Rachel Panay Raziel – Piano & Voice Instructor
Duke Ellington School of the Arts graduate and Berklee College of Music (Honors) alumna, Rachel Panay Raziel is a Billboard-charting recording artist offering structured, personalized piano and voice lessons in NW Washington, DC, including Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, and the U Street Corridor, as well as online.
Music has been the driving force of her life—a lifelong discipline and artistic pursuit. Her training began with classical dance and piano in childhood, continued through Musical Theater at Duke Ellington, and advanced to Vocal Performance and Commercial Arranging at Berklee.
She went on to become a Billboard-charting recording artist and songwriter, working across genres including classical, jazz, pop, R&B, gospel, and dance. Her work has been heard on national television and international stages. Through every chapter, one thing has remained constant: a deep love of music and a commitment to excellence.
That same passion defines her teaching.
Rachel works with children, adults, beginners, advanced students, and aspiring professionals. Lessons are structured, goal-oriented, and rooted in strong technique and musicianship—while always tailored to each student’s interests and goals. Whether you love classical repertoire, musical theater, jazz, pop, R&B, gospel, or songwriting, lessons integrate the music that inspires you with a carefully sequenced curriculum that builds lasting skill.
This is not a “just press a few keys and have fun” approach. Students develop real musicianship: reading, ear training, phrasing, breath control, and performance presence—while being guided toward playing meaningful music as early as possible. Progress is both visible and measurable.
Students in the studio learn to:
- Develop strong technical foundations
- Understand music theory in a practical, usable way
- Perform with confidence
- Set goals and achieve consistent progress
Rachel encourages her students to strive because she believes in them—and because she knows what disciplined, inspired artistry can achieve. At the same time, lessons are filled with creativity, curiosity, and enjoyment. Excellence and enjoyment are not opposites—they fuel each other.
Whether you are beginning your musical journey, returning after years away, or preparing for auditions and performance, you will be supported every step of the way.
Music is a lifelong pursuit—let’s pursue great music together.