Story & Lesson Highlights with Holly Slice of Charleston

We recently had the chance to connect with Holly Slice and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Holly, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
As a musician, my work is filled with joy — I truly feel I have the best job ever. Recently though, I’ve been discovering new areas of joy outside of music. I realized how much mindless phone use was stealing my time, so after reading How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price, I decided to replace screen time with activities I love but often overlook.

This week, I’ve spent more time with family, enjoyed evenings at the beach, finished a puzzle, and completed a book. I’m also looking forward to nurturing my plants and spending more time in the kitchen. None of this is earth-shattering, but it’s been refreshing to embrace the simple pleasures of life.

Trading digital time for in-person time has already made a big difference in my mental health and overall joy. Sometimes it’s the little shifts that create the biggest impact.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC), teacher, performer, and church choir director, and I am deeply grateful that my work allows me to connect with people through music in so many meaningful ways. Over the years, I have founded two businesses — Lowcountry Pianist & Company and SC Music Lessons — each comprised of an incredible team of talented musicians.

Lowcountry Pianist & Company

Based in Charleston, SC, Lowcountry Pianist & Company provides live music services across the Lowcountry and beyond, including Greenville, Columbia, Bluffton, Hilton Head, and Savannah. Our musicians perform as soloists or ensembles for weddings, corporate events, retirement centers, dinner parties, funerals, church services, and more. We take pride in offering professionalism and artistry — enhancing everything from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations with beautiful live music. One of my favorite features of our company is our portable baby grand piano, which adds a stunning visual element, especially for outdoor events.

SC Music Lessons

SC Music Lessons offers both private and group instruction on a wide range of instruments. Our students span every age group, from preschoolers to seniors, and it is inspiring to witness their growth as they gain confidence, creativity, discipline, and joy through music. Each year, my favorite moments are our biannual recital programs, where students share what they have learned and celebrate their accomplishments.

These recitals often feature a performance by the INSPIRE Choir, a group comprised of individuals with disabilities. Led by SCML and offered in partnership with Goose Creek Therapeutic Recreation, the choir provides participants with the opportunity to sing, dance, and engage with music in the ways that bring them the most joy.

What Sets Us Apart

In both businesses, what I value most is the people I get to work alongside. We intentionally highlight each team member on our websites so that clients and students can get to know them personally. We believe music is not only about the notes played, but also about the relationships formed. It is this blend of talent and connection that makes the work so deeply rewarding.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
As a Christian, I believe that our world is broken and not as God intended it to be. One of the ways that shows up is in broken bonds — between us and God, and between us and others. Pride, bitterness, dishonesty, and hurtful words can wound deeply. But the good news is that bonds can be restored. The deepest healing comes when we turn to Jesus, who made a way for our relationship with God (and others) to be fully restored.

When we humble ourselves, admit our wrongs, and ask for forgiveness, God’s grace meets us. Love is at the center of restoration. Love covers wrongs, and in Jesus we see the greatest display of that love. Because of Him, we can be reconciled to God — and that reconciliation empowers us to forgive and love others.

Yet love and forgiveness do not mean allowing others to continually mistreat us. God calls us to live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on us, but peace does not mean passivity. Sometimes love sets boundaries. Sometimes forgiveness says, “I release you from this debt,” but wisdom says, “I won’t let this pattern continue.” Love is never about being a doormat; it’s about choosing humility, forgiveness, and compassion, while also walking in truth. When we live this way, we find that even what was broken can be made whole again.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
What feels heavy and overwhelming today will not always feel this way. Don’t let today’s worries carry more weight than they deserve. The challenges you face will shape you into someone more resilient and compassionate. Keep moving forward, and hold on to the spark of joy within you.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I hope my friends would say that what matters most to me is my faith, then my family and friends, and finally my love for music and my work — in that order. The balance may shift at times, but those are the overarching priorities I want my life to reflect.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I think a career in the arts isn’t something that’s typically encouraged, often because of the “starving musician” stereotype. Thankfully, I’ve been fortunate to have a supportive inner circle, and I truly believe this is what I was meant to do with my life: to put beauty into the world through music, and to create opportunities for other musicians that they might not have had on their own. My encouragement to others is this: find the thing in life that doesn’t feel like work — and make that your career.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
LCP Team Photos – E Bea Photography
Baby Grand. SC Music Lessons Recital, and Family Photo – Holly Slice

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