Furry Friends in the Studio

Life in a music studio can be full of creativity and fun, but sometimes a bit of stress as well. This post is all about the comfort, fun, and healing that furry friends, aka pets, can bring to the music making process!

(Just a note that I am not a professional in the mental health field. I will make a few observations about my own experiences and interactions in my studio.)

There was a time in my teaching career when my children were younger and might interrupt a lesson from time to time. These days though it's my lynx-point Siamese cat, Jack, or my white Labrador retriever, Boo, wandering into the studio to get some love and attention. My students are warm and kind to my eight year old lab and give her some scratches behind the ears. She goes to sniff their shoes by the front door and then wanders quietly, except for the click clack of her long nails, back to her dog bed in the other room. My student has hopefully been put at ease by this greeting.

I would like all of my students to know that they are in a safe space where we will work hard but also have fun. I do my best to make my studio feel that way, and my pets help out without even being asked!

My cat Jack does his part by occasionally jumping up on the bench beside a student to say hi, sitting right beneath their feet for a moment, or brushing up against their legs to let his presence be known. He really prefers to plant himself in a 'cat loaf' on top of their music to make sure he gets both my student's and my attention. His last strategy is to meow at the door loudly to go outside. He seems to strategically do this when they are testing their memory work on a piece, so they will have to test their ability to stay focused, thanks Jack. One of the nicest things he does though, is to greet students on the porch as he lounges in the sun, with a loud meow then follows them inside, or a departing meow as they leave. Everyone feels loved by Jack.

Some of my favorite posts on social media are created by fellow musicians and piano teachers showing their dogs or cats drawn in by their music making and interacting with their students. I think that in the right situation a family/studio pet can help reduce anxiety and in turn help a student focus. In order to create and progress we must feel safe to do so, and I'd like to think that Jack and Boo help out here in my studio.

Please enjoy a photo gallery below of Boo and Jack trying to do their part to make the music making world a little happier!