ALL ABOUT LESSONS
Learn about lesson options including locations, online lessons, lessons for adults, the exclusive digital library, and more!
Lesson Curriculum
Highly flexible lesson curriculum includes:
learn piano online or in-person
Hybrid lessons offer the convenience of studying from home as well as the many benefits of being together in-person. Choose how you would like to meet!
SEATTLE: Lessons are offered one day a week in Seattle on Capitol Hill. In this cozy music studio, students learn on a quality baby grand piano.
ONLINE: Zoom lessons are available Tuesday-Friday. Two high quality webcams offering a profile and overhead view of the keys. A Kawaii digital piano with a direct line into the computer guarantees clean and clear sound.
MUKILTEO: Lessons are offered three days a week in Mukilteo. Learn on a Steinway M in the library studio.
Enrollment options that fit your schedule
Full-time enrollment includes weekly or bi-weekly lessons, plus recitals, movement classes, and access to the digital library. Space for full-time students is limited and there is no auto-pay option at this time. Please contact me if you wish to join the studio in this capacity and I’ll send over current rates and openings! All other packages operate as monthly subscriptions that include movement classes and access to the digital library.
* Sliding scale rates are still available for movement classes. Use this form to request an alternate rate.
Studying Piano Online
People often react with a bit of shock and surprise upon learning that a person can make a living as an “online” piano teacher. The fact is, this format works amazingly well for lessons. Students get to study in the comfort of their own home and instrument. It also allows for more flexible scheduling, including the ability to take a lesson while traveling or after a move.
The online format requires greater responsibility and independence as students navigate the layout of the keyboard and make annotations in their own score. The presence of a screen seems to demand the student’s attention. Gone are the days of mindlessly examining every object in the music room while the teacher kindly demonstrates a very important technique or writes a note in the student’s score.
The online format also allows the easy sharing of notes, scores, links, and videos. Screen sharing allows for an easy addition of listening, access to scores, and collaborative work with engraving software for composition. All students receive typed notes after every lesson. For some this will be an assignment with explicit instructions for others it will a simple recap of what we covered in the lesson.
Musicians in need of technical retraining must to be able to access support, regardless of where they live. So, there has been a push by experts in this field to offer these services online. Body awareness is best gained through experimentation and exploration, which of course can happen equally well online or in-person. In my studio, students learn to improve coordinate movement completely from their own unique body knowledge, which leads to movement outcomes that are organic and holistic!
Please schedule a free info session to learn more about online lessons!
lessons for Adult Students
In Katie’s studio, adult learners will find themselves in good company, as they comprise over half of the group. With Katie’s wealth of expertise in addressing the distinct challenges faced by adult pianists—from movement coordination to injury prevention and managing practice time within a busy life. The lesson pace, curriculum, and goals are tailored to each learner, ensuring a fulfilling piano journey for all, whether you’re sixty or six.
Movement Classes for Musicians
Group movement classes are built upon the notion that body awareness is an essential part of musicianship. These classes are called “Awareness Through Movement'“ classes because as we explore new movement options, we enhance our awareness and understanding of ourselves.
In each class we explore a variety of gentle, slow movements, lying on the floor or seated in a chair. We alternate moving and resting, to give the brain time to absorb the material and to simply relax. For those experiencing injury, this is one of the safest things to pair with your doctor recommended rehabilitation protocol.
The class deals with specific movement topics like shoulders, arms, spine, and pelvis, as well as broad topics that impact musicianship, like nervous system regulation, performance anxiety, and practice strategy.
Digital Library
Members of Katie’s studio enjoy access to an exclusive space filled with resources for improving musicianship. This library currently includes practice strategy guides as well as over twenty movement lessons centered upon posture, breath, and general body awareness. New content will be added each month.
PDF GUIDES
Fostering Fluidity Practice Guide: This guide covers the ins and outs of variable practice and includes a PDF chart of over 50 practice strategies.
Six Rhythmic Breathing Etudes: This set of six original compositions grant the player an opportunity to work with their breath while playing.
Mind-Body Learning at the Piano: This guide covers specific strategies as well as the benefits of studying music in mindful and holistic way.
RECORDED WORKSHOPS
Shoulders: This workshop includes four movement lessons and a PDF handout with helpful hints for finding freedom in the shoulders.
Breathing: This workshop includes three lessons that focus on different elements of breathing; where we breathe, when we breathe, and breath awareness.
Posture: This workshop includes four movement lessons and a PDF handout with helpful hints for finding support and fluidity in a seated position.
MOVEMENT LESSON LIBRARY
Ten Starter Lessons: Ten movement lessons (40-60 min each) offer students a chance to expand body awareness to improve playing.
STUDIO INFO
The members-only area also includes handy links for current students. Access the event calendar, RSVP forms, booking calendar, studio policies, and more.
Hear What Students Are Saying
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“Katie has been a fantastic piano teacher for my 8 year old son. In only about a year and a half he’s made so much progress with the perfect balance of just-right challenges and patient teaching style. Katie’s been particularly adept at quickly moving to remote lessons during the Covid 19 quarantine. Without missing a beat, she guided us in using all the necessary technology and helped keep up practice. Lessons are just as productive as in person but twice as convenient! She also offers a fun virtual listening class with other kids that’s helped maintain a sense of musical community. We highly recommend her! “ - Nina Hess, Parent
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Katie's teaching brings-together passion for music and composers, an understanding of learning through physiology and neuroscience-informed pedagogy, a frankness and understanding in the difficulty, as well as a desire to better work for the student in-line with what they want. Katie's integration of Feldenkrais teachings, as well as the supplementary courses she offers, can gradually unwind stubborn joints and limbs. Although I signed up strictly to learn music, I am finally able to move my shoulders and neck freely. -Ryan Kelley, Adult Piano Student
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"My son had never played piano before starting online lessons with Katie during Covid-19. Katie has been great! Lessons are surprisingly smooth over video conference. Katie has a kind and patient manner, while at the same time keeping my son focused. We are thankful to have this learning opportunity during our time at home." - Kerry Clayman, Parent
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I have tried a couple different Awareness Through Movement Classes, and I feel safest, most supported, and most curious in Katie’s class. She’s really effective with non-judgmental guidance, and she emphasizes the playfulness of the Feldenkrais method while acknowledging the profound power that purposeful attention to movement can have. Regular participation in Katie’s class has affected the way I play and teach piano, and I find myself enjoying the movement of playing more than before. -Grace Odell, Piano Instructor at Base Academy of Music
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"Katie's patient and supportive attitude has been instrumental in developing our daughter's love for the piano. Balancing the need for presenting enough challenge with the need for achieving consistent and measurable success is a skill that Katie excels at, and results in a higher degree of student motivation and progress. Her student-centric approach to crafting each lesson not only makes for more measurable success, but keeps the learning fun and nurtures the love of the music being performed. Katie deserves her A+ rating and has my highest recommendation!" - Arnie, Parent
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Katie’s workshop on learning strategies for musicians has helped me become more in touch with the way my body moves, which has helped me become more aware of my tendencies to tighten while teaching and performing. The movement lessons allowed me to slow down and be present not just during the workshop, but in daily life afterwards. The class is inclusive for musicians of all levels!- Eva Sauve, Piano Instructor at Evergreen Music Academy
