Welcome to Little Bird Piano Academy®!
I’m Miss Holly
I teach Parents How to help their baby Thrive by learning to play music together.
It’s easier than you think, and So Much Fun!
As a composer and educator I teach parents to deeply connect with their babies through the language of music.
I grew up in a big musical family and have been teaching piano to little-little kids since I was one myself!
I studied musical composition, contemporary theory, and piano performance at Bellevue College and Utah Valley University (UVU), and studied Piano Pedagogy for young children through The International Piano Teaching foundation.
With experience performing as a jazz singer and pianist in the Puget Sound region, I have composed musical arrangements and original compositions for soloists, choirs, jazz bands and symphonies.
I love to sing while gardening, trying new recipes, and spending time with my kids and grandkids.
As the founder of Little Bird Piano Academy®, I get to help parents give the gift of music to their babies at an early age, kind of like I had growing up, only with even more intention. Most parents don’t realize that music is a language and by introducing it to your children while they are young, you can have a truly profound impact on their upbringing in life.
In the same way you teach your child to talk, I’ll help you to teach your baby the language of music.
The Little Bird Piano Academy® Mission
Is about more than just music. It’s about people.
I once found myself very close to living in my car, with my youngest son.
I never thought I’d be in a situation like that. I considered myself reasonably intelligent, and I’m a very hard worker. But I unwittingly got myself into a situation I couldn’t get out of without help. Due to the stress of the situation, my health took a huge nose-dive, and I found myself barely able to teach my piano classes. As soon as the moms would leave after class with their adorable little kids, I would quickly lock the door of my studio and collapse on the couch for a nap, so I could make the 10-minute drive home.
There were people who could help, but didn’t. I don’t know why. But I had a friend who stepped up, found me a place to stay, and eventually (when I was ready) a brother who came and got me out of that place. Turns out, when you’re in a situation like that, you’re not always equipped to make the next best decision. It took a while for me to understand that things were not going to get better where I was, and to accept defeat.
And that baby boy from nearly 40 years ago? He’s been here for me for the long haul, along with my other amazing kids. Despite all of my mistakes, they grew up to be people who care, and who do something about it. I couldn’t be more proud of them.
It’s easy to wish that whole scenario never happened, but I’m so glad I was able to take a way some valuable life-lessons.
Sometimes you need help.
Some people will judge you, and others will genuinely help. And I want to always be the latter.
Individually, few of us have the ability to really make a change for all of the people in situations like mine, or worse: actually living in their car or on the ground.
Do you want a hands-on way to teach your child to care for others, while actually making a difference in the lives of some families?
A couple of weeks ago we here in the Seattle area experienced a crazy wind storm, and suddenly we were without lights and heat. Trees had landed on houses and power lines. It was cold! The only thing that was warm were the contents of our freezers and refrigerators.
For too many families, being cold, having no wifi, and nowhere to keep their food, if they have any, is a way of life. Every. Day. People are literally living in their cars. Too often, they don’t even have a safe place to park!
Having experienced a portion of their discomfort for a few days can be a reminder to those of us who regularly sleep indoors, that we have so much to be thankful for.
I’m always wishing there was something I could do to help, and I’m certain you feel the same way. It seems like it’s not enough to give someone standing on the street corner with a sign, a sandwich or a twenty. There are so many, and I think a lot of people wonder if they’re feeding a problem rather than solving it.
Today I found out that there is a church in Kirkland actually doing something about this growing problem. They’re providing a safe place for families and women to park the cars they live and sleep in, to come in and have a warm shower, and they’re providing meals. I was given permission to ask for your help. I can’t be more honored to share this opportunity with all of you, to offer someone a small bit of comfort.
There’s a box in my classroom to gather sleeping bags, blankets, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, & hand warmers. Please consider helping your children to understand the opportunity they have to share with some other kids who don’t have homes.
If you’d like to contribute financially, so that these very deserving people can continue to receive warm showers and meals, please click here.
Finally, if you’d like to provide your child with the opportunity to see first hand how it feels to share with someone who really needs it, you can
- bring warm items directly to the church office
- sign up to prepare a meal for the women and families living there.
I know the recipients will be so grateful, and your kids will never be the same.
Real Change is a Seattle-based newspaper that provides opportunity to people experiencing homelessness and poverty while taking action for economic, social, and racial justice. Through the Vendor Program, they provide low-barrier employment and services for those who need them. Through independent journalism and community-led advocacy, they provide a voice to those who are often left unheard while advocating for long-term systemic change. Real Change envisions a just, caring, and inclusive community, where people are no longer marginalized by racism and classism and have the means to live with dignity.
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