Author

Jennifer Eklund holds a bachelor’s degree in music with an emphasis in performance and pedagogy and a master’s degree in historical musicology from California State University, Long Beach. She is an avid arranger, composer, and author of the Piano Pronto® method books series as well as a wide variety of supplemental songbooks for students of all ages and levels.

Heather Hearn Rathnau, NCTM graduated Magna Cum Laude from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Pedagogy and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Literature. She is the author and creator of the Theory Time workbook series, a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) in Piano and maintains a successful private studio teaching piano and voice.

Kris Skaletski is the creator and publisher of KiddyKeys® piano and Music All-Star teaching materials. She has over thirty-five years of experience leading piano lesson programs and preschool music, teaching in both home and school settings in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She is also the co-author of the Roadtrip!® method book series for young beginners.

Amy Hite is a guitar teacher and classical guitarist in Temecula, CA. Amy graduated Magna Cum Laude with a master’s degree in Classical Guitar Performance from California State University, Fullerton, where she studied under David Grimes. She held an Associate Professor of Music position at Riverside City College and served as the chair of the Guitar Syllabus Committee for the Certificate of Merit™ program with the Music Teacher’s Association of California. Her Music Theory for Guitar workbook series was the winner of the Winter 2024 Pencraft Book Award in the category of Music. Amy enjoys composing and arranging music and creating comprehensive pedagogical materials for guitar students. She is also a certified yoga and Alexander Technique teacher.

Meagan Mason holds a PhD in historical musicology at the University of Southern California. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in violin from Emory University and has performed for orchestras, weddings, and studio recordings in Los Angeles and Atlanta for fifteen years. She now lives in Paris and works as a proofreader and editor.

Stacy Fahrion writes in a style she calls “Whimsically Macabre.” Many of her compositions have been concocted from the remains of nursery rhymes. Her music has been described as “offbeat quirky seriously beautifully funny mischievously madly serious.” Stacy holds a Master’s degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa, and teaches piano lessons in Denver. She enjoys performing at house concerts, and when she’s not conjuring up new pieces, she can usually be found hiking in the mountains.

Tara Cunningham has been teaching piano since 1998 and currently runs a private and group studio in Argyle, TX. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with an emphasis on Piano Performance from Texas Woman’s University. She is the author of NoteSpeed which has sold over 7,000 sets worldwide. When she’s not teaching, she can be found at her children’s many sporting events, hiking, swimming or camping.

Chrissy Ricker holds a Master’s degree in music with a concentration in piano performance and pedagogy from Meredith College in North Carolina and is also a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. She enjoys composing music that is educational, motivational, and just plain fun to play. Her piano music has been featured on the contest lists of many state and national organizations, including the National Federation of Music Clubs.