MUSIC
Hi! ’m Maxwell — a piano teacher, producer, and multimedia artist who believes music is more than sound. It’s movement, memory, and emotion you can feel in your chest.
I’ve been performing since I was nine, starting with solo piano recitals that grew into a lifelong exploration of sound. I spent my early years studying classical piano, but quickly leaned into composition, improvisation, and emotional expression — often playing by ear and reinterpreting pieces with my own voice. By my early teens, I was performing in local showcases, taking part in recitals, and experimenting with recording and songwriting.
Throughout middle and high school, I formed and played in multiple bands — Fair Verona, an acoustic soft rock duo which was played on local radio, and Aesthetic Third, a Zeppelin-inspired rock band that performed at the TomTom Festival in Charlottesville. During the pandemic, I launched a personal instrumental project called The Obscure Sorrows Project, using layered piano, orchestral instruments, and ambient textures to express the complex emotions of isolation, uncertainty, and healing. More recently, I'm working on an original music series under the name Forever Pink, blending piano, guitar, vocals, and experimental sound design.
Over the years, I’ve turned a guest room into a working studio where I write, record, and engineer music for myself and others. I’ve mixed music and created performance videos for multiple dance teams, including Exodus at VT, Kim & Company Dance, and the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. I collaborate closely with dancers to sync emotional arcs and choreography to music — whether I’m cutting a track for competition or filming and editing a full recital.
As a piano teacher, I work one-on-one with students of all levels — especially beginners and young learners. I teach with the same mindset I play with: music should be expressive, intuitive, and personal. I blend foundational skills like reading and technique with improvisation, creativity, and emotional exploration. My students learn to listen deeply, create with confidence, and see the piano not just as an instrument, but as a language of their own.
I didn’t major in music — I studied cinema, theatre, communications, and brain science. I realized early on that chasing a degree in music would’ve meant trading inspiration for requirements, and I’ve always wanted music to stay my safe space — a space I now help others find for themselves.
If you’re looking for piano lessons that go beyond the page, want help mixing or filming a performance, or just want to connect over a shared love of sound — I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out through the contact page or explore my current projects to see what I’ve been working on.
