Rod Contreras Piano Studio
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Limited space. Call Rod for more info and to schedule an intro session: 760-500-0640.
With 25+ years of teaching in Encinitas, I offer personalized piano/ musicianship lessons exploring the hidden architecture of music from Bach to the Beatles and beyond. I've been teaching privately in North San Diego County for over 20 years to students of all levels and ages. I focus on giving each student a strong foundation in music fundamentals such as music reading, ear training, music history and overall musicianship. Whether you're 6 or 96, interested in Classical music, jazz, pop, rock or country, know that you'll be learning the keys to unlocking your musical potential with a passionate teacher that will inspire and guide you on your musical journey!
Ahoy! 🏴☠️ Julian sets sail on “He’s a Pirate” by Klaus Badelt. That left hand keeps the waves rolling while the right hand carries the adventure. Love how you trusted yourself and kept moving through it. Keep it up Julian!! 🌊🎹
Duet time! 🎹✨ Here’s Mikayla and me playing Jeremiah Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary as a piano duet. No trumpets were harmed, just a lot of joyful keys! 🎺😄 Keep it up, Mikayla! You’re such a fast learner, and it’s so fun watching you grow every week.
Here are Forest and I playing a fun duet of Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dance. Keep it up, Forest! You are one dynamic music learner! 🎹
05/10/2026
Most of us spend our lives chasing good feelings, perfect performances, and flawless results. But philosopher Alan Watts and author Mark Manson both point to the same paradox — the harder you chase, the further it gets.
In the piano studio, I see this every single day. The student who grips the keys with tension trying to get it “right” is the one who struggles the most.
The student who relaxes into the mistake, stays curious, and keeps going — that’s the one who breaks through.
This is true in music. It’s true in relationships. It’s true in life.
The backwards law asks us to flip the script:
Stop white-knuckling the good.
Stop fighting the hard.
Let go — and you’ll find yourself more willing and able to grow.
🎹 Save this if it resonates. Tag someone who needs to hear it today.
What do you think? Share your take in the comments!
🥁 YOUR RHYTHMIC CHALLENGE THIS WEEK 🥁
Think of this like a juggling experiment I tried a couple weeks ago — I picked it up for the first time using only short, playful daily sessions with zero pressure. What I noticed was that between sessions, my body was quietly doing the work for me. The catch? The moment I started fixating on results, the progress stalled. It’s a bit like pulling a seed out of the ground to check if it’s grown. 🌱
Same principle applies here. A few minutes a day is all you need. 🎯
Don’t take yourself too seriously. If something slips, pause and get curious: Was it the tapping? The counting out loud? Left hand vs. right? Then let it go… and try again later. 🙌
Here’s the magic part ✨ — notice what happens between your practice sessions. That quiet evolution? That’s your body’s superior intelligence working hand-in-hand with the unlimited power of your subconscious mind… all guided by your conscious awareness. 🧠💫
Once the rhythm gets into your body and the counting becomes automatic, something powerful unlocks. Fair warning though — there will probably be some pushback at first. That’s totally normal. That’s actually a sign that real learning is happening. 🔥
So… embrace the chaos, stay playful, and trust the process. 🎹
💬 Drop a comment below — what part gave you the most trouble?
👉 Follow for more insights like this, and stay tuned for updates on my upcoming online course — The Hidden Architecture of Music — where we will go deep into the secrets behind how music works and how your mind learns. You won’t want to miss it. 🎶🏛️
Here is Shivani playing and singing her arrangement of Mad World 🎹🎤
To be able to be expressive, playful and creative. These are just a few of the gifts that music gives us!
Rod Contreras Piano Studio · Encinitas, CA
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1279 Encinitas Boulevard
Encinitas, CA
92024
Opening Hours
| Monday | 2pm - 8pm |
| Tuesday | 2pm - 8pm |
| Wednesday | 2pm - 8pm |
| Thursday | 2pm - 8pm |
| Friday | 2pm - 8pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 12pm |
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