Student Spotlight: Ashley Schmidt
April 13th, 2026
After almost a year of piano lessons with her teacher, Elif Allenfort at the Music Institute of Chicago, 12-year-old Ashley is building her skills and preparing for an important milestone: her first piano recital!
She started playing around on the piano when she was 9 at home. “Ashley picked up piano on her own and learned to play by ear with a tiny Casio,” her father recalls. “We got her a bigger keyboard and she kept improving, leading us to sign her up for piano lessons at our local Rec Center. These were great, but they were informal and as she continued to improve we felt she needed to find a school that could provide a more formal music education.”
Playing for fun at home, Ashley discovered the joy that would keep her coming back to the piano. “I loved playing different songs,” she says. “I wanted to learn piano because instead of listening to music, I could play it by myself, which was way more fun than just listening to music.”
Both Ashley and her family have noticed her growth. “She seems to be improving very rapidly. I think music theory and really learning to read music has really helped her progress considerably,” her father says. Ashley agrees, naming “Music theory” as something new she’s proud of learning.
During her time taking piano lessons, Ashley has enjoyed many aspects of learning, from exploring favorite pieces to memorable moments with her teacher. Among the pieces she enjoys most are “Kass’s Theme” and “Mariage d’Amour (Spring Waltz).” “I like the melodies of those two songs,” she says. What she enjoys most about playing piano is “the way music allows you to tell a story without using words.” A favorite memory from her lessons is “I really liked playing duets with my teacher!”
Music extends beyond her lessons and into family life. “She has become the life of the party at family gatherings providing musical entertainment for all,” her father shares. “We are all big music fans.” Ashley also plays violin in the school orchestra with her twin sister, Alexandria, who plays cello. Outside of music she enjoys spending time with friends.
Now she’s turning her focus to her first piano recital. “Don’t be nervous,” she tells other students preparing for their first performance, looking forward to her own. “I am excited for my first recital. I am excited to play in front of my parents,” she says, stepping into this exciting milestone.
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