“Aura has amazing patience with her students. My daughter was very nervous about performing and memorizing her pieces. Aura took the time to address her fears and also made it fun to memorize her pieces so that she truly enjoyed her learning. I would also like to share that Aura has a calming nature on my ADHD daughter. My husband and I are truly thankful for Aura’s impact on our daughter.”

- Jennifer (parent), Mt. Pleasant, IA

“Aura was an amazing teacher who exemplified dedication and enthusiasm during the six years I studied with her. I grew immensely as a musician under her instruction. She committed herself to an immersive teaching experience, using techniques like story writing and improv to connect to the music in a genuine way. As her student I not only engaged with the music from many points of view, but also had fun doing it!”

- Maryam (past student), Iowa City, IA

“Aura was a great teacher, as well as a friend. She really influenced my musical ability and helped me improve as a person. She did more for me than any other piano teacher would. She helped me with my life problems outside of music, too. She isn’t only a great teacher, she is also a great friend.”

- Elliott (past student), Tiffin, IA

“Aura made piano fun for both of my kids. They enjoyed learning and have continued to enjoy and perform musically. My son played percussion all through middle and high school and also performed in musical theater throughout high school. My daughter currently plays flute and alto saxophone and will be in high school next year and also plans to be in musical theater. I truly think because they have a background in piano that has helped immensely in their ability to continue to learn and perform, and because of Aura’s encouragement they feel comfortable performing. We all also consider Aura to be a friend and respect her tremendously!”

- Abby (parent), Tiffin, IA

"I am a music education major and I had the privilege of being a part of Dr. Strohschein's studio for three semesters at Iowa Wesleyan University. She identified that I would benefit from kinesthetic instruction as a means of becoming more proficient with the piano. With her guidance, I was able to successfully pass all of my required piano proficiencies. Dr. Strohschein was also the accompanist for my senior euphonium recital. Her musicality and attention to detail allowed me to focus on my instrument. I highly recommend Dr. Strohschein as an instructor and accompanist."

- Dave (adult student), Mt. Pleasant, IA

“My daughter has taken piano lessons for over ten years with Aura and we wouldn't want any other teacher. Aura is patient, kind, creative, and a great listener. She thinks outside the box in terms of how to reach students and meet their individual needs.”

- Jenny (parent), Iowa City, IA

“Our daughter’s piano skills really took off once we started working with Aura!  She inspired our daughter to be more creative and more willing to practice. The improvement was noticeable within a very short time. I would highly recommend her as a teacher.”

- Hans (parent), Iowa City, IA

“Aura is without hesitation the most gifted and experienced teacher my son, Gideon, has had in the five years he has been studying piano. Though all of his prior instructors brought specific strengths to their work with him, Aura has demonstrated, to me, the broadest range of pedagogical technique and the surest intuitive grasp of how best to help him grow as a musician. In each lesson, she deftly mixes technical instruction and development with elements of music theory and musicality and always keeps a bright, positive tone. She is especially skilled at keeping a fidgety eleven-year-old focused and moving forward. She always seems to understand where he is at in a given moment and to be willing to adapt her strategy accordingly — she pushes him but also knows when to give him space. During a class, she attends keenly to the details of an assigned piece, and at the same time, helps Gideon maintain a sense of the bigger picture, modeling for him the way a good musician integrates particular skills practice within the conceptual acquisition of a given piece. All the while, she inspires confidence and trust in her student (and his parent!) and creates an atmosphere of joyful, directed learning. In short, she is an extremely talented and devoted teacher and a lovely, engaging, and generous person.”

- Emily (parent), Iowa City, IA

“Aura made piano very enjoyable for my kids. My children did not always want to put as much effort into practicing as they should have and she always found a way to engage them and get them to improve their skills and appreciation for music. My kids moved on from piano (one plays percussion and the other now plays the flute and saxophone) but once in a while they will both sit down and play the piano still. I thank Aura for giving them the appreciation of piano and developing their love of music.”

- Chris (parent), Tiffin, IA

“Aura has been my piano teacher and accompanied my voice for three years. Aura’s keyboard technique is superb: she plays like a concert pianist, and has a great range of understandings (classic to contemporary). I found that Aura is a great piano teacher for young children, and for grownups alike. She cares about them, talks with them gently with a smile, makes a curriculum for them, motivates them, and puts her maximum effort for these student instructions. She thinks it is important to foster a student to develop in one’s own way, and not by pressuring him/her. Aura’s ability is not limited to playing the piano, but also she is a supreme accompanist for other instruments including my voice. When I make a mistake, she catches up within a fraction of a second, and makes me sing smoothly and well; Aura improvises what is missing. In addition, Aura has a mature and well-rounded character. Even when she is stressed, she does not show it to others, and handles others with care, smile, and respects.“

- Masataka (adult student), Iowa City, IA