Michelle Kalisz builds better music teachers by combining the science of learning with the art of performance.

A first-generation Korean and Polish American from Buffalo, New York, Michelle began playing piano at age five. She earned an undergraduate degree in psychology and chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a master’s degree in piano performance from Hunter College.

Today, she brings those disciplines together to shape faculty training: developmental psychology, learning theory, deliberate practice, anatomy, physiology, and the real-world craft of mastering an instrument. Her goal is to  equip teachers with practical tools that help students learn deeply, perform with confidence, and build skills that last.

Michelle previously served on the piano faculty at Third Street Music School Settlement. As an artist, she has performed at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC and music festivals in Italy and Norway. 

She also led enterprise partnerships for Adobe and Staples, where she learned that exceptional results depend on three things: clear communication, strong leadership, and a consistently high-quality product.

Michelle lives in Greenwich Village with her husband, Deniz Erkan; their children, Kaya and Jinsu, who attend PS 41, and their very spoiled dog, Wanda, occasionally known as Kanda.