About Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Everhart
FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, ADAPTIVE PIANO PEDAGOGY SPECIALIST
Elizabeth is a recognized pedagogue, frequent presenter, adjudicator and podcast guest who specializes in teaching gifted and neurodivergent learners. Her doctoral dissertation, "Approaches for Teaching Music Reading to Piano Students with Autism" was the first published research document in the field and she loves helping demystify disabilities and neurodiversity for piano teachers.
Elizabeth's love for discovering and sharing the best teaching practices for students who learn differently has fueled her passion for breaking down barriers to music education and piano for both her own private students and teachers around the world. Elizabeth founded Creative Piano Pedagogy in 2020 and launched the Creative Piano Pedagogy Podcast in 2025.
Elizabeth is a true teacher at heart and has enjoyed teaching at music schools and universities and teaching students from age 3-92 in both private and group settings over the past almost 20 years. In addition to being a classically-trained pianist, Elizabeth is also an accomplished improviser on both piano and organ and has over 10 years of experience as an organist and church musician.
Elizabeth and her husband, James and Siberian Husky, Rory, live in beautiful Greenville, South Carolina where they enjoy hiking and exploring parks, traveling, finding new coffee shops and reading. Elizabeth's favorite hobbies are baking and cooking, listening to audio books and enjoying nature.
EDUCATION
Elizabeth has earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy and Performance from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy with a minor in Organ Studies.
PRESENTATIONS
Elizabeth is frequently requested as a presenter for local, state and national music conferences and as an adjudicator for music and piano festivals and competitions both in-person and virtually. Recently presentations include those for Music Teachers National Association Conference (MTNA), Savannah Music Teachers Association (SMTA), Virtual-Local Music Teachers Association (VLMTA), The Suzuki Society of Indiana and others.
PUBLICATIONS AND PODCASTS
One of Elizabeth's favorite past-times is opportunities to share about neurodiversity and creative approaches for piano teaching on podcasts! Elizabeth has been a guest on multiple podcasts including TopMusic Piano Podcast, Beyond Measure Podcast, Piano Pantry Podcast, Piano Primer Podcast, Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast and more. Elizabeth also hosts the weekly Creative Piano Pedagogy Podcast.
About Tara Mock, MM
PARTNER, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, ADAPTIVE PIANO PEDAGOGY SPECIALIST
Tara Mock has been teaching for almost 30 years and owns an independent piano studio in Raleigh, North Carolina. She earned a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy in 2001 from the University of South Carolina focusing on improvisation for the beginner piano student. After homeschooling her own children with neurodivergent diagnoses for over 14 years, she is focusing on teaching piano to students who learn and experience the world differently as well. She is passionate about sharing with teachers about how to communicate effectively with neurodivergent students and their families.
She currently serves as the 2nd Vice President of Membership in the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association, Secretary of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association, staff accompanist at Forest Hills Baptist Church, and previously served in various roles in the Jacksonville Music Teachers Association in Jacksonville, Florida. Her family includes her genius husband, two amazing and gifted young adult children, and their beloved dogs. You can read more about her private studio and background at www.taramockpiano.com.
EDUCATION
Tara has earned a Master of Muisc in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from Campbellsville University (Kentucky).
2015-2017
PUBLICATIONS AND PODCASTS
Tara has given several virtual and in-person presentations at the local and state level, and is looking forward to presenting the MTNA Conference in Chicago in 2026. Tara has been a guest on multiple podcasts including TopMusic Piano Podcast, Creative Piano Pedagogy Podcast, Coffee with Christina, and the Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast.
2011-2014
2007-2010
“I know the focus is adaptive teaching, but I have learned more about piano teaching, pedagogy and actually how to teach from this course than I even knew was possible! Dr. Davis is a gift to piano teachers!”
-Independent Piano Studio Owner
