Want Your Students to Be Excited About Creativity at the Piano?
Discover simple, structured ways to teach improvisation and composition—even if you’ve never done it yourself.
Many teachers want to introduce improvisation and composition, but aren’t sure where to begin.
Through Composium labs, workshops, and specially-themed series, you’ll discover simple structures that make creativity feel natural, engaging, and joyful for both you and your students.
Even if you’ve never improvised or composed before.
Creativity isn’t a talent. It’s a process—and you can learn how to teach it.
Sound Familiar?
Many piano teachers want to nurture creativity in their students but feel unsure where to begin. Perhaps your students play their pieces well but rarely explore their own musical ideas. Maybe you would love to introduce improvisation or composition but worry you do not have the tools to guide them.
You are not alone. Creativity at the piano often feels mysterious simply because it was avoided in most traditional page-only training.
Composiums and creative workshops are designed to change that by making creativity approachable, structured, and inspiring.
Creativity isn’t something you either have or don’t have.
It’s something you practice.
What Is a Composium?
A Composium is a small guided online workshop where pianists gather to explore improvisation, composition, and creative musical ideas together.
In each Composium, you don’t just learn about creativity—you actively create your own music step by step.
Composiums are intentionally small so participants receive personal guidance and encouragement while experimenting with musical ideas.
Think of a Composium as a writing workshop for composers. Instead of staring at a blank page alone, musicians explore ideas together, share discoveries, and support one another’s creative process.
Many participants arrive saying they have always wanted to compose but did not know where to begin.
A Composium shows them exactly where to start.
The Composium Formats
Ways to experience a Composium
Composiums are offered in three formats, each designed to guide creativity in a different way.
Composium Labs
Labs are hands-on, exploratory sessions where you apply creative ideas in real time. Rather than just learning concepts, you’ll experiment, improvise, and develop your own musical ideas with guidance and support.
Composium Workshops
Workshops are focused, interactive sessions where you learn a specific creative concept or teaching strategy. You’ll see ideas demonstrated at the piano, explore how they work, and leave with practical tools you can immediately use in your playing and teaching.
Composium Series
Some Composiums unfold over multiple sessions, allowing you to dive deeper into a specific theme and develop more complete musical ideas over time.
Whether you’re learning a new concept in a workshop or exploring ideas in a lab, each experience is designed to help you move
from understanding creativity to actually creating music.
The Composium Creative Process
Every Composium follows a simple creative structure designed to make creativity feel natural rather than intimidating.
→ SEE
Watch musical ideas demonstrated through real examples at the piano.
→ DO
Experiment with the ideas yourself using simple prompts and creative boundaries.
→ PLAY
Develop your musical ideas into something uniquely your own.
This process allows creativity to unfold step by step rather than feeling overwhelming.
What You Will Experience
During any Composium experience, you will explore improvisation and at the piano, experiment with chord progressions and musical patterns, and develop small musical ideas into full musical pieces.
Many participants also learn how to capture their ideas using notation tools such as Noteflight and how to shape those ideas into music they can share and perform.
Teachers often discover that the same creative activities translate beautifully into their lessons and inspire their students in new ways.
What Participants Are Saying
Participants often discover creativity they didn’t realize they had.
“I appreciated your verbal and practical tools of encouragement.
From the start, you believed we could compose, regardless of our level of musical experience. The musometers addressed how to handle our inner critic.”
“This was a wonderful introduction to composing for me, and a good chance to get out of my comfort zone and see what I think about composing.
I thought the classes were well-organized, informative, and enjoyable. Thank you again!”
A Note for Piano Teachers
If you have ever thought, “I want my students to be more creative, but I am not sure how to teach that,” you are not alone.
Many teachers were trained primarily in reading and interpretation. Improvisation and composition were rarely part of traditional piano study.
Composiums allow teachers to experience the creative process themselves first. When you experiment with musical ideas at the piano, you begin to see how naturally those same ideas can unfold in lessons.
Creativity becomes far less intimidating when we explore it together.
Where to Begin
If you're new to creative work at the piano, Composium WORKSHOPS are a wonderful place to start.
→ Featured APRIL Workshop →
Smooth Transitions: Unlocking the Art of Modulation
One of the most exciting ways to add color and movement to music is through modulation, the art of shifting from one key to another.
In this interactive workshop, you will explore practical ways to move between keys so your improvisations and compositions feel more expressive and dynamic.
You will see examples, experiment with the ideas yourself, and leave with musical tools you can immediately use in your playing and teaching.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in one key or unsure how to move your students beyond it, this workshop will give you practical tools you can use immediately.
Want More Space to Create?
Many participants continue exploring creativity through Space to Create, my membership community for pianists and teachers who want to nurture improvisation, composition, and creative teaching.
Inside the membership, you will find ongoing creative prompts, live training sessions, and a supportive community of musicians exploring creativity together.
Creativity Begins With Curiosity
Creativity does not appear out of nowhere. It grows when we are given permission, structure, and space to explore.
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to compose your own music or help your students discover their own musical ideas, a Composium is a wonderful place to begin.
Your Students Are Ready to Create—You Just Need the Tools