I was always different from other piano teachers
I received my Bachelor of Music in Choral Education in 2004 and worked as a choral director for 11 years. That meant I was trained as an educator rather than a pianist. When I developed my piano studio, I drew on my education, along with my understanding of fear.
That understanding came out of my own life story.
I was always scared.
As a kid, I had a vision for myself. I wanted to be a writer, a performer, to know everything!
But I kept bumping into my limitations. I was an average student, bad at languages, couldn't do math to save my life. And when I tried to play the piano in front of people, I had such severe stage fright that I couldn't even function. All the things I knew seemed to vanish.
Photo by Brian Dougherty
I graduated college and came home, but nothing had changed for me.
You might think someone who can't play the piano in front of people should do something else. But I was determined to become a professional musician! Untrained, perpetually afraid, I wasn't ready for the workload, and I started experiencing severe pains in my hands. While looking for relief, I found the Feldenkrais Method.
This unusual approach to learning changed my entire trajectory. It gave me the tools to uncover my learning difficulties. It showed me in minute detail how my body responded to the stress of performance and it gave me more choices.
I decided to become certified in The Feldenkrais Method, a four year process with 800 hours of training. I gained my certification in 2000 and have practiced the Method through my work with people for the last 25 years.
I took what I'd learned and went back to work as a performer.
I played in rock bands, jazz groups, and even became a church organist. All the while I was performing, I was also listening to myself to see what I needed to get better at. And even though I never became “perfect,” one day I realized I had become the person I set out to be.
When I started teaching other people, I realized that showing someone else the way is the true path to improvement.
I asked myself, “How can I spread the word about what I've learned?”
I started publishing my own books, began a YouTube Channel, and created a piano studio to develop my personal approach to teaching.
Now I speak in public about my journey, sharing my insights for anyone that needs help. I like to make the connections between areas that most people see as very different: performing, learning, writing. I also perform, present my music and books, and produce an interview show. I found my answers.
What could you do if someone did that for you?
