Meet Hannah Adhikari

We recently connected with Hannah Adhikari and have shared our conversation below.

Hannah, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I had to discover that life is more than just me. Sometimes, we can focus on ourselves a little too much… “What are they thinking of me?” “How do I sound to them?” “Will they like what I have to offer?” “What if I mess up?”

The list goes on and on.

For me, personally, I am a musician. I play piano and write music, and taught piano from 2015 to 2025. I’ll be completely honest with you and say that I absolutely do NOT have it all together. There are still times where I find myself thinking and feeling that I am not up to the task. Especially, when I perform or teach my piano students. But what has helped me overcome the persistent feeling that I am not good enough? Well…

I have realized that as a unique human being, I was created as myself. Not as Lang Lang or Tiffany Poon or even Yiruma, but as Hannah Adhikari. My life is special. What I have to say and give is special. My perspective is special. Why? Because it’s mine. I am the only Hannah Adhikari in this world. My gift of music is worth sharing with those around me because it is uniquely mine.

My biggest prayer as a musician constantly fighting against the “perfectionism” trend, is that others in this world – whether you’re a musician or not- will remember this. That being perfect is never worth giving up who you are. Share what makes YOU special, and that kind of progress will always supercede any kind of mistake, setback, or failure that comes your way.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Hannah E. Adhikari is a pianist, composer, and piano teacher currently located in Mississippi. She is passionate about sharing the love of music through composition, imagery, critical thinking, and clear concepts. She considers composing and teaching piano a sacred opportunity. Hannah is an American Composer who married into the Asian Culture through her Nepali husband, Biraj. She enjoys reading novels, composing music, and spending time with her family. Her favorite quote is, “God speaks to me in Music, and shows me His Truth in Melodies.”

She holds a B.A. in Music for piano performance and composition, has over a decade of professional experience, and has privately taught for almost a decade. Hannah is affiliated with many music teacher and composer organizations such as NACUSA, BMI Classical, NFMC, MTNA, and other music groups. She is currently serving as MMTA’s Chair of the International Music Teacher’s Forum as of November 2025. 

Hannah regularly composes piano solos for herself to perform and record on her Facebook and YouTube channel, and her Students regularly use her piano solos, materials, studies, and method books. Hannah’s piano scores are available to purchase on her website and other music scores to download for free. Her music has been featured in CD albums, local presentations and recitals, MTNA concerts and lecture recitals, and is streaming on most music platforms. Her newest releases include her piano solo albums, On the Spot: The Proverbs 31 Woman (volume 1), Mozart in the Morning, and her piano solo, Gratitude, a wordless psalm, are all streaming now!

Website: hannahehmusic.com
YouTube: HannahEHmusic
Facebook: Hannah Adhikari Studio

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Consistency, Community, and Love. Not necessarily in that order though! Right out of highschool, I knew I wanted to be a musician. At first, I dedicated my abilities as a pianist to my church ministry since the age of 9, playing for offeratories and then becoming the church pianist in my late piano teacher’s stead around the age of 15. Then, I began teaching a student or two in highschool, and really focused my energy on performing in local and statewide recitals and competitions and going to music summer camps from age 13-17. Finally, I majored in piano performance with a minor in composition in college from age 18-22. During my college years, my piano studio grew from 2 students to a steady 30-45 students, I was performing and meeting professional musicians who gave me life changing experieinces and advice, I was hosting piano recitals twice a year and guiding my students through competitions and local performances, and also became intensly active performing my own compositions locally, statewide, and around the U.S., as well as being more active on my social platforms, all in the span of 4 years as a musician.

For these opportunities to arise, I had to consistently practice and put in the work to make myself better of course… But, I believe that 75% of my opportunities have come about from me being consistent in my community. By playing in my local church from such a young age. By participating in my childhood recitals and competitions. By becoming the church pianist for my late piano teacher’s church at age 15. By attending summer music camps and meeting and performing with all types of people. By participating in composer and musician memberships in college. By attending local conferences and supporting other musicians. By playing my own music and classical works at every recital presented to me. By performing at local nursing homes and around my community.

