About
By the age of three, visits to her grandmother’s house almost always ended at the piano, where she delighted in exploring the keyboard and asking her mother to play every piece of music she found on the music rack. At age seven, her mother became her first piano teacher, patiently laying the musical foundation that would shape the rest of her life. At eleven, Dr. Carlin began studying with church organist Mary Sanders, whose mentorship helped her flourish as a young pianist. During those years, she earned multiple first-place awards through Colorado’s local and regional MTNA competitions and the National Guild of Piano Teachers, while consistently receiving Commendations with Distinction in annual evaluations. She later continued her studies with Veronica Cukro, participating in master classes through the University of Colorado Boulder, receiving specialized training in piano technique, and performing throughout Colorado. Along the way, she co-founded a traveling piano duo with fellow pianist Andrea Christiansen, while spending summers immersed in intensive studies of piano, music theory, and aural skills. Her musical education continued at Mesa State College under Dr. Monte Atkinson, where she expanded her studies in piano, voice, music theory, and performance, ultimately earning a minor in Music Performance. Although a college injury unexpectedly brought an end to an active keyboard performance career for several years, it also deepened her appreciation for teaching. While performing had always been rewarding, helping students discover their own musical voice became an even greater calling.
Biography
The piano has eighty-eight keys, but every key opens countless doors to a student’s imagination. That simple truth has shaped Dr. Rebecca Carlin’s lifelong love of music. Today, after more than 35 years of teaching and tens of thousands of piano lessons, her greatest joy is helping students discover those same doors for themselves. For Dr. Carlin, every lesson is about far more than learning the correct notes. It is an opportunity to nurture curiosity, creativity, confidence, perseverance, and a lifelong appreciation for beauty. She believes every student has unique gifts waiting to be discovered, and considers it a privilege to help each one develop those gifts through music.
Her own musical journey began long before her first piano lesson. At just 18 months old, she and her mother sat together at the piano singing songs every day. One of her earliest memories is sitting in church, captivated by the choir as they sang a cappella. She remembers wondering how so many voices could blend into such rich, beautiful harmonies. Those moments sparked a fascination with melody, harmony, and musical expression that has never left her.
In addition to her extensive musical training, Dr. Carlin earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and has enjoyed many years of choral and opera performance. She has also served as a children’s choir director and accompanist, experiences that continue to enrich her musicianship and her teaching.
While many of Dr. Carlin’s students simply enjoy making music for themselves and their families, others have earned recognition in international competitions and have been accepted into highly competitive collegiate music programs. Regardless of their goals, she measures success not by awards alone, but by helping students develop confidence, character, discipline, creativity, and a lifelong love of music.
A lifelong learner herself, Dr. Carlin continues to pursue advanced training in piano pedagogy and is currently working toward national certifications through MTNA and Muso. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, exploring advances in medicine, and cooking delicious meals for anyone who happens to be hungry.
For Dr. Carlin, music has always been more than a performance—it is a gift to be shared. Whether a student dreams of performing professionally or simply wants to fill a home with beautiful music, she considers it a privilege to help open the next door that the piano has to offer.