Dr. Carla Salas-Ruiz

Pianist | Educator | Researcher

With over fifteen years of experience in piano performance and pedagogy, I am a passionate and dedicated piano instructor, performer, and researcher. As a teacher, I strive to create supportive and inclusive learning environments that foster critical thinking, creativity, and socio-cultural understanding. I am also an advocate for healthy musicianship and cultivating life-long learners of music among students.

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In addition to teaching and performing, I am invested in research related to motivation, healthy musicianship, and effective practice strategies in piano education. I hold a PhD in Music Education with an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy from Louisiana State University, where I was honored with the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award in 2021. My research has been presented at various national and local conferences. It has also been published in prestigious journals such as Visions of Research in Music Education, Piano Magazine, and Research Perspectives in Music Education.