General

Performance is powerful. It teaches us SO MUCH about ourselves—the more we perform, the more we learn, and the more we grow. “But, I get so nervous,” you might say. Yes, that’s normal. And? “I get butterflies in my stomach, and my voice gets shaky.” Absolutely, that can happen. And? “I’m afraid I’ll forget the […]

As a teacher, one of the greatest joys is witnessing how the arts continue to shape and influence the lives of students long after they leave the studio. I LOVE learning about how my students continue to SEE and FEEL the impact of the arts in their life once they move on to university and

When did “practising” become a dreaded chore? Seriously. Music practice has somehow become synonymous with work, chores, and major eye rolls. Just another task on the “to-do” list… IF you ever get around to it. 😉 But why? Why are we so resistant to practising? What happened to the fun, the excitement, the novelty of

I would describe Shawn as fearless. Does Shawn get nervous or worry sometimes? Of course. But he is not afraid to step out and give it his all. Shawn is incredibly inspiring. His experience in the arts is diverse and rich (as you will read below). Shawn has never shied away from an opportunity or

Are you willing to show up and let yourself be seen? I mean, to be really SEEN?  To be vulnerable.  To be courageous. Are your palms sweating a little? Is your heart beating just a little faster at the thought of being vulnerable?  Full disclosure: when Donais Studios first opened, I was afraid to show

The arts are POWERFUL. Truly. We witness the transformative power of the arts every day. How the arts impact a person is as unique as each individual. Each person’s journey through the arts is special.  The arts shape how we see and interact with the world, influencing our emotions and self-perception.✔ The most profound impact

What’s in a logo? There’s usually more than meets the eye:) Donais Studios is no exception. I’m often asked, “why black and white?”    Well, quite simply, I love black and white. I find it classy. In fact my wedding was black and white.   But on a deeper level, the black and white in

Do you know what drives me crazy? 🙄   The ads on Instagram that claim they can teach you to play the piano in 7 days or transform your voice within minutes.    Sure, you can learn a few new skills and peak your interest perhaps, but in 7 days you are not going to

Here is a glimpse into my morning ritual –  aka – my daily artistic practice.   ⏰5:55AM – Alarm goes off. 🌄6:00AM – Meditation and breathwork. 🧘6:05AM – Yoga and movement. 📕6:25AM – Journaling – setting the intention and specific (achievable) goals for my practice session. 🎶6:30AM – Vocal warm-up and practice session. ✍️7:00AM –

I have a confession.   I was not a very good piano student.   My practice habits were…poor.    I would get home from school before my parents got home from work, and the first thing I would do is go to the piano and shuffle my books around so that it “looked” like I