🎹 Who I Am

Hey there!

I’m Amanda, founder of Key Footsteps Music. I’m a piano and music theory teacher with 23 years of experience helping students actually understand music, not just brute force it.

I specialize in building strong musical foundations, especially for beginners, neurodivergent learners, and anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by the “mystery” of music.

Spoiler alert: Music isn’t a mystery: it’s a system. A logical one. And I’ll prove it.

My teaching blends four methods that put the student’s mind at the center of the process: Socratic Method (guiding with questions), Constructivist Learning (building on what you already know), Discovery Learning (letting you uncover the answers yourself), and Spiral Learning (revisiting concepts so they stick and grow over time). These approaches work together to make learning feel logical, connected, and achievable; and to build independence as fast as possible.

But here's something else about me:
I’m not just a teacher: I’m a system builder and a meta-autodidact. That means I don’t just love learning: I love figuring out how learning works and building tools and pathways that make it actually doable, especially for brains that don’t fit into the traditional mold.

If you’ve ever felt like school made you feel lost, frustrated, or like you were the problem, I see you. That was me too.
And now? I create the kind of learning systems I wish I had growing up: clear, logical, empowering.

Lately, I’ve been developing interactive learning tools using Google Forms and AI to turn huge, overwhelming ideas into simple, structured, and personalized study experiences. It’s all about reducing confusion, boosting confidence, and helping people (especially kids) realize they can learn anything, with the right support system.

Because when learning finally makes sense, confidence follows. And that changes everything.

🎯 My Teaching Philosophy

I teach with intention: every concept has a purpose. No busywork, no fluff, and absolutely no one-size-fits-all shortcuts.

My approach blends:

• Socratic Method – I ask questions that get students thinking critically and making connections, instead of just handing them the answers.

• Constructivist Learning – we build new skills on top of what the student already knows, so learning feels logical and connected rather than random.

• Discovery Learning – students actively uncover concepts themselves, which makes the knowledge theirs to keep.

• Spiral Learning – we regularly revisit earlier concepts, each time going a little deeper, so skills stay sharp and confidence grows.

In practice, this means I’m as hands-off as I can be as soon as a student is ready. I’ll guide them, prompt them, and give them tools: I want them to feel that “I figured this out” moment. That independence? That’s the goal.

I believe learning music shouldn’t feel like climbing a mountain barefoot in the dark. It should feel doable, rewarding, and yes, even fun.

🧠 For Neurodivergent Learners (and Teachers!)

As someone who has both ADHD and autism, I get what it’s like to learn differently; to need things explained in a way that actually makes sense and not in the same tired way it’s always been taught. I design my resources and my teaching style in consideration for real minds: ones that want clarity, logic, color-coding, patterns, and meaning.

📚 What I Offer

• Done-for-you teaching resources (like my Piece Shopping forms and RCM Exam Prep charts)

• A logical, compassionate, no-nonsense approach to learning

• Blog posts and tools for both teachers and learners

🎶 Why “Key Footsteps”?

Because this is a journey, and every key you play is a step forward. Whether you’re just starting out, coming back after years away, or trying to grow your studio as a teacher, I want to help you take those steps with confidence.

Whether you’re a first-time learner, a returning musician, or a teacher building your studio: I’m here to help you take the next step.

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1025 King Street East | Unit 107 #4016 | Cambridge, ON | N3H 3P5