Lessons

Course Description: 

This beginning level online course is designed to provide musicians  of all levels and genres with anatomical information about the body in movement, injury prevention, tools for coping with performance anxiety, yoga for musicians and more. This curriculum is designed to help you play and sing without pain, tension, or injury. The curriculum will also improve facility and expressiveness in playing and singing. Body Mapping ensures that music education has a secure somatic foundation.

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Course Outline (Fall 2026)

Section 1 (September 21) - Setting the Stage (Stephanie Bernards) An introductory session exploring why musician wellness matters, the body as the primary instrument, the relationship between artist and instrument. Drawing on injury and performance anxiety research and podcast clips from working musicians and their real-life experience, this section frames wellness as essential, not optional. Introduce Professor Lisa Marsh the founder and director of the Musician’s Wellness Program at Portland State University, and hear about her research and why she has poured her heart and soul into creating this program at PSU. 

Section 2 (September 28) - Holistic Wellness for Musicians (Gwen Cawdron) A focus on life beyond the instrument: building sustainable daily habits, nurturing physical and emotional health, and cultivating relationships, creativity, and personal identity. Balanced musicians create sustainable artistry.

Section 3 (October 5) - Introduction to Body Mapping + The Places of Balance (Stephanie Bernards) An accessible introduction to Body Mapping for Musicians: what it is, why it matters, and how misconceptions about the body lead to tension and injury. Building on body mapping principles, this session explores key "places of balance," efficient movement while playing, laws of the spine, and the connection between physical balance and holistic wellbeing. Students are invited to continue deeper study through Stephanie's full Body Mapping courses coming January 2027, or visit bodymap.org for more information on how to get involved in the Association of Body Mapping Education (ABME). A twenty minute masterclass with one participant will follow this course.

Section 4 (October 12)  - The Whole Arm + The Movements and Structures of Breathing (Stephanie Bernards) Building on body mapping principles, this session explores an overview of the  whole arm, the laws of the spine, and the movements and structures associated with breathing. A twenty minute masterclass with one participant will follow this course. Guest Lisa Marsh at the body mapping session following the class.

Section 5 (October 19) - Embodied Practice: Yoga & Constructive Rest (Gwen Cawdron) A practical, guided session including a yoga sequence designed for musicians and an introduction to Constructive Rest (inspired by Barbara Conable and Lisa Marsh) as a recovery and awareness tool. Students leave with practices they can integrate immediately.

Section 6 (October 26) - Understanding & Managing Performance Anxiety (Bex Herman) What performance anxiety is (and isn't), common myths, and practical strategies for working with anxiety rather than against it. Empowering, validating, and grounded in real experience and research.

Section 7 (November 2) - The Self Map of the Artist (Stephanie Bernards) Developing awareness of internal narratives, reshaping limiting beliefs, and building a supportive inner dialogue. Mental alignment as a natural extension of physical and artistic alignment. 

Questions to go deeper: Name your inner judges and identify where they come from and the stories they tell you. How do these judges play a role in your performance anxiety? How do they inform your self-map? 

Section 8 (November 9) - Live Masterclass & Integration Session A live virtual session with Stephanie, Gwen and Bex present where participants can share excerpts, receive coaching, ask questions and apply course concepts in real time.

Invest in your musical growth with flexible lesson options designed to support both artistry and well-being!

Choose the option that fits your life:

• Purchase a package of 4 or more private piano lessons(valid for one year), or

• Enroll in a monthly lesson bundle for consistent, ongoing progress.

All Piano Bundles include:

• Complimentary access to musician wellness resources

• Invitations to group performance opportunities

• Free virtual group classes

• VIP access to Stephanie’s live performances

• Exclusive community offerings and special events

Ready to begin?
Visit the Contact page to schedule a complimentary meet-and-greet and receive current rates.

À la carte sessions available upon request.

Artistry with Heart Patreon subscribers get 15% off all lesson bundles!

