Meet Harumi Shiraishi: Piano Teacher and Piano Technician in Thornton, CO

Harumi Shiraishi is the founder and instructor of Sunshine Piano Studio in Thornton, Colorado, where she gives private piano lessons to both children and adults. With more than twenty-five years of teaching experience, she is dedicated to helping students develop strong musical foundations, thoughtful listening skills, and a lasting love and appreciation for music.

Harumi holds both a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance with Honors from the University of Colorado Boulder. Through her studies and professional experience, she has developed a balanced approach to music education that combines careful technique, musical understanding, and artistic expression.

Harumi also works as a piano technician, providing tuning and maintenance services for pianos in the Boulder and north Denver areas. After completing training at the Piano Technicians Academy, she continues to study and practice with experienced local technicians to refine her skills. Through this work, she helps piano owners maintain their instruments' condition, sound quality, and longevity.

Her experience as both a teacher and technician allows her to approach the piano from multiple perspectives, understanding not only how music is performed but also how the instrument itself functions.

Teaching Experience and Student Achievements

As a piano teacher, Harumi has worked with students of many different ages and skill levels in her private studio. Her lessons focus on helping students learn how to read music, develop proper technique, and build confidence in their playing.

Over the years, many of her students have participated in public performances and music festivals. Some of these events include:

✔ Clementi Festival (audition required)

✔ Kids for Bach Festival (audition required)

✔ Achievement Day

✔ Marvelous Musicale

✔ Local Recitals and Studio Concerts

Students participating in Achievement Day have earned Super Achiever medals, reflecting their dedication and progress in music study. These performance opportunities allow students to gain valuable experience and share their musical accomplishments with the community.

Professional Memberships and Contributions

Harumi is an active member of several professional music organizations, including:

Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA)
Boulder Area Music Teachers Association (BAMTA)
Piano Technicians Guild (PTG)

Through these organizations, she has contributed significantly to the broader music education community. She has chaired competitive and non-competitive events for both CSMTA and BAMTA for many years. Additionally, she has developed and revised educational materials—such as Theory, Terms & Signs, Ear Training, and Music History tests—which are currently used in CSMTA’s Achievement Day program.

Piano Technician and Instrument Care

After completing her training at the Piano Technicians Academy, Harumi has continued her education by collaborating with experienced technicians and attending seminars, all while caring for her clients’ pianos. She strives to ensure that every piano receives excellent care and sounds its absolute best.

Musical Background and Interests

Beyond piano performance, Harumi has explored other musical avenues. As a singer, she has performed in auditioned choral groups such as:

Colorado Music Festival Chorus
Boulder Bach Festival Chorus

She also played the trombone for ten years and studied the harpsichord for one year, further broadening her understanding of different musical styles and instruments. These diverse experiences continue to enrich her teaching and musical work today.

Collaborative Performance and Musical Work

In addition to her teaching, Harumi is an active collaborative musician. She has accompanied:

School choirs
Church choirs
Instrumental and vocal students performing in competitions and recitals

She currently serves as an organist, pianist, and accompanist at a local church. Collaborative performance is an important part of her musical life, allowing her to work with other musicians and support performances across the community.

Teaching Philosophy

At Sunshine Piano Studio, Harumi’s goal is to help students develop a love for music-making at the piano, acquire core knowledge, and build both technical skill and musical understanding. She believes that learning the piano should be an enjoyable activity, involving not only playing notes correctly but also listening carefully, understanding musical structure, and expressing musical ideas thoughtfully.

With patience and consistent practice, students gradually develop confidence and independence as musicians.

Educational Background

Harumi is originally from Japan, where she completed her first university degree. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Matsuyama University of Commerce. Her international educational background and diverse musical experiences provide her with a well-rounded perspective on both music and education.

Learn More About Piano Lessons & Piano Tuning

Sunshine Piano Studio welcomes students ages 7 and older, as well as adult learners who would like to start their piano studies in a structured and supportive environment.

If you would like to learn more about piano lessons in Thornton, Colorado, or need your piano checked and tuned, please visit the lessons page or piano tuning page, and contact Sunshine Piano Studio for additional information.

CONTACT

Sunshine Piano Studio

ONE-ON-ONE PIANO LESSON