Clair Maxwell

Clair grew up playing Billy Joel and Elton John alongside Chopin and Bach — and he's spent his career since trying to get students to fall in love with the piano, not just master it. He teaches real technique, but he's just as happy guiding a student through improvisation as he is drilling scales. If you're looking for the counterbalance to a strictly classical studio, Clair's it.

That said, don't mistake approachable for lightweight. Clair holds a Master's in Organ from the Cleveland Institute of Music, one of the true heavyweight conservatories in the country with a track record of producing world-class players. He spent decades as a professional musician and arts leader in Atlanta — including as Artistic Director of the Choral Guild of Atlanta — before relocating to Maine, where he now co-owns and runs the historic Blue Hill Inn.

What lessons are like: Clair inspires students to want to play by finding music they truly love — contemporary favorites alongside classical fundamentals — and pushes them to get off the page and improvise. It's real technical foundation paired with genuine joy at the instrument.

Great for: students who want contemporary and classical styles together, not just one or the other · middle-schoolers through adults · students with some existing musical background