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ABOUT

I'M KRISTINA LEE AND I WAS THE RELUCTANT PIANO TEACHER 

I started teaching piano in high school to pay for my own lessons. I kept teaching through college, earning my Bachelor's in Piano Performance—but shortly after, I quit. I never wanted to teach piano again.

It wasn’t until I turned 40, after experiencing life’s joys and sorrows, that I felt called back to music and back to teaching.

You see, I’m a practical, programmatic person, and for a long time, I saw music as a luxury. I wanted to contribute to the world in a way that felt more relevant. That desire to help led me all the way to the slums of Beirut, where I worked with an after-school tutoring program and helped collect donations for an organization serving the poorest of the poor in Lebanon. But, as had happened many times before, I was asked to use my musical skills. Before I knew it, I was teaching music again—forming a children’s choir with students I could barely communicate with.

And then it happened.

As I taught them quarter notes, eighth notes, and Edelweiss from The Sound of Music, I saw something shift. Music empowered these children to dream—to think beyond what is and imagine what could be. It lifted them beyond the necessities of life and gave them a glimpse of beauty and balance.

At that moment, I realized what I had missed all my life: music wasn’t just a skill I had. It was the most powerful thing I had to share. It has the power to restore dignity, to move and inspire, to heal hearts—even the heart of a nation.

MORE OF HER STORY

 

Kristina Lee is a musician, educator, entrepreneur, world traveler, and certified life coach. Born in Korea, she immigrated to the U.S. at age twelve, where music became her first true language—helping her express herself beyond words. She earned a Bachelor's in Piano Performance from the University of Washington and a Master's in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Graduate Schools.

Her passion for people and culture led her to explore over 50 countries, working with humanitarian organizations, scholars, refugees, and the homeless. Though music wasn’t always her primary focus, it remained a constant force—opening doors and hearts wherever she went.

In 2012, after an unexpected life change, Kristina returned to Seattle and felt a clear calling to dedicate her life to teaching music. From her one-bedroom apartment in Bellevue, she founded Kristina Lee Music, which has since grown into Live Love Piano, an international platform empowering students through depth, quality, and creativity.

Kristina believes that music is more than a skill—it is a transformative force. As a teacher, she sees her role as not just instructing but mentoring, guiding, and inspiring. She values the long-term relationships built through piano lessons, where students not only learn music but also grow as individuals.

A composer and performer, Kristina’s first album, featuring her original compositions, was released in 2001 and is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon. She has served on the board of the Eastside Music Teachers’ Association, spoken at the Washington State Music Teachers Association Conference, and currently serves on the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy’s Creative Track Committee.

Her work extends beyond traditional piano teaching. In 2018, she collaborated with climate scientist Judy Twedt to present the first live performance of sonified climate data at TEDx Seattle. She also served as the first Music Curator of Capitol Cider, programming diverse live performances.

Through her work as a pianist, composer, teacher, and visionary, Kristina remains committed to the power of music to heal, inspire, and transform lives.

Kristina has also shared her personal journey through writing. In her article, “How I Traded in my Mercedes for a Hyundai”, she reflects on the life changes that shaped her path and deepened her commitment to music and teaching.