About Julia Clearman
Julia Clearman began studying Suzuki piano at the age of five under the direction of Nancy Daley through the Suzuki program at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, MN. Upon graduation from the MacPhail Center for Music, Julia continued her studies at the Wirth Center for the Performing Arts under prominent teacher, Dr. Paul Wirth. During this time, Julia performed in masterclasses with Dr. Victor Shkylar, Dr. Daniel Horn, Tadeusz Majewski, and Nancy Peterson, among others. Her favorite performances have included works by Barber, Brahms, and Schubert, and when she toured extensively as an accompanist with the Northwestern Choir; in addition to touring the upper Midwest as a solo performer.
Passionate about teaching excellence in music, Julia has studied piano pedagogy under internationally known Suzuki teacher Mary Craig Powell, Caroline Fraser, Fay Adams, and Dr. Richard Lange. Additionally, Julia has completed Suzuki Piano Pedagogy Training for Suzuki piano levels 1-7 through the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA). Her post-secondary education includes a Bachelor’s of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, MN, a Master of Arts in Psychology for Musicians from the University of Sheffield, UK, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College, IL. Currently, Julia is completing her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology with research interests in increasing mental health literacy for musicians and neuropsychology for artistic performers.
A Suzuki and traditional piano instructor for almost two decades, Julia has been a collegiate guest lecturer and a member of the Suzuki Association of Minnesota (SAM), the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), the American College of Musicians, the National Guild of Piano Teachers (GUILD), and the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA). An innovative educator, Julia’s recent professional engagements include presenting interactive lectures on performance anxiety and pedagogy at various conferences across the USA, and completing the Certificate in Essentials of Performing Arts Health – Instrumental Music through PAMA and the American College of Sports Medicine. Julia’s latest publication was included in “Perspectives in Performing Arts Medicine Practice: A Multidisciplinary Approach” edited by Dr. Sang-Hie Lee, Dr. Merry Lynn Morris, and Dr. Santo Nicosia.
Julia has a long history of performing and teaching with some of her favorite positions being; faculty accompanist and adjunct professor of music at Crown College, St. Bonifacius, MN; artistic faculty at MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis, MN; and staff accompanist at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Oak Grove, MN. When she is not practicing, teaching, or performing, Julia is composing, rearranging, or dreaming about piano music.