In an era of busy schedules, digital distractions, and rising stress in youths, Piano & More is bringing music straight into the family home to make music education more accessible.
Based in Northern Virginia, Piano & More was founded in 2016 by executive director Nicole Kovar. It provides in-home music lessons including piano, guitar, and vocals. With a focus on five core values — fun, quality, empowerment, connection, and healing — the program has grown into a community-centered service that delivers more than just piano or guitar skills.
“We want music to feel like a tool, not another task on a to-do list,” says Kovar. “We want kids to keep playing for life, not just for a recital or to pass a test.”
Unlike traditional group lessons or music schools, Piano & More offers exclusively one-on-one in-home lessons in Arlington, McLean, and Falls Church. Teachers go directly to students’ homes, eliminating traffic stress, time constraints, and forgotten sheet music. The result is a deeply personal experience, where students often form lifelong bonds with their instructors.
“There’s no words that describe the relationship we see form,” she says. “It’s somewhere between family and friend, a trusted mentor who shows up each week, rain or shine.”
Play It Forward
The organization also helps make music accessible for elementary school kids in low-income households through its nonprofit Play It Forward program. This program, founded in 2019, partners with Title 1 schools to provide free lessons, keyboards, and resources.
Since its founding, the Play It Forward Program has provided hundreds of free lessons to children from low-income households in Northern Virginia.
A Long-Lasting Impact
More than just a technical skill, music is positioned at Piano & More as a means of emotional expression and healing. As many young people cope with anxiety and depression, the program treats music as a safe space for these children to process their feelings.
“Kids don’t always want to talk about their emotions, but they can play them,” Kovar says. “We train teachers to help students explore emotion indirectly, like asking why a composer wrote a sad piece. That opens the door for connection.”
Piano & More’s long-term vision is to create not just good musicians, but resilient people. Stories from former students show how music became their anchor during difficult school years, a form of self-care as vital as sleep or exercise.
One standout student began lessons at age 7 and played until high school, until a busy schedule and stress set in. Still, she turned to the piano every night to decompress. “Her mom told me it was like a sanctuary,” Kovar recalls. “That’s what we want for every child, a lifelong relationship with music that helps them through whatever life brings.”
Fun First
At the heart of Piano & More’s approach is the belief that music should be enjoyable. All teachers are trained in what they call a “fun learning philosophy,” balancing play and discipline in each lesson. They blend classical training with modern and creative techniques, encouraging ear training, improvisation, and even performance opportunities in recording studios and open mic nights.
“We find students absorb material faster when they’re having fun,” Kovar explains. “You don’t need to repeat things five times if they’re truly engaged.”
Feature image courtesy Piano & More.
