We were lucky to catch up with Kana Kamitsubo-markovic recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.

As a board-certified music therapist and music educator, I’m passionate about unlocking the potential in each of our students. Since 2010, I’ve had the privilege of working with over a thousand children with special needs, many of whom are on the autism spectrum. Through these experiences, I developed my own approach, Musicreative™, which combines elements of music therapy with music education to support children with unique needs. One story that truly exemplifies the impact of this method involves a young client named Mark.

Mark first came to me at four years old, diagnosed with autism and ADHD. He was like a little whirlwind; his attention span was mere seconds, and he struggled with fine-motor skills and connecting with others. His mother was disheartened, having been told repeatedly that Mark “couldn’t learn.” But she also knew that he loved music and hoped it could be an outlet for him.

In working with children like Mark, I believe the key is to create an environment where they feel understood and comfortable. I design sessions around each child’s interests, strengths, and preferences, using small, achievable activities to build confidence and foster a positive relationship with learning. Children with special needs often feel intimidated by challenges, fearing they won’t meet others’ expectations. My goal is to gently guide them out of that mindset, helping them engage with challenges and build self-confidence step-by-step.

With Mark, I began with very brief, structured music activities, keeping them engaging and achievable. After just eight sessions, Mark could focus for a full 30-minute session. Over time, he began accepting small challenges, feeling successful and building trust. By breaking down each goal into small, manageable steps, he gained confidence through consistent success.

After a year, Mark was playing the piano with both hands. His progress astonished everyone—including his school teachers, who couldn’t believe this was the same child who once struggled to engage in any classroom activity. During a school event, Mark unexpectedly performed, playing several songs on bells and piano. His teachers and classmates were amazed, and it was a moment of pride for his mother, who had once worried he’d never learn these skills.

In total, Mark and I worked together for 77 sessions over nearly two years. The progress he made extended beyond music: he showed improvement in areas like attention span, communication, fine-motor skills, and, most importantly, self-esteem. He now knows he can apply himself and succeed, focusing on what he can do instead of what he can’t. His mother has also experienced a transformation, seeing her son not as a “difficult child” but as a capable learner. This has deepened their bond and filled her with hope for his future.

Mark’s mother shared a touching letter with me, a small part of which read:

“Ms. Kana, you made a miracle happen. Watching him play ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ on the bells brought tears to my eyes. Now he can even play more complex pieces like ‘Lullaby’ and ‘Ode to Joy’ on both piano and bells. I never thought I’d see this day.”

The impact stories like Mark’s had on me inspired me to further refine my approach. In 2012, I was granted an EB-1 visa, known as the “extraordinary ability” green card, which validated my efforts and allowed me to pursue a larger vision. In 2014, my husband, a guitarist and composer, and I opened Hug Music to bring this vision to life. Today, I not only work directly with children but also train other music therapists in my method and approach, enabling us to serve even more families. We now welcome over 200 students each week, from infants to adults, who come to Hug Music excited to learn, express themselves, and grow through music. Each student leaves with a sense of accomplishment and a big smile—a dream I once held that is now a joyful reality.

Kana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born and raised in Japan and began playing the piano at the age of three. In 2003, I received a scholarship from Berklee College of Music as a pianist, which led me to study in Boston. It was there that I discovered music therapy and realized the incredible potential of music to transform lives. Through my studies, I felt a calling to work with children with special needs, using music as a tool to connect and support their growth, in addition to my career as a musician. After graduating from Berklee, I moved to New York City to pursue a career as a music therapist.

At Hug Music, my business, I offer music lessons and classes for people of all abilities, including those with special needs. We firmly believe that music can lead individuals toward self-actualization, and our mission is to create a space where people can connect to their hearts, ignite their creativity, and express themselves through music. Hug Music is home to a team of skilled music instructors and board-certified music therapists (MT-BC) who work together to provide high-quality music education and therapeutic services.

We offer a variety of nurturing, creative, and fun music classes for all ages—from babies to adults—including:

– Hug Melody®: This is a parent-and-me class for babies and toddlers, where all the songs are original and carefully crafted using music therapy principles. Designed to encourage social, communication, fine-motor, and speech skills, the class helps even babies as young as six months engage with music in a meaningful way. The classes are led by two music instructors, ensuring that each child receives personal attention.

– Music Therapy: Our music therapy program is designed for children with special needs. In these sessions, students engage in spontaneous music-making, with guidance from a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC). No prior musical experience is required. The therapy is tailored to each individual’s needs and goals, helping students explore their unique musical expression while building a strong therapeutic relationship.

