Olivia Ellis
Just ask my students…. I love to brainstorm new lesson ideas! I teach piano, group piano, pedagogy, and chamber music at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
I get excited about finding innovative ways to share music with others; ensemble music is especially important to me. I direct a collegiate group of pianists who perform original programs for the community. For example, I co-wrote a murder mystery entitled “Under a Rest” which features favorite classical duets as part of a fully staged theatrical show. I also perform duo music with my friend and colleague Lora Gubanov as the Chiara Piano Duo. We have performed in the U.S. and South Korea.
I believe music is essential for the development of every child. I am passionate about teaching solid technique and functional skills, while making music lessons enjoyable and fulfilling. I am constantly creating new activities and games to teach concepts, and I love to help other teachers find their niche. For this reason, I am delighted to be part of the CreativePianoTeacher.com team where we hope to bring some of these ideas, resources, and publications to you!
In my spare time, you can find me hiking, traveling, crafting, brewing up some tea, or reading good books.
Associate Professor of Music – Messiah University
D.M.A. University of Oklahoma – Piano Performance & Pedagogy
M.M. University of Tennessee, Knoxville – Piano Performance
B.M. Carson-Newman University
Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), MTNA
Certified in Suzuki Piano, Books 1-4
Davis Dorrough
I’ve been teaching piano professionally since 2010, and I honestly can’t imagine doing anything that brings me more joy. After nearly a decade of running my own studio in Oklahoma City, I decided to make a big change and go fully virtual. Now, from my home in Cincinnati, Ohio, I’m teaching students from all over—from the West Coast to West Africa.
I’m also passionate about sharing my love of teaching with fellow music educators! I have a knack for process improvement, technology, design, and research in music education, which led us to create CreativePianoTeacher.com. It’s become the perfect platform to curate and share these ideas and resources with the teaching community. We’re excited to now expand into publishing, and you can check out our latest books on our Amazon author page here.
In January 2024, I stepped into the role of piano editor at Alfred Music. Now, I spend most of my days helping others transform their creative projects into something awesome that reaches a wide audience—and I couldn’t be happier.
Travel, good books, nature walks, and time with my loved ones also fill my life and keep me feeling grateful.
M.M. Piano Performance and Pedagogy, The University of Oklahoma
B.A. in Music Arkansas Tech University
Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, MTNA