An account by Louis Vaughn of a recent lesson with Mary:

I have been learning the piano for the last two years getting lessons here and there but never consistently. The lessons would usually consist of me telling the teacher what I wanted to work on and that was about it. The first lesson I had with Mary there was only me a mother and her daughter whereas the last one we were struggling to find seats for everyone! Mary’s approach gave me so many different ideas about playing the piano, really emphasising improvising which I loved, and then simply telling me how I should play a key. The idea being to pick up the sound from the piano and take the music out of the instrument, this has had a huge effect on my playing. I would say sometimes I have a piano lesson and it’s ok, and there are others where I feel this great sense of fulfilment. After Mary I couldn’t stop smiling, i felt filled to the brim with new information. I would say I’ve never really been blown away by somebody playing the piano but listening to Mary was truly amazing. These types of experiences bring the light back onto the piano, you can’t help but be inspired and have a grinding urge to get better or start playing again. Thank you Mary it was a pleasure to have been a part of this.

Mary gives piano workshops at the Pianodrome, read more here: https://pianodrome.org/