Staff

How Music Boss Came About

Music Boss has a very special meaning to me, which includes both personal and professional aspects of my life. I am a pianist of 40 years, starting lessons in Slovakia, at 5 years old. You can say that piano has been a constant in my entire life, a huge part of my being. As a musician, taking lessons or performing, you may already know or soon find out that music can bring out many emotions in a person. Joy, pleasure, happiness, but also frustration and performance anxiety. Even after years and years of playing the piano for people, I suffer with performance anxiety every single time I play. A couple of years ago, as I was driving to one of my performances, I had my then 9 year old son with me in the car. I was stressing, fidgeting, and being nervous about the upcoming concert and in the midst of my anxiety, I heard my son’s voice from the back seat: “Mom, the piano is not your boss, you are the boss of the piano!” Taken aback by his wisdom, I realized that he was right. I was in control of the instrument, not the other way around. I repeat this to myself to this day, every time I play. “ You are the piano boss, you are the music boss.”

Music Boss Philosophy and Belief

Music Boss school was established with a belief that everyone can be the boss of their musical journey. You are in control of the role that music will play in your life. You can accept that as a human being, you will not be perfect and you will be making mistakes. You may get frustrated with the practice, or you may get nervous before recitals and performances. But you can take charge and embrace music in your life and watch all the positive impacts it has on other aspects of your life as well. Music Boss is here to give you tools that you can also apply in school, work, and other everyday situations. Music Boss is eager to make you a better musician and a better human being.

Jarka Pederson

Owner/Teacher

Jarka was born in the Slovak Republic, where she attended music conservatory. She graduated from Conservatory in 1998 with a major in piano performance, and then moved to the U. S. to study piano and psychology at the University of North Georgia. She has played as an accompanist in churches across the states of Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and Texas. She is also the go-to accompanist for every musician who meets her, anywhere.

In her spare time, Jarka loves reading, spending time with her husband, her three children, and their two dogs. At Music Boss, Jarka will teach individual and group piano lessons, as well as Little Boss and Senior Boss classes, and music theory.

Ashley Brown

Office Administrator

Ashley is a central Texas native, who was born in Austin and raised in Round Rock. She resides in Georgetown with her husband, Daniel, and elementary aged kids, Joshua, and Kinsley, along with two dogs, Lucy, and Bear. A longhorn at heart and Dallas Cowboys fan by nature she cheers enthusiastically for her teams. When she is not in the office you can find her under the Friday night Lights, on her couch watching College Game Day, at Church, or shopping with Kinsley atvthe Bath & Body Works in Wolf Ranch. With a servant’s heart and a love for others, she’s always ready to help.

Emma Ash

Music Teacher

Emma, originally from the Chicago area, now calls Georgetown, Texas, home with her husband, Ryan. Her music journey began at the age of 7 when she first started piano lessons, and she has grown into and fostered her passion for music ever since. Currently studying elementary education, Emma’s heart lies in teaching and working with kids. When she’s not at the piano or studying, Emma can be found lost in the pages of a good book, nurturing her indoor garden, whipping up treats in the kitchen, or sipping on her favorite tea.

Shelby Buckner

Art Teacher

Shelby grew up in beautiful Georgetown, Texas. She has been drawing and painting since preschool, and is currently a mixed media animator, digital artist, and illustrator with a degree in 3D Animation from Austin Community College. Her teaching philosophy is that it should be impossible to get a “bad grade” in art as long as a student is paying attention and trying. In her free time, she enjoys video games, gardening, and textile art including hand made stuffed animals.