Today we’re talking to Stephan Nance, a musician, writer, and piano teacher in Oregon. Stephan jumped head first into teaching before realising how much work is involved, an approach I think many of us, including myself, can relate to. In this interview, there are so many lessons about self-acceptance, being who you are and running your own race. You’re going to love it. If you want more from Stephan, go look up their album Look at the Harlequins! on Spotify after this. I think you’ll love that too.

Stephan’s performing credits under the name Sparkbird include multiple tours in Japan and Europe. Their album Look at the Harlequins! attracted the attention of Birding Magazine and the National Audubon Society for its abundant bird references. For their fiction, Stephan is a 2021 Lambda Literary Fellow and a 2022 Tin House YA Workshop Scholar. Stephan lives in Portland, Oregon, with their partner Adam, as well as two parrots who love to do tricks for piano students.

Links mentioned today…

• Rainbow Race: vibrantmusicteaching.com/rainbow-race
• Piano Safari for the Older Student: https://pianosafari.com/product-category/method/older-student/level-1-older-student
• Look at the Harlequins! https://open.spotify.com/album/4YRDi6Hh6rMTnkmqx4Iudx?si=Kb0_cZ4nQcaBiYQAsoyvPQ