performance anxiety is a nervous system response, not a character defect. 

    We work with: 

    • Breath regulation 

    • Slow exposure 

    • Mental rehearsal 

    • Body awareness and nervous system education 

    • Reframing internal dialogue 

    We also examine expectations. Many musicians unconsciously equate mistakes with identity. Music becomes safer when we separate “what happened” from “who I am.” We build steadiness from the inside out. 

  • No. We work with: 

    • Classical repertoire  

    • Jazz harmony 

    • Pop and contemporary songs 

    • Improvisation 

    • Original composition 

    • Student-chosen music 
       

    Structure matters. So does joy! If you bring something you love, we can usually work with it. 

  • Enough to stay in relationship with your instrument. 

    For most students: 

    • Children: 4 to 6 days per week, short focused sessions 

    • Adults: 4 to 5 days per week, intentional practice blocks 
       

    Consistency matters more than duration. Ten present minutes are better than forty scattered ones. 

    Practice is not punishment. It is contact. Don’t worry if this sounds hokey or far-fetched. Our relationship with practice is one of the things we play with together.

  • Performance is not mandatory. However, sharing music in some form is developmental. It builds capacity and integration. 

    That might look like: 

    • Playing for one trusted person 

    • Recording yourself  

    • Participating in a small studio gathering or a co-practicing session 

    • Performing at a recital 

    • Joining a collaborative event 
       

    We expand your comfort zone at a pace that supports growth without overwhelm. Avoidance hardens fear. Gentle exposure dissolves it! 

  • If you are looking for: 

    • Fast results without reflection 

    • Surface-level engagement 

    • Strict competition-based training 
       

    This may not be the right environment. 

    If you are looking for: 

    • Skill with depth 

    • Structure with meaning 

    • Creativity with rigor 

    • A place where your whole self is welcome 
       

    Then we may work very well together. Music is not separate from your life. It reveals your life. 

  • No. I work with: 

    • Absolute beginners 

    • Returning adults 

    • Lifelong musicians 

    • Creative professionals 

    • Sensitive, thoughtful kids 

    • Analytical overthinkers 

    • Expressive feelers

    • People who have felt ashamed about music 
       

    You do not need to be “naturally talented.” You need curiosity and willingness. As with any skill, we build step by step. We expand capacity gently. 

  • Traditional lessons often emphasize performance, correctness, and speed of progress. I emphasize integration. We do learn technique, we learn repertoire, we refine our skills. 

    But we also: 

    • Notice how your nervous system behaves under pressure 

    • Explore how your personality influences your musical habits 

    • Work with breath and body awareness 

    • Study improvisation alongside classical and contemporary repertoire 

    • Integrate reflection, embodiment, and creative risk 
       

    Music becomes a laboratory for being human. I am less interested in polishing a piece quickly, although I have tips for that. I am more interested in helping you become a musician who can think, feel, and respond freely. I want you to have the tools to embrace your music in your way, long after lessons with me. 

  • Yes and no. Children need structure, clarity, and play. Adults need permission, safety, and depth (and play 🙂). 

    We all need: 

    • Encouragement without coddling 

    • Accountability without shame 

    • Clear technique 

    • Space to explore 
       

    With children, we integrate movement, imagination, and storytelling. With adults, we often unpack perfectionism, performance anxiety, or long-held musical narratives. 

    The principles are the same. The language sometimes adjusts. Really, we all have a child in us who is longing to play. Would you like to play together? 

How do you embrace your music? 

TESTIMONIALS

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