I had the privilege to check in students at the Awards in Excellence auditions on Saturday. It was such a fun experience to watch as they awaited their turns to play. Some students were busily studying their music, trying to review and remember as much detail as possible. Others were pacing around, burning off some nervous energy. Others sat quietly, seeming at ease, but then I couldn’t see what was going through their minds at the time. Maybe they truly were calm, maybe they were just good at faking it.

Parents, too, were fun to watch. Some were obviously heavily invested in their child’s success, talking them through certain things, fretting about their dress or hair, etc. Others were much more laid back, chatting with other parents, taking care of siblings, and letting the competitors be. Every child is different, and parents know their needs better than I, so I cannot judge. Awards in Excellence is admittedly a stressful audition situation, and each student handles that in a different way. Fun to watch them cope.

As I’ve thought about this and applied it to my life, I thought about the stressful situations we each face. Coming to the end of the school year, there’s a crunch to prepare for recitals, auditions, and Achievement Day. The calendar fills with end of the year concerts, plays, musicals, sports tournaments, dance recitals and the like. Each event is a reason to celebrate, but together they can become a burden.

How will we face that? Are we mentally driven, making to-do lists and detailed calendars to find peace? Are we physically driven, using exercise to calm us? Or are we more spiritually driven, preferring meditation or prayer to find serenity? Remember the Hawaiian Lokahi concept. Keeping mind, body and spirit in balance is vital to living in peace in this world. If we find our minds racing out of control, maybe a moment of quiet reflection and spiritual energy will help. If we find ourselves constantly running late, dashing here, there and everywhere, maybe taking the time to mentally focus would be beneficial.

Like those waiting students, we each must find a way to cope with the stresses of life. I’m grateful for that busy calendar, for people to care about, for students to nurture and help succeed. I’m grateful for friends and family who keep me grounded. I’m grateful for each one of you, for the influence you have had on my teaching and on me as a person. As I approach the end of my term as president, I’m grateful for the friendships I have built in DVMTA. So many of you give of your time and talents to help this organization thrive, and I truly appreciate your service.

I invite you to attend our April Brunch on Friday, April 24 at the LDS church building at 1054 W. 2nd Place in Mesa. We will install our new executive board that day and recognize the great service our outgoing board has given. We welcome Diana Palmer as our new President, Sara Pratt as Vice-president, Tammy Shorts as Treasurer, and Jenna Hartley as Secretary. I know each one of these ladies and they will do their very best to further the mission of DVMTA.

I wish you the best in all your endeavors and hope you find the balance in life that brings you peace.

With love,
Lorri McHardy

View the full April 2026 DVMTA Newsletter

Do you ever look at your calendar and just sigh? Or quiver in trepidation? Everyone is busy these days, but spring is super-busy as piano teachers. You may be preparing students for Awards in Excellence auditions, plus looking ahead at Achievement Day requirements. We’re counting up events for Awards Plus applications, not to mention preparing for our own spring recitals. And that doesn’t even include family, school, and community obligations. It’s very easy to feel overwhelmed.

Time to remember Lokahi, the Hawaiian concept of keeping life in balance. Three triangle points of mind, body, and spirit need to stay in harmony with each other. Lokahi contains an element of sustainability, of harmony between people, nature, and the divine. It is essential for a healthy life and connections with the land and with other people. When I find my mind getting overburdened with responsibilities, it’s time to step back and see what I need to do to restore balance to my life. Am I neglecting connections with people I care about? Do I need time alone to take a walk and breathe in the scent of those lovely citrus blossoms? Is my spirit in need of a recharge, whatever that looks like to you?

As we’re preparing students for spring events, we need to teach all three points of the triangle. We teach their minds, helping them read, memorize, and prepare mentally for performances. We teach their bodies, posture, hand position, fluidity and technique. We teach their spirits, helping them play expressively and understand the rich traditions of the music. Different aspects will come easier to different students. I have some who excel at memorizing notes but struggle to play with passion. I have others who display more passion than correct technique. My job is to help them keep all aspects of learning music in balance. As they become well-rounded musicians, they can find joy in music for the rest of their lives, regardless of what the future brings. We are so privileged to play a role in their development, as musicians and as people. Our role is vital to these students—thank you for all you do for them!

