Laura Amoriello is a pianist, pedagogy specialist, and MNDFL and Open Heart Project Certified Meditation Instructor. She was a college professor for 18 years and now finds joy in helping students make music mindfully. 

Laura teaches with a holistic approach, emphasizing the mind-body connection and collaborating with students to set authentic, meaningful goals. She incorporates mindfulness practices into the lesson to help students ease their movement, calm their thoughts, and focus their minds. At the core of her teaching is creating space for students to connect emotionally with the music and learn how to communicate that meaning to others.

Laura directs a private studio in Ithaca, NY, where she also serves as Piano Department Chair at Opus Ithaca School of Music and Meditation Instructor at Cornell University. Previously, she served on the faculties of Ithaca College, Westminster Choir College, and The College of New Jersey. Laura chairs the Wellness Committee for the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy and is a Certified Teacher in The Art of Practicing®.

Laura holds a Doctor of Education degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in piano performance and pedagogy from Penn State University and Westminster Choir College. She lives in Ithaca, NY with her husband, writer Pete Croatto, and their spirited first-grader, Olivia.