Lianna Rivera Rice

Growing up in a house full of music sealed Lianna Rivera Rice’s future as a professional musician and educator of the arts. It all started with her parents. Rice’s father always had a guitar in his lap, strumming while watching TV or talking with other family members. Very often, her mother could be heard singing along with the radio to both Spanish and English songs. Her parents fully supported both Rice and her brother to explore different instruments and find the one each loved best. Rice fell for classical piano and attributes her own love for the instrument to her piano teacher Natalya Thran. Their parents offered invaluable support of their practice especially through the difficult beginning stages. But the biggest musical influence in her life was her grandfather who would scoop her into his arms to start a salsa step whenever she’d walk by. He used to gather his family including the aunts, uncles, and cousins into his living room, handing everyone a Latin percussion instrument. If he ran out of instruments, a pot and wooden spoon would do. He’d encourage everyone to jam together, having conversations with each other through music and telling stories with their instruments. Rice feels her grandfather taught her a beautiful way of how to relate music. She wants to pass that connection on to any student she has the privilege of working with.

This rich musical childhood set Rice up to study music at a university level. As a graduate of Northern Arizona University’s wonderful music program, Rice developed a deep love for sharing the benefits of performing arts through music education and piano pedagogy. She studied piano with Dr. Frank Scott and Rita Borden and began teaching in 2011 after graduating with a BA in music and minors in business and Asian studies. She opened her own studio in the East Valley where she enjoys leading students to achieving their many individualized goals. When working with students, Rice guides students to develop as whole musicians through the study of repertoire, theory, and music history in uniquely engaging ways. She aims to create a lifelong love of music and an innate musicality in each child.

Rice believes that in order to be a great teacher, a teacher must continue being a student and never grow stale. To continue developing her teaching skills, Rice sustains her own personal piano practice, researches new teaching methods and discoveries in learning styles, and attends numerous teacher workshops/conferences throughout the year. She is also a member and avid volunteer through the Arizona State Music Teachers Association which gives her an opportunity to help other teachers and students on a wider reach.

Rice lives in Chandler, AZ with her husband Chris Rice (who is the brother of H&S cello teacher Johnny Rice), her super cute daughter Josie, and their giant puppy, Jasper.