Several times a year, Miss Val will feature one or more of her students. This is an opportunity to share the fruits of the hard work they put in with each other and the greater community.
We have an opportunity to commune at our Annual Concert, but this will help connect us more throughout the year.
Please support the students by checking out this page regularly and liking the videos you watch.
You may even be inspired by what you see!
Featured Music Student of the Month:
December 2025 – Merry Christmas! -From Miss Val’s Students: Eliza, Claira, Isla, and Mayli
Many of Miss Val’s students learned Christmas songs this year. Some of them are featured in this month’s video.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2026…
November 2025 – Mayli, 15
It’s hard to believe that Mayli has not already been featured on this page! She has been playing guitar for less than 3 years and really enjoys playing a variety of music. Some of you may recall Mayli’s rendition of the Star Spangled Banner opening each of the last 2 Annual Student Concerts. She has been an inspiration for many of her friends, family, and audience members. Look for her in Miss Val’s Christmas Features and Annual Concerts.
Mayli plays on her new acoustic and her trusty electric guitar in the following presentation. Despite some nerves, she performs her most recent pieces. We are so proud of you, Mayli!
October 2025 – Mastermind with Isla, 9 (almost 10)
Isla was featured last November, which you can find below. She loves music and dance and playing with her little brother. She has performed for several talent shows as well as 2 of Miss Val’s Annual Student Concerts.
Mastermind has been a favorite of Miss Val’s students for almost 20 years. It’s incredible to imagine how many of her students have enjoyed this wonderfully mysterious song. While it is fantastic at setting a spooky mood for Halloween, we enjoy it year-round!
September 2025 – Henry Albanese, 59
Henry was the very first featured student on Miss Val’s website, and he’s back again to show off his skills. Those of you who have attended Miss Val’s concerts will be familiar with Henry’s unique style and giant heart. He grew up playing accordion when he was five years old, winning the national championship! At eight years old, he picked up the drums, and played in bands in the 80s.
For the past four years, Henry has been learning how to play tenor and alto saxophones. With the help of Miss Val, he has been gigging as a soloist at local restaurants and other venues for a couple years. Check out the video below of Henry aka “Hank the Tank” improvising by the bay…
August 2025 – Claira, 11 years old
Claira has been taking guitar with Miss Val for about 6 months, and she’s a natural! She performed at our Annual Concert in April after only several weeks experience. She was nervous, but Claira rose to the occasion! She excels at power chords, full chords, improvisation, and reading melodies. She even performed her dad’s favorite song as a tribute!
Here is a video of Claira practicing songs from her lesson book and playing a special song for Grandma…
May 2025 – Annual Concert Encore:
Mike and the BFB’s (The Blue-Footed Boobies)
Mike has been taking keyboard lessons for almost 2 years with Miss Val, but he has been playing keyboard and organ most of his life. Mike is a multi-instrumentalist and plays in 4 bands for fun. He is always learning new songs, solos, and skills. One of his bands, The Blue-Footed Boobies, graciously performed a full set as an encore to Miss Val’s Annual Music Student Concert & Party.
April 2025 – Annual Concert
Each Spring, Miss Val showcases all of her students at her annual Music Student Concert and Party. This April, they performed under the pavilion at Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda, FL. Over 13 students performed a variety of music, including solos, duets, and a full group performance. One of her students, Mike and one of his bands, The Blue-Footed Boobies (BFB’s), graciously accompanied the full group for a finale jam on the Blues Brothers’ Sweet Home Chicago. Look out for next month’s video feature of the BFB’s full set.
Check out all of the past concerts here.
March 2025 – Norm, 6 years old
Norm has been taking keyboard lessons for almost a year, and he has a lot of fun with Miss Val! He is grateful to have a drum set, hand bells, and a guitar in addition to his keyboard. Norm loves playing games in and out of music class, especially Miss Val’s board games, Pokémon and Minecraft!
Here is a video of Norm practicing for the upcoming annual concert…
Here’s another video of him creating music on keyboard and drums…
February 2025 – Eliza, 4 years old (almost 5)
Eliza has been learning the cello for about a year. Her mother and her grandfather both play the cello (mom also plays violin), so Eliza is thrilled to be continuing the family tradition! She loves to sing, and watch Disney movies, especially Pinocchio. Her favorite part about taking cello lessons is creating original songs with Miss Val that she gets to play.
Here is a video of Eliza playing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and Happy Birthday as well as 2 original works entitled I Give You Love (our Valentine’s Day song) and Cow, Cow in the Grass (the first song she created with Miss Val)
January 2025 – Madi, 12yrs
Madi has been playing the piano/keyboard for about 3 years. She has advanced quickly to some challenging and exciting music.
Here is a video of Madi playing some pieces from Piano Adventures Level 2B Lesson and Performance Books. Enjoy the performance!
December 2024 – Merry Christmas! -From Miss Val’s Students:
Isla, Isabella, Norm, Rhegan, Abel, Jeremiah, and Eliza
Many of Miss Val’s students learned Christmas songs this year. Some of them are featured in this month’s video. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy 2025…
November 2024 – Isla, 8yrs
(turning 9 this month)
Isla has been taking piano lessons for a year and a half, but she is a natural! She loves to act in plays and dance in Studio Seven. Isla has a lot of friends and likes to play with her baby brother. She loves to make videos and edit them, and she loves piano!! She has performed for several talent shows and our annual concert.
Here is a recording of a performance of a variety of music, including her
original presentation of Isla’s Haunted House (with narration),
A Spoonful of Sugar, from Mary Poppins, and more. Enjoy!
Isla also likes to play soothing music to relax to. Here is an audio recording of her creating relaxing music in the moment…unedited.
This music was featured recently in Episode 8 of the Inyoni Organic Farm Vlog.
October 2024 – Isabella, 13yrs
Isabella has been playing for several years, is very dedicated to her practice, and it shows. Currently, Isabella is preparing for the ABRSM Violin Grade 5 Exam this autumn.
Amongst the vigorous classical music practice necessary for this exam, she still has fun with the instrument improvising and recreating music in various other styles such as jazz, pop, and (her favorite) country. When the Devil Went Down to Georgia is on her short list of songs to learn for fun.
Here is a video we made (before tuning… whoops!) in between 2 major hurricanes…
September 2024 – Rhegan, 10yrs
Rhegan loves music and always has! She has already performed in three plays, including Fievel Goes West. She currently sings, plays piano, and is very excited to have just started violin in her school orchestra. Some non-music facts about Rhegan are 1. Her favorite color is pink. 2. Her favorite food is salad. 3. She loves Jesus and God. Her favorite song is Endgame by Taylor Swift.
Here is a video of Rhegan playing some piano duets with Miss Val.
August 2024 – Henry Albanese
Henry grew up playing accordion when he was five years old, and won the national championship! At eight years old, he picked up the drums, and played in bands in the 80s.
For the past three years, Henry has been learning how to play tenor and alto saxophones, and with the help of Miss Val, he has started gigging as a soloist at local restaurants and other venues at age 58!
Here is a video of Henry playing saxophone at a restaurant in Punta Gorda, FL
Miss Val's Music Magic 