Alison Barr has been an independent teacher of piano for almost 46 years. She thrives on the variety, autonomy and unpredictability that being self-employed and deeply connected to the piano and her students bring. In this episode, Alison shares her beginnings in music, the path that led her to independent piano teaching, and the remarkable work she does with students every day.

Jad Kiraki of Weymouth has been taking piano lessons for eight years, having started when he was just six years old. In this episode, Jad shares his early memories of music, how he has sustained himself and worked through challenges, what music has meant to him during the pandemic, and how he sees music being part of his future. And of course, Jad's passion for video game music.

Gita Brown is a wellness activist, writer, and music educator. For twenty years her mission has been teaching students how to adapt the traditional practices of Integral Yoga and Yoga for the Special Child to bring more ease, wellness, and joy into everyday life. Her love of yoga has grown in tandem with her career as a classical clarinetist and music therapist; leading her to develop wellness and yoga workshops to musicians and music educators. In this episode, Gita discusses her beginnings in music and yoga, how she brings yoga practices into the teaching studio, and more.

11-Year-Old Hannah Benjamin of Duxbury, MA has been taking piano lessons since she was five years old. In this episode, Hannah shares her earliest memories of music, how she tackles challenges (and loves them while she's at it!), her love of creating music, and what music means to her life.

Kim Nguyen is a dentist, adjunct professor at the Massachusetts college of pharmacy and health sciences university, and an adult piano student. She started piano lessons a short year and a half ago. In this episode, Kim shares her motivation to get started in piano lessons, how she has maintained momentum, her experience during the COVID pandemic, and more.

Theo Grossman, a sophomore at Hingham High School, started piano lessons virtually during the pandemic summer of 2020 and has thrived. In this episode, Theo talks about what inspired him to pursue the piano, how he has balanced music with his other commitments, how he handles musical challenges, and more.

Isla Shovilin, 6th grade, is an aspiring pianist, singer, and actress. She is also our first-ever out-of-state student, studying remotely from Maine. In this episode, Isla shares what inspired her to get started in music, what she loves about music and acting, and her dreams for the future.

Rob Flax is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator based right here in Boston. Rob's work can best be described as "creativity incarnate." In this episode, Rob demonstrates his improvisational skills creating a song based on three random words, followed by inspiring discussion of Rob's background in music, the talent myth, and more.

Axel Peña is in the 6th grade at the Inly School in Scituate, and has been playing music since he was a three-year-old violin student. In this episode, Axel talks about his beginning in music, how he handles challenges in music, and how he sees music being part of his future.

Donna Luther has been the Head of School at Inly School, an independent Montessori school in Scituate, MA, since 1996. The Inly School is doing truly remarkable work incorporating creativity, innovation, and connection in the classroom. In this episode, Donna talks about her beginnings in the arts, her journey that led her to Inly, and the incredible work that Inly School is doing every day.