Working in harmony to promote mental wellness

By Gina Gallagher | Citizens Contributor

Their lives and backgrounds were worlds apart; he was a middle-aged Black pianist and composer from New York City; she, an 18-year-old violinist and first-generation immigrant from Russia. But two powerful forces – a shared passion for music and struggles in their youth – would bring David Harewood and Ariadna Kryazheva together for a new collaboration: Mindful Music Studio. The Arlington, Massachusetts-based business, a Citizens 2021 Small Business Community Champion Award recipient, is helping teach students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities the benefits of music.

By some standards, Mindful Music Studio might be considered a small private music studio that provides piano, violin, voice, guitar, and drum lessons. But David and Ariadna have always seen a bigger impact in what their business offers: teaching music to a diverse group of students and finding ways it can be used to reduce stress and anxiety.

The studio instructs children and adults from ages 4-70, including LGBTQ students, and kids with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and learning and physical disabilities.

“When we speak of diversity, it encompasses all aspects of being human – not just skin color or origin," David explains.

David and Ariadna pride themselves on providing individualized instruction based on the needs, skills, and abilities of each student.

"Some students are more logical and mathematical, or more visual and verbal, or musical and rhythmic," he adds. "We learn from every student and are able to find the best methods to instruct them."

One such educational method they use is the Alexander Technique.

“It’s basically hands-on learning that helps rewire neuromuscular patterns to alleviate excessive tension and foster a more acute mind-body awareness. It pairs well with learning how to play an instrument," explains Ariadna, a certified Alexander Technique instructor. “I believe it gives students tools to better handle obstacles and anxieties in today’s fast-paced world.”

David and Arianda know all about overcoming obstacles. Despite their natural-born talent, both faced a myriad of challenges in pursuing their childhood dream of becoming professional musicians.

Growing up in New York City, David has had a rare gift for music at a young age. "I remember my father telling me that I was humming classical music notes before I could even talk," he shares.

He fostered his love of music at the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan. But, when it came time for college, he chose an entirely different path – to study biomedical engineering at Northwestern University.

It didn't take him long to realize it was a mistake.

"I was watching my peers studying behind their desks and thought, 'What is this?'" he laughs.

While they labored, he stumbled upon his true love. "There was a piano in the student lounge and I just started improvising," he shares.

That passion for piano would prompt him to drop out of Northwestern to pursue a career in music.

Although David's talent was obvious to all, he had a large obstacle in his way – he couldn't read music. "The teachers always thought I was better than I actually was, so they gave me difficult things to play. I could hardly play," he admits.

Frustrated and knowing he needed a steadier livelihood, he began a career as an oil burner technician while studying music at night. In his 20s, David began a decades-long and grueling battle with drugs, which led to homelessness and several stints in rehab.

Meanwhile, nearly 4,000 miles away, Ariadna discovered an early passion for music while growing up in St. Petersburg Russia. “My grandmother bought an upright piano when I was one and I always remember wanting to make music,” she recalls. She eventually learned to play the violin, though the piano was her first experience with an instrument.

At the age of five, Ariadna auditioned for music school as a pianist but was accepted as a violinist. She then started her long and challenging journey with musical education.

While the excitement of being admitted to a music school brought her joy, her young life was shattered by a major trauma she suffered at the age of 7: her stepfather was murdered. Although music was Ariadna's escape, she still had her share of struggles. "I had a lot of trauma and struggled with depression and attentional issues," she admits.

Like David, Ariadna also experienced frustration with her music. Her talent was obvious, but she lacked some of the fundamental physical elements to maximize her musical and natural abilities, such as balancing the weight of her arm versus applying pressure to the instrument.

Eventually, she found a teacher who would help her relearn her technique, and prepare her for the next phase of her musical journey to Rochester, New York, where she and her mother immigrated to from Russia.

After graduating from high school in Rochester, Ariadna went to visit family in Denver. While attending a piano concert, she met David, who had come to the city in his 40s for a fresh start. A piano teacher he met convinced him to enroll at the University of Denver, where he received a full scholarship. When he told Arianda about the program, she decided to enroll and was also given a scholarship.

The duo eventually ended up in the same classes, and despite their 33-year age difference, began a romantic relationship.

After graduation, they settled in Connecticut where they began giving music lessons out of their home in the evenings. When David was accepted into a master’s program in Massachusetts, they relocated to Arlington and opened Mindful Music Studio in 2018.

Today, the couple have plenty of things to keep them busy. Although David and Ariadna are both teaching full-time and have hired additional staff, these accomplished teachers, musicians, and business owners want to do so much more to support the area.

"We really want to engage the community on a much deeper level,” explains David.

The $10,000 prize from the 2021 Citizens Small Business Community Champions program has provided an ideal opportunity. "We really want to offer scholarship opportunities for kids who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford an instrument," shares David.

The musical couple also want to support parents of their students.

"We want Mindful Music Studio to be a community center – a music education and mind, body, and wellness place where people not only drop kids off, but also come and experience yoga and other things to help them achieve mental wellbeing," David adds.

The award money from Citizens will also allow them to hire more teachers to reach more members of the community.

And even though they're both busy teaching students five days a week, David and Ariadna haven’t finished with their own education. They’re both taking lessons with their mentors.

“It’s so important to continue working on our crafts,” Ariadna shares. “Music is what connects us together.”