Contact Us

If you have to drag yourself to practice, your brain isn’t lazy... it’s protecting you. Your brain repeats successful actions. So if practice is confusing, disconnected, or pointless… your brain checks out. Joy isn’t fluff in music education. Joy is fuel for progress. Save this for the next time practice starts to feel like punishment.

I still remember the day that I built Passion Studios in my mind. I was 19 years old sitting on my couch in my living room and I put together my business plan and the mission/vision statement for the studio, “to reawaken creativity, simplicity and joy as the core of learning; installing a lifetime passion for music that impacts the lives of others.“ This was in 2014 when I filed the LLC with the state, I remember the November day that I did it with my dad. I know he was so scared for me, so much that he sent me to Costa Rica to change my mind... Little did he know! I got my first student at my aunt’s house on the beach. I was building webpages in my spare time and when I got back to Iowa, we had three students and a small little space in a blue house. It was meant to be.✨ All of the wonderful families who have partnered with us to further this vision for their own students and for the lives of those around them is what keeps us going💜 It’s not just music lessons for us. This is a way to bless and impact of those around us and continue music as a relationship throughout our lives, inspiring the next generation. As I reflect on the last decade of Passion Studios, we have been through so many iterations. It hasn’t always been easy. From that small little room in the back to our expansion up to 270 students, to our current location. We’ve learned a lot about what we want to share with others and how to provide excellence in expectation from our students to further their growth as musicians. Students receive personalized growth through camaraderie and a shared lesson environment. Our number one priority is for students young and old to understand and apply music right away so that this vision can be continued for many years to come…music as a lifestyle.🎵 I am so honored and thankful to be a part of this community and I can’t even believe that it’s been 10 years. It’s flown by!!! 🤩 Come celebrate with us at the Ankeny AMP on Saturday, May 2nd at 2PM! We’re gonna have music, food, prizes giveaways, and it’s gonna be a great time! 🙌 -Gabi

A little rhythm goes a long way 😁

Most people think classical music is rigid. But composers like Chopin, Mozart, and Beethoven left space for interpretation inside their music. Music was never meant to be read like a script, it was meant to be spoken like a language.

Practice is still practice though - there's always time for a quick sesh on the practice pad!

Time isn’t your constraint... Understanding is. Save this for the next time you tell yourself “I’ll practice when I have more time.”

Teaching isn’t fixing mistakes. It’s building understanding in real time. Save this if you’ve ever felt stuck because you weren’t sure what to listen for.

The interest and excitement is natural, the respect for the instrument comes later 😉

Understanding comes before consistency. If you don’t know what you’re working on, no routine will stick.

In all seriousness though, we think it's very helpful for students to hear what the song should sound like BEFORE they start learning it 😀

If sitting down at the piano feels like punishment, your brain is not going to let that habit stick. Save this for the next time you catch yourself dreading the bench.

You’re not undisciplined. You’re overwhelmed. Traditional lessons trained me to think “don’t mess up,” not “explore.” Music should be the safest place to be imperfect. Save this for the next time you feel that pressure at the piano.

This clip and technique capture the innate joy of music without even having to know any theory! The sound of hundreds of voices together is a magical thing ✨️

Most adults aren’t bad at music. They’re just terrified of being wrong. If your heart rate spikes every time you sit down to play… if one wrong note makes you want to stop and walk … you aren't being dramatic. That’s your nervous system doing what it was trained to do. In this video I talk about: • how fear & perfectionism shut down creativity • why your brain treats music learning like a threat • and a simple way to start making “wrong” feel safe again If fear is louder than curiosity when you play, this one’s for you.

5 minutes a day beats waiting for an hour to show up. Comment TIME 👇

I met a student who had taken “traditional” lessons for five years. When I asked, “Show me what you can play,” she froze. Totally terrified. Couldn’t play a thing. That’s not a talent problem. That’s a method problem. Music is auditory, but it’s also visual. When you think about a map, like a treasure map, it's an exciting adventure that takes you to beautiful places. You’re allowed to see where you’re going instead of guessing in the dark. In this video, I’ll show you a kinder, clearer way to think about “looking” while you play.

An incredible performance full of pure spirit and joy - performed by kids at an age that some people think can barely play hot cross buns. What song gets you belting??

Every time piano gets hard, do you have a sudden urge to change methods, books, or songs? That’s not you being flaky, that’s your brain trying to escape. 🧠 In this video I’ll show you a simple “2-minute rule” to stop bailing right before your brain actually learns. Save this for the next time you want to quit.

We're only joking... ☺️

“I just need more time to practice.” No. You don’t. If you’re a beginner, more time with confusion just equals more frustration. You don’t need 60 more minutes. You need 5 clear minutes. In this video I’ll walk you through: • why “no time” is usually code for “no clarity” • the simple test to know if your lesson is actually helping If you’ve been blaming your schedule, but secretly suspect that’s not the whole story… this will hit.