For Immediate Release
Piano Lab Expands Mobile Classes & Scholarship Program
Alexandria, VA – September 23,2025
A Local Story: Music That Lasts
Founded in 2017 by Marilyn O’Leary, Piano Lab was built on a simple but powerful mission: to make music education accessible, joyful, and lasting. Marilyn is a performing musician and a mother of two West Potomac graduates. That dual perspective of teacher and performer shapes our philosophy: disciplined foundations + genuine fun = skills that stick for life.
“I hear it all the time: ‘I took piano for years but can’t play a note.’ At Piano Lab, we break that cycle. We treat music like a language that any child can learn to read, play, and create. Even for our busy families, slow and steady wins the race of lifelong musicianship.” – Marilyn O’Leary Piano Lab Founder
Serving Fort Hunt since 2017
CLICK HERE to see our Studio in Action.
NEW Mobile Classes
CLICK HERE to see our classes in local schools.
Scholarship Program
ClICK HERE to Learn about our Fiscal Sponsor Music For Life.
Schools & Community Partners We Serve
CLICK HERE to read our testimonial from the Principal of Woodley Hills Elementary
We’re honored to be serving these schools and community partners (with several beginning this term):
- Riverside Elementary (Title I)
- Stratford Landing Elementary
- Bucknell Elementary
- Woodley Hills Elementary
- Mt. Vernon Woods Elementary (Title I)
- Gum Springs Rec Center
- Bethlehem Baptist Church
- Woodley Hills Elementary (Title I)
Scholarship Access
Full and partial scholarships are available for qualifying families, including students who receive free or reduced-price school lunch. Our goal is to ensure price is never the reason a child misses out on music literacy. As a new partner of Music For Life, Piano Lab is expanding their mission to include piano education—providing sustainability and tax-exempt support for our scholarship program so that more children can thrive through music.
“We are lowering financial and logistical barriers so more children become music literate—able to read, play, and create for life. Mobile classes meet families where they are, and scholarships keep the door open for every kid who is ready to learn.”
“The studio experience has been wonderful for our son. He looks forward to his lessons, and we’ve noticed how much he has progressed both musically and personally. The program has brought so much joy and creativity into our home.
Our son has truly enjoyed his time with the program. The piano lab and mobile lessons have made learning fun and accessible, and we’ve seen his confidence and love for music grow each week. It’s been such a rewarding experience for our whole family”
We were wondering if our child was ready for piano lessons, so we tried the 6- week after school jumpstart program with piano lab at riverside elementary.
After the 6 weeks, we saw that our child Favor was interested in playing piano aiming for her to improve on the new skill gained. Ms. Marilyn helped us got a scholarship for my daughter to start. Thank you, Ms. Marilyn, for your help.
The convenience of an online class made it an appealing choice for my daughter to have a hands-on piano class with a very patient teacher Ms. Susan
Overall, from my daughter Favor, “the online piano class is a rewarding experience. I feel like I making great progress and gaining solid foundation in piano”.
We would recommend it to anyone looking forward for their child/children to learn piano, especially if they have a busy lifestyle.
Janet Agyekum
Outside the classroom, Ms. Marilyn performs with her group, The Sunday Set, bringing a soulful pop sound to venues around Old Town Alexandria. Formerly the lead singer of Chaise Lounge, she has frequently performed at The Kennedy Center, Blues Alley and Barns of Wolfrap