Piano with Katie Library
A resource for effortless musicianship.
Practice guides that cover performance enhancing learning strategies.
Attend live classes as well as recorded workshops on the breath, posture, and shoulders.
Enjoy 20+ Feldenkrais® movement lessons to improve body awareness and economy of motion.
Welcome to the Library
It is my hope that the contents of this library brings you newfound sense of ease and a refreshed sense of enjoyment when playing music! There is no particular order or place to begin, so you’re free to explore. However, if you need a starting place, I suggest reading the Mind-Body Learning Guide or diving into the Working with the Dominant Hand lesson. If you have any questions or requests please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Blog Posts
An interactive post about how we each develop our own unique method to whatever it is we do; from cooking a meal to playing piano to the way we walk through life.
Our brain has a notable line dividing the brain into two distinct hemispheres which we refer to as “brain lateralization”. The purpose of having a separate right hemisphere and left hemisphere continues to be a source of great debate.
Members of my studio enjoy access to an exclusive space filled with resources for improving musicianship. This library currently includes practice strategy guides as well as over twenty movement lessons.
There is a an additional layer of comfort when taking a lesson from your own home and on your very own instrument. Online lessons also allow for more flexible scheduling, including the ability to take a lesson while traveling or after a move.
Injury is no fun, but it happens at an alarmingly high rate among musicians. The exact number varies.
For me, the question of respiratory function and playing piano has been filled with frustration and uncertainty. To be we must breathe, and the way we breathe greatly impacts our quality of life and musicianship.
Two weeks ago my friend Suzanne and I visited David Steinbuhler, founder of the D.S. Standard Foundation. David custom builds piano actions with narrower key sizes.
Please follow these directions to ensure you have a seamless and effortless experience in your online lesson. Let me know if you need help configuring these settings prior to your first lesson.
The language we use to describe our experience has a major impact on our well-being. The efficacy of reappraising "performance anxiety" as "performance excitement" is supported by research.
Have you ever practiced diligently, but noticed that your repertoire grows more tense and more difficult the longer you practice? This common problem is easily remedied when we practice our repertoire with more variation.
Preparing for your online Feldenkrais® class? Setup your space with the right mat and props to help you feel confident, supported, and ready to move.
I highly recommend starting out with an acoustic piano whenever possible! People often cite the yearly tunings, the cost of moving, and other piano maintenance as a reason to purchase digital over acoustic. However, the benefit of an acoustic instrument far exceeds the cost of maintenance.
This audio recording investigates the timing of four parts of the breath: inhale, hold, exhale, hold. It accompanies the Six Rhythmic Breathing Etudes, which are six short studies for studying the art of breathing while playing.
This lesson explores all the ways we can turn from a pseudo side lying position.
This lesson explores flexion and extension of the spine in just about as many different positions as one can think of!
This lesson explores the everything that connects the pelvis and shoulder through reaching movements. In this lesson, your arms are the hands of a clock.
Learn to release the jaw through a gentle exploration of head, neck, and eyes.
Learn to sense your hip joints through gentle movements of rocking the pelvis and holding the knee.
This is a classic lesson involving pelvis and spine. Find freedom in your base with this lovely exploration of a clock.
Coordinate the pelvis with everything above it in this classic seated (on the floor) lesson. The hand hangs loosely from the arm, joining the fun but not running the show.
Explore shoulder movements by reaching while playing the violin.
Connect through the entire length of the spine by exploring gentle oscillations while lying on the back.
A gentle one-sided lesson explore rotational movements of the forearm and connecting back to the shoulder.
Take the reaching movements a step further, by reaching over and behind the head.
The breathing workshop includes three lessons focusing on different aspects of the breath: where we breathe, when we breathe, and attention to the breath, plus a set of breathing etudes.
This workshop includes four movement lessons to help develop a fluid and responsive posture at the piano, plus a handout of practice tips.
Enjoy three lessons for learning to connect the shoulders to the spine, pelvis, and head for greater ease and mobility. Plus, a handout of tips of working wit the shoulders!
This guide dives into the science of variable practice and includes a chart of over 50 different practice strategies.
The Six Rhythmic Breathing Etudes are an exploration of the rhythm and pace of breath in playing. These pieces include an introduction with instructions, a copy of the score with suggested breathing patterns, and questions for reflection.
The Mind-Body Learning at the Piano guidebook provides essential information about learning with the nervous system, mindful practice strategies, and also a simplified approach to increasing awareness of movement and technique.
Check out this list of online resources for injured musicians.