Lorri McHardy

Read the full March 2026 DVMTA Newsletter

Ah, February, when red and pink dominate the stores and thoughts turn to love. I was very blessed to grow up in a loving home and have experienced many kinds of love throughout my life. My husband and I have been married for over 40 years and that relationship has only deepened as we have faced life’s challenges together. I love my children and their families and treasure the time we spend together.

Having lived in the same house for almost 30 years, we have put down deep roots, developing love for our neighbors and friends. Co-workers, church friends, and people we serve with in the community—I love them all. I especially love my students. I find great satisfaction in their progress and enjoy their enthusiasm and excitement.

As I come closer to the end of my time as president, I want to express my love for each of you as well. Some of you I don’t know very well; some are my dear friends. But I am grateful for the influence you have had on me. Your ideas have benefited my teaching, and your friendship has enriched my life.

Anyone who has served as DVMTA president knows that it takes the efforts of many, many hands to make this organization flourish. I’m grateful for the time and energy you give, for the way you prepare your students for our events, for the service you render, and for the wonderful examples you are to me.

Thank you for being who you are and doing what you do. You have blessed my life.

With love,
Lorri McHardy

​Read the full February 2026 Newsletter

Can you believe it’s 2026 already?! As I’ve welcomed my students back this week, focusing intently on writing the correct year in their assignment books, I just can’t process that another year has gone by so quickly. But I appreciate the freshness a new year brings.

As I’ve pondered the idea of fresh starts and new beginnings, it’s made me think about goal setting. In years past I would set a bunch of goals in many different areas, determined to change everything about me that needed  changing. You can imagine the results as goal after goal went unmet or only partially completed. It led to frustration and several years of just skipping the whole resolutions thing. I had an “all or nothing” mentality that was holding me back.

Fortunately age brings a bit of wisdom and helped me see that I was trying to change too many things all at once. Better to set smaller, reachable goals, and to focus on one thing at a time. Some of my friends are trying one new thing just for a month. It may become a habit they keep, or it may fall by the wayside as they try a new goal for the next month. Another dear friend, who happens to be my daughter-in-law, introduced me to the idea of “all or something”. Rather than beat myself up for not completely reaching the goal, celebrate whatever progress was made. Recognize that life sometimes gets in the way. The 30 minutes I planned to devote to whatever it was may have only been 5 minutes that day, but that is still 5 minutes more than I used to do. It’s something, and that is progress.

One of my students is working toward participating in Awards in Excellence for the first time. We chose her pieces months ago, as her busy high school schedule can wreak havoc on her practice time. We have worked on setting reasonable goals, biting off small sections to memorize, even just two measures. It’s easy for her to get overwhelmed and frustrated, but these small victories will help her keep pressing forward toward the eventual goal.

I hope all of you teachers recognize the important work you do. One sweet student made me a card this week with an admittedly odd-looking sixteenth note drawn on the front, with “Just a little note saying thank you” written across the top. She transferred to my studio in August and was quiet and withdrawn as she began. As I focused on making her lessons as positive and friendly as I could, she began to blossom. Her shy smiles became hesitant conversation, and now she freely shares stories with me. It reminded me once again that teaching music--the songs, theory, technique, etc.--is only part of what I do. I am helping to build confidence, encourage perseverance, nurture creativity, teach time management and problem-solving skills, develop focus and attention to detail, and provide a way to express feelings and combat anxiety. My students may never grace the stage at Carnegie Hall, but they know that I love them. I care about their progress in music and as people. I love that I can share my passion for music with them and feel like I’m making a positive difference in their lives. As you begin this new year, take a moment and recognize your vital role. Appreciate the opportunity we have as teachers to make an impact on our students. I am grateful for each of you, for your positive influence on my life.

Happy New Year!

Lorri McHardy
DVMTA President

Read the full January 2026 Newsletter