lessons
I am a pianist & singer-songwriter who believes in the incredible power of music to create happiness! I teach piano and songwriting to children (age 7+), adults & teens. We primarily use the fantastic Piano Safari curriculum, a mix of learning songs by ear, free improvisation, reading & writing music. Together we've also written a parade of hits, including The Washed Away Wedge, Sad Sad Jellyfish, and Every Day Is the Best Day with Hadley.
As a teacher, I bring the Julie Andrews spirit: affirming, structured and playful. My experience includes working with institutions like Oakland’s Acme House of Music, Tunelark and Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage, where I led "Singing Outside the Shower” for adult beginners. In 2020, I also collaborated with Chapter510 & The Dept. Of Make Believe to co-write “Memory of Sky” with Maya, age 8, for the album “Freedom Is.” (Listen here!)
For adults, I fold in some of my favorite books on creativity, including Julia Cameron's "The Artist Way," Austin Kleon’s “Keep Going” & Elizabeth Gilbert's "Big Magic."
I can't wait to support you and your family to make more music!
- Melanie
Our latest Piano Party!
testimonials
“For most of my life I was too busy to start the musical adventure, yet 9 weeks before my 60 birthday I called Melanie and told her I wanted to give it a chance.
Melanie helped me light, nourish and sustain that fire - it took only two week to know I had just started a life long journey of excitement and fulfilled dreams. She immediately made me feel at home, one day saying “Relax, you have nothing to prove me, I already like you!” Something cracked open within me - it melted the fears I had about playing piano and being a BEGINNER.
Melanie is an awesome teacher and a deep source of inspiration. She is filled with joy and it is highly contagious. I now see creativity as God’s gift, and I just needed to open myself to it. I am filled with deep gratitude to have met her to start this journey and I could not dream of a better teacher.”
- Deva, age 60
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“We were considering starting piano lessons for our 6-year-old daughter, but we didn't want to turn piano into a chore. Fortunately, we found Melanie! She has been working with our daughter for a year, and it's a perfect fit.
Melanie is enthusiastic, patient, and infinitely flexible. She makes piano fun while still teaching fundamentals. She even managed to keep our daughter engaged in Zoom lessons when we were all sheltering-in-place!
- parents of Joslyn, age 8
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It’s piano - it seems boring! - but you make it fun. I like that it’s easy level to hardest, and when you practice more it’s actually really easy.
- Riley, age 7
pricing
$265/month ………. 4 x 45m lessons a month
$35 ………. extra to travel to you
my story
I took piano lessons as a kid but for much of college I hung around musicians without playing a note - I felt scared (and frankly, jealous) that I had missed the boat on being able to play music like they could. When I started taking lessons again at 27, I often felt frustrated after just 10 minutes - there was such a long way to go!
I am profoundly grateful I found teachers who supported me to lighten up, to play around and take pleasure in my practice. I began to love the process of playing and learning, and now spend hours and hours making music, recording and performing. Learning music has changed me - and it is my greatest joy to be that type of teacher for someone else.
“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago,
the second best time is now.” - Proverb
Joslyn, age 7, writing on her own. Joslyn’s songs include “I Smell the Winter Coming” and “Beautiful White Horses.”