Payam Music, founded in Bothell, WA by self-taught pianist Payam Khastkhodaei, grew out of Payam's unique approach to piano teaching, shaped by his study of developmental psychology. Recognizing that many students, including himself, often dreaded traditional piano lessons and the required practice, he developed a new teaching philosophy focused on making piano education more engaging and enjoyable through a revolutionary curriculum.

Music is a language and when learning any language, you learn to speak before you learn to read and write. The traditional approach reverses this. At Payam Music, we use an approach that mimics language learning. We have an innovative curriculum that which uses a numerical and alphabetical notation that allows students to play melodies from their favorite songs within just a few minutes.

This method yields remarkable results: 95% of students reach diploma level in 4-5 years, far surpassing the national average of 1-2% over 10-12 years. In 2024, Payam Music students excelled in the PTA Reflections competition, securing top spots regionally and nationally. With two locations serving 300 students, Payam Music plans to expand nationally to bring its innovative piano education to more students.