Student Spotlight: Donna Palmari

Donna Palmari, originally from West Boylston, MA, now resides in Winter Park, FL. On the far left in the photo, followed by grandson Anthony, and husband Dan.

Donna is one of our incredibly dedicated and talented students that has grown so much as a pianist Willie says, “Sometimes when she is playing I can’t tell if it’s my improv or hers.” She also comes from a very musically inclined family. Inducted into the Worcester’s Music Hall of Fame, Donna’s father was a self-taught trumpet player.

She began her formal training when she was 8 years old. At this time she studied only classical piano for the following few years. In her 20’s she studied with one of her father’s friends who only taught her how to add 7ths to her chords. This was the last of her piano studies before the full swing of life kicked in.

In between these years of study and the next, Donna attended Anna Maria College for Music Therapy. She got married and moved to Florida. While transitioning into this new life she met a Suzuki piano teacher, and began lessons again with her. Eventually, she trailed off to study on her own, while keeping an eye out for a new teacher. She found a Jazz teacher, who was amazing at playing, but ended up falling short when it came to teaching. Then she studied with Jim Roberts and Larry Minsky, who both had played with some great names like Grady Tate and Dizzie Gillespie. Larry was even published with Neil A. Kjos Music Company. After studying with so many prolific teachers, you may be wondering, how could Donna possibly need more lessons? In the end, Donna always felt like these teachers had a ceiling when it came to their teaching abilities. The sky was the limit when it came to their playing, but to sit with a student and try to explain how to play was not as natural for them.

Eventually Donna found herself very busy with two grandsons, Jadon and Anthony, born only two months apart (what timing!).

She began researching online piano lessons so that she could maintain her time with the boys as well as her time at the piano.

Then she found PianoWithWillie.

“Even though I learned with all my teachers, I always felt like there was a limit to what they could teach. Willie always brings something new to the lesson. I can’t say enough about what a great teacher Willie is. I am thoroughly enjoying my lessons.”

Listen to Donna perform Days of Wine And Roses