My life is often nomadic, as many artists’ lives are, and in the past decade alone, I’ve lived in four different regions of the US and six countries. It is late summer now, and I am in Southern Mexico, soaking in all the lessons the country has in store for me. I prefer to live this way, loving the musical inspiration, collaborations, constant learning, and growth opportunities that new cultures and people offer. In the past, when I moved on to a new city and the next adventure, I had no way to take my music students with me. The partings from my students were so difficult when I left Portland that I considered giving up teaching entirely. When I moved back to Marin County in 2019, I determined not to say any more unnecessary goodbyes. I began to transition my teaching online, creating DRIFTSONG—a remote music studio that could exist wherever I was in the world, pairing online weekly music lessons with in-person workshops, songwriting retreats, collaborations, and recording sessions.
[ Studio scenes from different countries ]
I am now in my sixteenth year as an artist educator. Years ago, I was unsure how online teaching would stand up to the traditional model for private lessons, but it’s been five years now of remote learning, and my students are thriving! It’s incredible to see the progress and creativity of my studio meet that of the in-person model of previous years and to witness all the unexpected benefits accompanying this transition to online private music education.
( above: lessons with Zoe in Malibu, shortly after i fell into a patch of poison ivy )
My students are an incredible group of musicians who live across the States and abroad. They’ve kept their spirits high and hit their creative flows, and I am amazed at what we’ve accomplished together. My friends joke that I have a “teacher’s face” when I talk about my studio (by this, they mean a glowing grin, usually accompanied by my hands over my heart), but I can’t help it—I’m doing it right now—seeing my students grow as musicians and artists just makes me proud. We just had our sixth in-person showcase in San Rafael for my Marin County students, and each one just keeps getting better and better and has us flying high and motivated for months to follow…
At DRIFTSONG, we sing all the notes and laugh at what doesn’t turn out how it sounded in our heads and savor the glee of breakthroughs and the joy of collaboration. Music lifts us out of isolation and connects us to each other and our shared experience of living, to a reality and perspective greater and broader than our solo experience—we need that connection, especially now, to stay well. I’m grateful to have lived my own life within the pulse of music, and I’m thrilled now to run a creative studio that gives my students that same space to catch their breath, encounter their creativity, and manifest beautiful things.
[lake Tahoe with Isabella]
and now our creative journeys
stay in parallel
until everything we are here to make
together
has been made.
stay well, my friend, And fill your days with music.
Songwriting, PIano, Voice,
& Ukulele
{ For Ages 9 and up }
sight-reading
lyric-writing
mixing
harmonization
ear-training
orchestration
rhythm
technique
theory
performance
collaboration
chording
arranging
“You were the teacher we’d been waiting for.”
“As an adult piano student, I had some reservations about taking lessons again after many years of not playing. Willa immediately made me feel at ease! Her passion for music is evident in her teaching style. She took the time to understand the type of instruction and direction I needed. She tailored each lesson and music selection to my individual needs. I cannot recommend Willa enough from the beginner to an experienced musician looking to brush up on skills! Thank you, Willa!”
“Willa Grey is an incredible writer, a talented singer, and plays piano with a grace and beauty that can make a grown man cry. Such a gentle spirit. When working together, she brings things out of you that you didn’t know were there. When my little ones are old enough to take lessons, I know who to call.”
“Willa has done wonders with our daughter! She was exactly what Audrey needed!”
“You have played such an important role in Alex’s life. Thank you for the positive and lasting impression you’ve made!”
“Willa has been teaching my daughter ukelele for the last few years. Through keeping the lessons fun, entertaining, and positive, she has sparked such a joy and love for music in my daughter, that Willa is now also teaching her piano! Getting to see Willa twice is a highlight in my daughter’s week. This amazing teacher’s patience and enthusiasm have allowed my daughter to grow not only musically, but to build up her self-confidence and learn to take risks she never would have before. Willa is nothing short of amazing!”
“Thank you for being such a loving and positive influence in Anna Grace’s life. You have such a gift—both with teaching children and with musical creativity. ”
“Willa is such an amazing, beautiful, kind, & patient teacher. My daughter had been begging me for piano, voice, songwriting, ect lessons for years but I just felt she was a little young & I had no idea where to find someone who could do all of these things. Well she took matters into her own hands and started setting appointments before school with her school music teacher to go over her songs she had written and to sing them to her. Her music teacher lead me to Willa and WOW....she is magical! My daughter has grown tremendously with her confidence in music in such a short period of time. Willa lets her be the girl she was created to be! Thank you Willa!!!”
