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.

12-Year-Old Romina Spagnuolo is an aspiring pianist and violinist. In this episode, Romina talks about her beginnings in music, some of her favorite memories of music, how she tackles musical challenges, and her experience performing.

Dr. Anita Collins is an award-winning educator, researcher and author in the field of brain development and music learning. She is internationally recognized for her unique work in translating the scientific research of neuroscientists and psychologists to the everyday parent, teacher and student. In this episode, Anita discusses how she came to do the work she does now, what the research tells us about music education and cognitive development, the types of music education students need for this cognitive development, and more.

12-Year-Old William Kaplan of Scituate has had the piano in his life since the age of four. A student at the Inly School, William has not only succeeded with traditional piano, but has also ventured into lands unknown. He is our first and only student to have performed John Cage's "4' 33"," as well as our only student to have incorporated a puppet in performance. In this episode, William talks about his earliest memories with music, what music means to him, how he handles challenges, and what music making has been like over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Janet Lopinski is the Senior Director of Academic Programs of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. As one of the architects behind the RCM Certificate Program, Janet's work impacts thousands of music students across North America on a regular basis. In this episode, Janet talks about her beginnings in music, her path to RCM, and how the RCM Certificate Program has influenced students' lives as well as her own.

Nathan Hu of Norwell is 11 years old and has been playing the piano and studying music theory since the age of 6. An avid participant in the Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program, Nathan has performed at Carnegie Hall twice as part of RCM's Celebration of Excellence recital. In this episode, Nathan talks about his earliest memories of piano, how he tackles challenges, what performing means to him, and how he sees music playing a part in his future.

When she is not wrangling spreadsheets or her three young kids, Lisa is a writer and coach for mothers who recognize they are a work in progress. Above all, Lisa values real conversations around motherhood, identity, and self expression. She believes community, knowing your truths, and art can keep us grounded in motherhood. In this episode, we discuss Lisa's work mothering mothers, how mothers can begin their journey of self-exploration, and more.

11-Year-Old Brady McLoughlin has been taking piano since the age of 6. He not only plays the piano, but he also creates music with GarageBand and has two YouTube channels. In this episode, Brady talks about how he got started with piano and creativity, his process for creating new tunes, and how he believes music will be a part of his future.

Lauren Whittaker is the Suzuki piano teacher at South Shore Piano School, where she works with students as young as three years old. In this episode, Lauren talks about her beginnings in music, what teaching music to children means to her, and the Suzuki philosophy of teaching music.

Sophie Smith, age 12, has been playing the piano since the age of five. As a high-scorer in the RCM certificate program, she made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2019. In this episode, Sophie discusses her beginnings in music, what music means to her today, what it has meant to her during the pandemic, and how she believes it will be a part of her future.

Kyle Wrentz and Healy Sammis are the co-founders and directors of Break a Leg Theater Works in Marshfield, MA. In this episode, we discuss how Break a Leg Theater was formed, the work Kyle and Healy do with the students, and the remarkable impact this work is having on the students' lives.