My teacher kicked me out of a lesson once 😱
….and told not to come back until I could count a Liszt cadenza out loud. (I didn’t even know you could count a cadenza???) And it was one of the most embarrassing moments of my musical life (this was back in undergrad). But that moment changed everything—because I finally realized no one had ever actually taught me how to count out loud or use a metronome. I thought rhythm issues meant something was wrong with me. When I finally learned how to do it, everything shifted. My hands stayed together, my pieces flowed, and I felt in control for the first time ever. It wasn’t talent. It wasn’t magic. It was rhythm. Want me to show you the exact system I use (and teach my students) to master rhythm once and for all? Comment “MASTER IT” below and I’ll send it to you.
43 - 8
I wrote my first piece of music EVER.....and recorded a video of it.
Want to hear it?
Comment "COMPOSE" below and I'll send you the link!
53 - 10
I’ll never forget the look on her face.
We were on a family trip to Yellowstone and my siblings dared me to play the piano in the hotel lobby. The receptionist rolled her eyes so hard when they asked for permission…it was clear she expected nothing but clunky Für Elise. But then I sat down and played Liszt. And instantly, everything shifted. Her jaw dropped, she softened, and when I finished she said, “You must’ve practiced that a thousand times to make it sound that effortless.” The truth? It wasn’t thousands of hours, it was the way I practiced. I used a rinse-and-repeat system that makes music click faster, sound better, and feel effortless. She wanted my phone number so she could sign up for lessons. I can’t give you my phone number here, but I can show you exactly how it works. Comment “PHONE NUMBER” and I’ll show you exactly how to play any piece with confidence.
33 - 11
Do you like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
Have you ever made one?
Well…I want you to imagine that you have.
Two pieces of bread, peanut butter on one side, jelly on the other….
Pretty simple.
And let’s say you’ve made this sandwich 100 times.
Same order. Same motions.
Before long, you can do it on autopilot.
Doesn’t matter if the TV is blaring…
….or your kid is tugging at your leg (like at my house)….
You still get the sandwich made.
Because you’ve done it hundreds of times in the exact same way.
But what if one day after you make your sandwich…
➡ You put the peanut butter in the bathtub.
➡ You put the jelly in the backyard.
➡ You put the bread under your bed.
🙊
The next day?
Total chaos.
You waste time, you get frustrated, and it feels impossible to make this darn sandwich…
Because you can’t remember where you put anything when you were done the last time.
This is what happens with your piano practice also.
If you’re inconsistent when you practice…
Meaning, you have tons of mistakes or you do things slightly differently each time…
Your brain has no chance of remembering what you do from day to day.
So here’s the deal: consistency is the key to progress.
You either make your PB&Js the same way every day and get better…
Or you put the bread under the bed and waste another month.
If you don’t know how to get that level of accuracy and consistency…
Comment “CONSISTENCY” and I’ll send you the link to the exact system my students use to guarantee accuracy every single time they sit down.
It’s how they make months of progress in days…
Saving them tons of time, frustration, and money.
Happy Practicing,
Ashlee
26 - 4
This is just a friendly reminder that in just 6 hours, The Christmas Course jumps from $10 back up to $347.
If you’ve ever wanted to:
✔️ Play confidently from a lead sheet
✔️ Improvise and add your own flair
✔️ Master simple chord accompaniments
✔️ Fill your home with Christmas music this holiday season
…this is your chance to get it all for less than a tin of holiday cookies. 🍪
But only if you act before midnight tonight.
Comment "CHRISTMAS" to get the link to grab The Christmas Course now for just $10.
When the clock runs out, so does this celebration price.
Enjoy!
Ashlee
43 - 14
When I told my assistant I was putting my Christmas Course (normally $347) on sale for $10, she looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Ten dollars? Are you sure?! That’s 98% off the regular price!!!”
Honestly?
I get it.
It’s a little crazy.
But once I had the idea…
I couldn’t NOT do it. 😉
Inside you’ll find:
✔️ 3 Pieces Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and O Christmas Tree
✔️ Just 3 simple chords (no giant Christmas book required)
✔️ Step-by-step lessons that make you sound festive, musical, and confident
All for only $10.
Normally, this course sells for $347.
Today?
You can grab it for the cost of a couple candy canes and hot cocoa. ☕
Let’s celebrate 10,000 followers on instagram and Facebook together…
With an insanely fun and festive deal.
Comment "CHRISTMAS" below if you want the link to grab The Christmas Course for only $10.
[That’s 98% OFF!!!]
Enjoy!
Ashlee
43 - 17
In case you missed it, we hit 10k followers on Instagram AND Facebook this week… and I’m still pinching myself.
So, in true celebration fashion, I’m doing something I’ve NEVER done before:
👉 My Play It Your Way Christmas Course (normally $347) is just $10.
Yes, TEN dollars.
