Who we are

Hello and welcome — I’m Marla, founder of Happy Hands Piano Academy.

I specialize in helping beginners build a strong, confident start at the piano through thoughtfully designed online group lessons. With over a decade of experience teaching both online and in studio, I’ve had the privilege of guiding many students through their first musical steps and watching their confidence grow along the way.

I am especially passionate about beginner education and believe that early musical training should be engaging, supportive, and grounded in strong fundamentals. From the very beginning, students are guided in developing proper technique, rhythmic understanding, and music-reading skills in a patient and encouraging environment.

My teaching philosophy emphasizes clarity, consistency, and musical understanding over perfection. Lessons are carefully paced and designed to meet students where they are, while encouraging independence, curiosity, and confidence. I incorporate a variety of learning tools — including listening skills, theory concepts, and creative exploration — to help students understand how music works, not just how to play the notes.

Above all, my goal is to nurture a lifelong love of music. I want students to feel proud of their progress, excited to practise, and confident in their abilities — skills that extend far beyond the piano and support growth in discipline, creativity, and self-expression.

If you’re interested in beginner online group piano lessons, I invite you to join a trial class to observe our approach and learn how the program works.