Teaching Philosophy
Hello! I am Alex Hurlburt and I'm so happy you're considering lessons with me.
I started Spark of Discovery Piano because I wanted to create lessons that balance encouragement with real progress, lessons where students aren’t just told they’re doing great, but learn how to hear themselves, think critically, and gain confidence in their playing. Growing up (and later working in other studios), I saw how often piano lessons become either overly rigid or overly cheerleading, without giving students the understanding to make their playing more rich, exciting and convincing.
My background in both music and science strongly shapes how I teach. Practicing science taught me that curiosity, not talent, is what drives learning, and that creativity is a skill you can build by asking good questions and experimenting. For me, lessons are about finding the “why” behind a piece, breaking problems into manageable steps, and discovering how to make one's playing convincing and captivating.
I invest a lot of time and thought into each of my students, but I still want them to view me more as a collaborator than an authoritative teacher with all the answers. I meet students where they are, adapt to their energy and goals, and never judge honest effort or mistakes. Lessons are never stuffy or judgmental; my goal is that students leave each week feeling clearer, more curious, and motivated to keep exploring.
Background & Training
Alex showed an affinity for music from an early age. He began piano lessons after his parents found him playing children’s song melodies by ear on his grandmother’s spinet organ and—true to his Wisconsin roots—her accordion. He soon added violin and started composing his own music, writing pieces for piano, violin, and larger ensembles. As a student, Alex’s compositions and performances were regularly recognized at the state level, including a solo piano work that won Best Instrumental Piece in a statewide composition contest.
As a performer, Alex earned top marks at State Solo and Ensemble competitions on both piano and violin and held positions in competitive state youth orchestras throughout high school. He continued performing regularly in college, most often as a piano soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative pianist. While he enjoys solo performance, Alex has always been most drawn to music-making that involves listening, responding, and working closely with other musicians.
Alex graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University and the Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton, WI, earning a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance under the guidance of Anthony Padilla, alongside a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. He now works full-time as a research scientist at a biotech company, studying how the brain regulates inflammation in autoimmune disorders.
When not in the lab, Alex can be found teaching piano—by far his greatest joy in music. His teaching experience is broad and comprehensive, beginning in college and continuing through running his own studio in Indiana before relocating to New York City. He has taught students ranging in age from 4 to 60+, in both private and group settings.
Alex’s teaching style is engaging, versatile, and encouraging, with a strong focus on listening, expressive playing, and thoughtful problem-solving. Lessons are meant to be both rigorous and enjoyable—small laboratories where students combine curiosity, hard work, and imagination to develop their musical voice. His greatest joy as a teacher comes when a student lights up with that “spark of discovery,” the moment when something clicks and new musical possibilities open up. Whether students are drawn to classical music, pop, video game music, composition, or anything in between, Alex’s goal is to instill the same sense of wonder and adventure in music that first drew him to the piano as a child.