[that’s 98% off the regular price 😳]
To celebrate 10,000 followers!
Inside, you’ll learn how to play Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and O Christmas Tree using just 3 simple chords and the step-by-step system my students swear by.
This is your chance to fill your home with music, joy, and holiday spirit…
…without the stress of struggling through thick Christmas books.
You’ll learn how to improvise and play from a lead sheet.
[Even if you’ve never done this before and have no experience with it.]
AND you’ll get better at recognizing musical patterns.
The $10 price goes away tomorrow night….
And the course goes back to $347.
Comment "CHRISTMAS" below and I'll send you the link to grab the course for only $10!
Enjoy,
Ashlee
15 - 4
Last week was wild..
Within just a few days of eachother, we hit 10,000 followers on both Instagram AND Facebook. 🤯
When I first started sharing online, I had no idea if anyone would even care about piano practice tips…
I just wanted to help adults like you practice smarter, not harder…
….and now here we are.
Ten. Thousand. Strong.
So to celebrate, I wanted to do something really special.
Something to thank you for being a member of this incredible community.
Something fun. 🤗
Something that would actually change the way you play this holiday season.
My Play It Your Way Christmas Course (normally $347)… is just $10 right now.
Yes. Ten dollars.
[that’s 98% off the regular price 😳]
For 10,000 followers.
Here’s what you’ll learn inside:
✔️ How to play 3 timeless carols (Silent Night, Away in a Manger, O Christmas Tree) with flow and musicality — using just 3 simple chords.
✔️ How to finally feel confident reading lead sheets — a skill you’ll use on Christmas music and beyond.
✔️ How to personalize every piece with creative left-hand patterns and embellishments, so your music actually sounds like you.
✔️ Plus: 20+ bonus carols to expand your holiday repertoire instantly.
This isn’t just about learning a few Christmas songs. It’s about sounding confident, musical, and proud of your playing — right when friends and family are gathered around to listen.
It will only be $10 for the next 48 hours…
If you want it, comment "CHRISTMAS" below and I'll send you the link to grab it for just $10.
Thank you for being part of this incredible milestone.
This is my way of giving back to you, because 10k followers is meaningless without each individual member of our community. 💜
Happy Practicing,
Ashlee
50 - 11
If you’ve been in my world for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about dynamic numbers.
If you’re new here, here’s the quick version:
Dynamic numbers are when you assign a number to every dynamic marking in your score so you know exactly how loud or quiet you’re playing.
Here’s the thing though…
When I teach this in live classes, I always warn students not to get hung up on the numbers themselves.
Why?
Because the point isn’t to obsess over a system.
The point is this:
Most musical concepts: dynamics, phrasing, pedaling…
Are vague.
Open to interpretation.
And when something is ambiguous, your brain has nothing solid to hold onto.
No consistency. No way to remember.
That’s why most players want to play musically but can’t repeat it reliably.
But when you add a system, even a simple one, you take something vague and make it concrete.
Suddenly your brain has clear directions.
And that’s when real musicality sticks.
My students use my 5 day workshop to make musicality stick…
So dynamics, phrasing, and musical expression stop being guesswork and finally become second nature.
Comment "INFUSE" below and I'll send you the link to grab the workshop so you can too!
12 - 2
My old student Jamie was one of the best at applying what I asked of him.
For a while, he was making incredible progress.
And then… he plateaued.
I asked how he was practicing and he told me:
“I just play through my piece, then go back and fix the mistakes.”
And instantly, I knew why he was stuck.
Jamie was practicing reactively.
Like watching 100 little fires pop up on your piano…
And running around frantically trying to put them all out.
What he needed was to practice proactively.
To go straight to the difficult sections.
To prevent mistakes before they even happened.
Because proactive practice doesn’t just save time…
…it builds confidence and prevents frustration before it even begins.
It’s such a simple concept.
But most piano players don’t realize it…
So they waste years playing reactively.
So instead of wasting years practicing reactively, you can start practicing proactively today.
I talk about this and SO MANY OTHER important topics (that you need to know as a piano player in order to practice effectively and play with confidence) inside my favorite piano lesson bundle.
Comment "BUNDLE" and I'll send you the link to grab it!
9 - 1
Do you long for a deeper level of musical expression?
I totally get it.
I spent hours and hours practicing each day and I often felt like I was wasting my time.
Everything changed for me when an incredible college teacher taught me her methods which were unlike anything I had experienced before.
I was finally able to connect with the music and play with the level of expression and quality that I desired.
Now I'm on a mission to help you do the same.
It's not too late for you and it is possible for you to play with depth and emotion.
You just need to learn HOW to practice --- and the key is to practice smarter, not harder.
Join the Facebook group for more free content: www.facebook.com/groups/casualtoconfidentpianoplay…
See links below for more ways to connect!
15 October 2011