So, who made this website, anyway?

Hello! Nice to meet you!

I'm Kim. That's Mrs. Kim if you're a student! :-)

If you'd known me for the past 10 years, you'd know what a surprise it is to even write a page about myself as a piano teacher...

You see, even 5 years ago, I was working as an office manager at a local law firm. The latest in a line of administrative jobs that began when I graduated college.

Even though I graduated with a music degree! Strange, right?

I was involved in music from the earliest grades. I played recorder, sang in elementary school choirs, performed in musical plays. Then, when I was in 4th grade, we had visitors come to our house that changed my life.

The visitors were from Australia. A family. The mom, Leone, was my mom's pen pal since they were both in middle school! They were dear friends, and happily, our families became fast friends. One night after dinner, Leone brought out a small black case. She opened it, and took out her flute. She began to play.

I was enchanted.

I loved the flute from that point on. I begged her to teach me, and she did, for the few weeks they stayed with us. When the visit was over, I was so terribly sad! But that fall, I could enroll in 5th grade band. I was ready!

I chose the flute - despite the stern pronouncement from the band director that my lips were the wrong shape. "Your embouchure is off to the side," he said. "The flute's not a good instrument for you." I stubbornly refused to try any other instrument, and finally he and my parents relented.

Band became my life. I was first chair every year. I took lessons. I volunteered in the band office. I practiced (not always well or happily).

Then another life-changing musical event took place. My mom bought a piano. Turns out, she'd always wanted to play. But I played more!

High school arrived. I played flute. Piano with the jazz band (self-taught). Oh, and french horn in marching band. :-)

Interestingly, even with all that experience, at this point I'd developed a major case of performance anxiety while playing solo -- from all the contests, competitions, and auditions. Piano became my "fun" instrument, since I didn't have to take lessons, compete, or be judged.

Time for college auditions. Got through two and one campus tour before the pressure and performance anxiety became too much. I just chose the first college to send an acceptance letter. Really.

College was amazing and it opened new worlds for me. I studied in France. I made new friends. I got to play in an awesome marching band. I played flute, piano, and sang in choirs. But the stage fright got worse and worse, and by the time I graduated, I wanted nothing to do with music. I put my flute in the closet, sold my piccolo, and took an administrative job. My keyboard got dusty.

Working 9 to 5...

For 10 years, I tried desperately to ignore my deep desire to make music. I told myself that chapter of my life was finished. I tried to be happy as an office manager.

Then I moved to Washington, to a small town with a huge arts community. And got an opportunity to teach piano part-time. Talk about new-job jitters! But I did it. And got more students, then more. I took out all my old piano books. I played through every beginning piano method book I could get my hands on. I researched piano methods online.

I realized I enjoyed being a piano teacher a LOT more than being an office manager!

I took my flute out and began taking lessons with a local professional - now a friend. She guided me out of my stage fright and believed in my success. Her creativity and teaching skills are endless. She is my inspiration! The right teacher really does make all the difference.

After teaching piano, flute, organ and voice for a few years with a local store, in winter of 2005 I decided to take a leap of faith. I opened my own business: White Willow Studio.

2007 Update!

In fall of 2007, my husband and I made the huge decision to leave Washington and move back east, to the Boston area.

What did this mean for me? Sadly, I packed up my studio, sold all but one of my keyboard instruments, and said goodbye to my Washington students. That last week of lessons, and saying goodbye, was probably one of the hardest weeks of my life. My students become part of my family!

During those many hours of driving across the country, I thought about teaching, encouraging others to learn, and about my passion -- adults who want to play piano. Beginners, and those who believe they're not talented or smart enough to learn. I'm truly passionate in my belief that everyone is musical! I want to shout it from the rooftops!!

So, in the midst of sadness at shutting down my studio, I realized that I already had an amazing opportunity to get the word out, and encourage more people to learn piano. My website! Aha!

Happily, I'm coming to the year anniversary of starting this site, which I originally started to promote my local teaching studio. What's amazing is that I now get emails from piano students all over the world, young and old. I get emails from parents. I get emails from other piano teachers!

In a way, I'm still teaching. Just not in person! Consider me your virtual piano teacher! ;-) I couldn't be happier to pour my time into writing and sharing what I know here. Look for lots of new tutorials, reviews, and articles in 2008!

Why did I tell you all of this? Simple.

I've come back to music despite loads of negative experiences and fear. I know what it feels like.

And that's how I know for sure that YOU can play piano! And I'm here for you whenever you need a helping hand.

Want to know more?

How did I do this whole website thing, anyway? I'm no internet whiz. Despite that, I've got a successful site in the huge world of the internet. This wasn't my first try at being online! Read more about my online story.

I love sharing what I do with the world!

If you have a hobby, a passion, or a local business, you can do the very same thing I did. What do you love? Crafts? Nascar? Recipes? Collecting WebKinz?

Whatever it is, you can take your passion online.

You can do it!

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