Already a patron? Your exclusive discount code is waiting in our Patreon community!

New here? Join Artistry with Heart and start saving today!

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If piano used to be part of your life but has slipped to the back burner, this course is for you!

This class is especially welcoming to adults who feel a bit rusty, worry they “should be better by now,” or struggle to find consistent practice time.

Progress here isn’t measured by hours logged—it’s about rebuilding comfort, confidence, and musical enjoyment in a way that fits into a busy life.

• Tuesdays, 6 pm PDT

• Beginning March 31st

• 6 Weeks | Mixed Levels (Beginner friendly!)

What’s Included:

• Includes six (6) one-hour group classes (You will not be required to perform 😉)

• Refer a friend and you both receive a 10% discount code on your next session

Join Stephanie and a supportive group of adult learners for a six-week online piano refresher designed to help you reconnect with your instrument—without pressure, guilt, or unrealistic expectations.

Course Overview:

Each weekly class follows a clear, repeatable structure so you always know what to expect. 

• We’ll begin with a practical warm-up focused on a music theory concept, then work on a featured piece arranged in three levels (beginner through late-intermediate), allowing you to engage at the level that feels right now, not where you think you “should” be.

• The final 20 minutes of each session are dedicated to personal repertoire, giving you space to work on a piece of your choice with guidance and feedback. 

Whether your background is jazz, classical, pop, or a mix—and whether you practice daily or squeeze in a few minutes when you can—this course is designed to meet you where you are and help you enjoy playing again.

A one-off Musician’s Wellness Coaching session

Invest in your musical growth with flexible lesson options designed to support both artistry and well-being!

Choose the option that fits your life:

• Purchase a package of 4 or more private piano lessons(valid for one year), or

• Enroll in a monthly lesson bundle for consistent, ongoing progress.

All Piano Bundles include:

• Complimentary access to musician wellness resources

• Invitations to group performance opportunities

• Free virtual group classes

• VIP access to Stephanie’s live performances

• Exclusive community offerings and special events

Ready to begin?
Visit the Contact page to schedule a complimentary meet-and-greet and receive current rates.

À la carte sessions available upon request.

Nurture your child’s musical beginning through connection, confidence, and creativity.

This relationship-centered piano experience is designed for a child and their parent or guardian to learn together. More than lessons, this program builds:

• Strong musical foundations

• Confidence at the keyboard

• Meaningful parent-child connection

• Practical tools for supporting music practice at home

Parents leave empowered. Children feel supported. Music becomes a shared language.

Reach out to learn more and schedule an introductory session.

How it works:

Parents begin with two 30-minute intro sessions to build foundational skills and confidence, slightly ahead of their child, so they’re ready to support practice at home and are invited to join Next Notes Jump Start Group Piano Class in August to supplement individual sessions.

After the kick off lesson with the parents and child, 7 family coaching sessions follow in the term, each including 30 minutes of focused piano instruction for the child and 15 minutes of coaching for the parent

Weekly text/email/phone support is available throughout the term for any home practice questions (weekends not included)

Parent receives entry to Next Notes: Piano Intro Course (valid through 2026) — to build community and continued musical momentum.

Both parent and child receive 1-year access to Artistry with Heart on Patreon for ongoing wellness and creative learning resources.

Scholarship options available. Just visit the Contact page to schedule a complimentary meet-and-greet and receive current rates!

Frances at the Piano, Frederick Carl Frieseke, 1929

Support your artistry from the inside out.

This bundle is ideal for musicians seeking greater ease, confidence, and expressive freedom through:

• Body Mapping for Musicians sessions, or

• Artistry with Heart Coaching

Purchase a package of 4 or more sessions, valid for one year from the date of purchase.

Includes:

• Complimentary access to musician wellness resources

• Group performance opportunities

• Free virtual group classes

• Access to Stephanie’s live performances

• Community support and enrichment experiences

Scholarship options available. Just visit the Contact page to schedule a complimentary meet-and-greet and receive current rates!