Caring, Creative, Comprehensive.
Teachers who love teaching, helping students to love learning!
At Keys to Praise we care about the whole student! Through caring, creative, and comprehensive instruction, kids learn the technical elements of music, explore creativity, overcome limiting beliefs and build confidence as musicians. Students (and parents) are given a clear path to success.
Our Teachers
Amy Elmore
Amy has been successfully teaching kids how to play the piano for over 30 years and has been the owner of Keys to Praise Piano Studio for the last 16 years. She uses creative games and “off the bench” activities to teach all the basics - technique, theory, rhythm, and note reading—while encouraging independent exploration, improvisation, and composition so students can understand the big picture and apply it to the musical genre they love.
As the studio owner, Amy is committed to creating a consistent experience for all students and families, no matter who the student’s primary teacher is. It is her goal to have each student feel confident, successful and cared for in a creative and fun environment. Amy also holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy.
PIANO TEACHER + STUDIO OWNER
Natalie Chaney
Music has always been a huge part of Natalie’s life. She began singing in children’s choirs at the age of 5, and she never looked back. While this is her first year teaching at Keys to Praise, Natalie’s been teaching voice lessons for seven years and piano for three. She’s no stranger to teaching music!
Natalie graduated from California Baptist University with a degree in Commercial Vocal Performance and Music Education, and now she is pursuing her master’s in Vocal Performance. She is trained in classical, choral, Broadway, pop, and gospel music, but her personal favorites include Contemporary Christian Music and R&B. When asked how she would describe her teaching style, Natalie said she focuses on “creating a fun and safe environment where students feel encouraged and inspired to grow in their gift of music, character, and confidence!”
When she’s not in the studio teaching, Natalie also teaches music classes at Liberty Christian School. She also loves spending time with her friends and family and is currently pursuing a hot yoga teacher certification.
PIANO + VOICE TEACHER
Joab Jia
Joab began teaching with Keys to Praise in 2025, but he is not new to the world of piano! Joab started playing piano at the age of five, and by thirteen-years-old he had already passed the Certificate of Merit level 10 exam. While new to teaching piano, he is a man of many talents, and we are excited to see his students thrive under his teaching.
As a fan of the Romantic Period, Joab loves playing pieces from Chopin, but that does not stop him from listening to his students’ interests and finding pieces that they enjoy. His teaching style focuses on igniting a passion for music in each of his students. He hopes to ensure that practice is not a “dreaded” word, but instead something that students actually enjoy doing.
Outside of piano, Joab holds his private pilot’s license, and he is currently enrolled in flight school. He loves flying, playing games with his friends, and hanging out with his dog. We are so excited to have him on our team!
PIANO TEACHER
Julia Sapeta
Julia joined our team in the spring of 2025, and she is adored by students and parents alike! Julia recently graduated from Chapman University with a double major in Vocal Performance and Global Communication/World Language, but her musical journey began long before. Julia spent most of her childhood singing in choir, a skill she took into her college life and beyond. By the time she was nine, she was already playing the piano and violin. Now that she has her bachelor’s degree under her belt, she continues pursuing her love of music as she works towards her Masters at USC.
When Julia isn’t playing an instrument or singing, she loves to be outdoors. She frequents the beach, goes on hikes, and also reads or bakes when she wants to relax. Julia is such a caring, optimistic young woman, and she brings that love into her lessons!
PIANO + VOICE TEACHER
Kylie Perdomo
Kylie has been a part of the Keys to Praise team since 2019. She started off working with the business’s social media, and from there her responsibilities have grown. Currently, Kylie’s role is as the virtual assistant for the studio, so she handles most parent communication, scheduling, and all the behind-the-scenes things that make Keys to Praise run smoothly. Additionally, you may have seen Kylie at one of the recitals… she’s usually the one with the camera!
Kylie is the only member of team who is not currently living in Southern California. She and her husband are on a service trip in Guatemala, where they are working to mitigate child labor by providing education scholarships.
When she’s not volunteering or checking her Keys to Praise emails, Kylie loves hiking, finding new restaurants, and relaxing with a good book. While she loves the work she’s doing in Central America, she misses being able to be in the studio and seeing our families face-to-face!
CUSTOMER SUCCESS & OPERATIONS MANAGER
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