As this year comes to a close, I want to pause and say thank you. 2025 has been complex, tender, and deeply meaningful — a year that asked for patience, reflection, and a steady return to what truly grounds me. Guitar lessons have remained at the heart of my work, even as my music, healing, and performance offerings have expanded.
For many of you, live performance and guitar lessons have been at the heart of our connection for years. Teaching guitar has shaped how I listen, how I perform, and how I share music. Even as my creative work has expanded, guitar remains the foundation — the place where music, learning, and human connection meet most clearly for me.
It’s still surprising to realize that it’s been six years since I discovered the handpan. That instrument didn’t pull me away from guitar — it deepened my relationship with it. Learning the handpan reminded me that mastering any instrument is about more than technique. It’s about listening, patience, nuance, and presence. That perspective has made me a better guitarist, a more attentive teacher, and a more grounded musician overall.
Loss, Love, and a Year of Reorientation
After my father’s passing in late 2024, I moved my mother to Cincinnati so I could care for her and help us both find a new rhythm of daily life. Nothing replaces a 65-year marriage, but we are building something honest and real — new memories shaped by music, conversation, and quiet moments of understanding.
Caring for my mother has brought clarity about what matters most. It has softened how I move through the world and deepened my respect for time, presence, and grace — lessons that now quietly inform how I teach, perform, and create.
Why Guitar Lessons Remain Central to My Work
Teaching guitar has never been just about chords or songs. It’s about helping people reconnect with themselves through music — whether they’re picking up a guitar for the first time or returning after years away.
My mother is a classically trained pianist who opened the door to music early in my life. As a child with dyslexia, traditional learning was challenging, but music offered another way in. That experience shaped my teaching philosophy: meet students where they are, honor different learning styles, and remember that progress comes from willingness, not perfection.
This year, I’ve watched students rebuild confidence, rediscover joy, and reconnect with parts of themselves they thought were lost. These moments are why guitar lessons continue to inspire me — music learning is deeply human, deeply practical, and quietly transformative.
Performance, Presence, and Creative Highlights
Alongside teaching, I continued performing in ways that felt intentional and nourishing — from acoustic blues guitar gigs to healing music sessions in hospitals, hospice settings, and community spaces. Whether on a stage or in a quiet room, music continues to remind me that connection matters more than volume.
One of the great joys of this year was returning to the stage with my longtime favorite drummer, Sherri McGee. After a series of solo acoustic performances at the Cincinnati Open, we played two duo shows as the latest incarnation of The Kelly Richey Band, also known as the Spear Shakers. This stripped-down format has brought a renewed sense of freedom, fun, and authenticity — something that feels especially meaningful at this stage of my life.
Handpan, Healing, and Listening More Deeply
Over the past five years, the handpan has become an important extension of my musical work. Through the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Arts in Healing program, I’ve been honored to bring music into spaces where gentleness and care matter most.
With guidance from my teacher, Amy Naylor, this work has naturally expanded into sound baths, yoga classes, and wellness programs. This isn’t a departure from my identity as a guitarist — it’s an expansion of how I offer music as grounding, reflection, and support.
Writing, Photography, and Looking Ahead
Alongside music, I continue to write and explore photography — tools that, like instruments, help me pay attention. On January 1st, I’ll be launching a new creative project that brings these threads together. I’ll share more about that in the next post as the new year begins.
Closing
Thank you for staying connected during a season of transition — both personal and professional. As my newly rebuilt website comes fully to life, I’m stepping into the new year with clarity, gratitude, and renewed focus. I’m glad you’re here.