But most of all, I believe that the love given to me by Jesus has been crucial to sharing the love of music around me. My most favorite quote that I have developed over time is “God speaks to me in music, and shows me His Truth in melodies.”

Since we’re sharing together, here are my most cherished concepts that allow me to continue consistently in what I do.

Any progress at all is better than just aiming for perfection.
Give your best – 100%! at all you do.

I share my occupation of music as a gift, not a prize. What I do is who I am. I aim to share that gift instead of constantly comparing it to others.

All of these concepts were revealed to me personally through my love for God first. I believe He has shown me the inexplicable peace that comes with just being myself.

As a musician, being consistent, and involved in my community has given me the opportunities to grow, but without sharing love in all I do first, any effort I put out there to “share” who I am, just doesn’t work.

Now I’m not talking about the mushy gushy love, or the “I love you because you love me” love… I’m talking about love who YOU are, love what YOU do, and genuinely take time to appreciate and show love to anyone around you.

Us humans are emotional creatures – (whether we want to admit that or not is a different story..) but we desire to connect. Share experiences. We want to know we are not alone. I believe that music is that part of my life that gives me a way to connect and show love to myself, my friends and family, and my community and beyond! But make no mistake. In order to share our story, we need to have love for our story first.

My overall take on exploring three words of encouragement? Be CONSISTENT in and through your COMMUNITY and LOVE what you do enough that sharing your experience or art with others becomes second nature!

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

I found it special that my parents didn’t suffocate me under their own desires, but rather pushed me to find something that I was good at and enjoyed. I come from a large family of 6 siblings (7 including me), all of whom love music in their own way. My dad sings to the radio, and my mom played the violin and piano growing up, and sings and plays violin, and my siblings all sing in church or choirs or took up singing or instruments as their hobby. Pretty much my whole family loves music, but I was the only one who wanted to take music as my occupation and devoted my time and effort into making that happen. Being a pianist took on different roles and challenges that sports or educational activities didn’t require. For one, I had to practice 3,4,5 even 6 to 7 days a week, my lessons were every single week all year long (through my own choice!), my recitals were twice a semester often during the same time as sports games or tournaments, and the piano lessons, summer camps, and competitions I wanted to be a part of costed my parents time and finances.

We lived in Mississippi most of my life starting from age 5. So, naturally, there are only so many opportunities for a musician in Mississippi, especially in the small town I was raised in. Because of my larger family, my parents anl emphasized the importance of choosing our extra curriculars wisely. Simply because 7 kids meant 7 different extracurriculars to buy what was needed. If we started something we had to commit to it in the long term. But we always had a choice in the matter.

No matter what, my parents never forced me to do – or not do – anything. They saw that music was important to me, and invested in that for me all the way from age 8 until college. Even now as a 25 year old, my parents still come to my recitals and performances and are some of the biggest supporters of my music! I hope that will never change!

Both my parents had no idea what a “musician’s life” had to look like or what things I had to be a part of to become a “serious musician,” but they trusted my piano teacher, Mrs. Lisa, to guide me, and quite literally went along with whatever she suggested for me when it was in their financial means. Even though we weren’t “rich” by any means, if my parents saw you put in the work for something you were passionate about, they found a way to make it happen.

My dad always said, “If you can find work that you’re passionate about, you’ll never work a day in your life.” That went right over my head as a kid, we often picked fun at my dad about him constantly giving us the (many) “lectures” of life. But now, as a married woman and a baby boy on the way, I understand what he meant. I’m living my dream life, I absolutely love waking up each day to be myself and be the musician I need to be. And I think that’s an important thing to showcase to your family. Contentment.

I see now why my dad was so passionate in helping his kids find something we were good at and sticking with it. When you can find passion in your work, your work becomes a “ministry” to share what is special to you rather than a ‘job” that you have to work for.

Thank you Mom and Dad for showing me the importance of working hard and enjoying what you do.

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