Muziekles IJburg — three years in

I opened this studio in 2022 with one small room, a piano that had seen better days, and a  belief that serious, kind teaching should live close to home.
Since then, something simple happened: people came. Kids with wide eyes and sticky fingers, adults who thought they were “too late,” neighbors who just wanted music back in their week.

What our place does (besides scales)

We teach skills - but we also hold the small human things: a shy first sound, a Thursday parent exhale on the sofa, the “I can’t” that turns into “again.” 

IJburg is growing fast. Classical music education here… not so much. This room has become a tiny hinge between “I wish” and “I’m learning.”

My birthday ask (equal parts practical and slightly sentimental)

The teaching works. The room is lagging behind.
For my birthday, I’m asking for help to finish the space so it actually matches the work we’re doing.

• paint and small repairs (walls that don’t distract from listening)
• a sofa that survives siblings and wet coats
• a few plants and better light (air, focus, calm)
• when possible, delivery/setup of another piano—safely, tuned, ready

Why this matters (beyond aesthetics)

A good room lowers the threshold: more local families can try, adults can restart, and we can host short open sessions without chaos. It also lets me say “yes” to that second instrument when the opportunity appears, without scrambling for transport or tuning.

What your gift does

• makes the studio sturdier, warmer, and more usable
• keeps trial lessons and open hours truly open (not “open if the chair isn’t broken”)
• helps me keep the promise I made in 2022: high-quality, nearby, human-sized

I’ll share a simple budget and updates; if we raise more than needed, the extra goes to access (trial lessons for new families / free open studio afternoons).