– Musicreative™: This unique music education method blends music therapy techniques with traditional music instruction, creating a personalized approach for students of all abilities. Musicreative™ helps children develop their musical skills while fostering important life skills such as self-esteem, motivation, and the ability to learn. Developed by me in 2008, this method has been highly recognized in both the music therapy and education fields. At Hug Music, our instructors are trained in this method and supervised by me to ensure consistency and quality.

– Music Lessons: At Hug Music, we believe learning music should be fun and inspiring. Our music lessons are tailored to each student’s needs, helping them become not just skilled musicians but also confident individuals. Our approach fosters growth in both musical and life skills, such as self-discipline, patience, and perseverance.

Hug Music is proud to be an inclusive and diverse environment where all are welcome. We are also certified as a Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE).

What sets Hug Music apart is our commitment to using music as a tool for personal growth. Through our unique blend of music therapy and education, we help students achieve not only musical success but also emotional, cognitive, and social development. I’m most proud of the positive impact we have on our students’ lives, particularly how they grow in confidence and self-expression. It’s our goal to continue providing a supportive, inspiring space for families to explore and develop their musical potential.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Since becoming a board-certified music therapist, my focus has been working with children with special needs, helping them develop essential life skills, including learning and communication. I devoted myself wholeheartedly to this mission, and when I opened Hug Music, my top priority was to build a nurturing environment while serving these incredible children.

I took a leap when I started Hug Music—my son was only 3 months old! People called me brave, maybe a bit crazy, but I juggled roles as a business owner, music therapist, and new mother. The business flourished beyond my expectations. We started with 40 students per week, but within three months, we had 80, and within a year, we were serving 200 clients per week. On top of clinical and administrative responsibilities, I was also managing a team and training staff. The pace was intense, and I felt the strain. For three years, I pushed through, but eventually, I hit a wall. Burnout crept in, something I fully recognized only after taking an online course on self-care and burnout. Through this course, I realized I was experiencing every symptom and could no longer ignore the toll on my mind and body. I needed a change, not only for my health but to reconnect with what truly mattered to me.

This was an eye-opening experience. I discovered that I had buried my desire to spend more time with my son, and I was also missing a vital part of my identity—my love for performing, composing, and creating music. I’d been so focused on my business and clients that I had repressed my passion for music itself, as well as the joy of making music with others.

In 2017, I made the challenging decision to step back and delegate many of my responsibilities at Hug Music, including some of my client sessions. This wasn’t easy, as I had worked with many of these families for years. But I chose to trust my team and prioritize what my soul was telling me. I knew that for Hug Music to have a lasting impact, it needed to be sustainable, and that meant empowering my team to carry forward our mission.

Looking back, I’m grateful for that choice. I spent more time with my son, who was four then, enjoying moments of play, cuddles, and song. These times filled me with a new sense of peace and reminded me of my love for children and family. I also returned to music creation with my husband, rekindling the joy we once shared on stage. In 2018 and 2019, we completed a tour in Japan and Europe, and we were honored to perform at the National Museum of Serbia when it reopened after 20 years. In 2020, we performed for the United Nations’ 75th anniversary event, a milestone that reaffirmed my passion for sharing the power of music.

Returning to music and balancing it with my work at Hug Music has shown me that life is richest when we honor both our professional and personal passions. Music has the power to bring joy, healing, and fulfillment to everyone, from the children I serve to the audiences I perform for.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My husband, Sasha, is not only my life partner but also my business and music partner. People often say working with a spouse can be tricky, but for us, it’s been an incredibly rewarding journey.

Sasha and I actually met through music. From our very first jam session, we found this amazing, natural synergy—within hours, we had composed several pieces together! After that, we started jamming and creating regularly. He had a music project called Yagull, which became our duo name. Music was always at the heart of our relationship, both creatively and personally.

Around this time, my Musicreative™ method was gaining recognition in the music therapy field. The American Music Therapy Association invited me to publish an article and video case study on my work. When Sasha watched the video, he was deeply moved and said he wanted to support my vision however he could. I was also applying for a Green Card under the “extraordinary ability” category, and I told him that once I had it, my dream was to open a music school that would allow children to experience the joy and meaning that music can bring to life. Without hesitation, Sasha said he’d be there every step of the way.

A year later, after receiving my Green Card, we got married and welcomed our son. Then, in March 2012, I suddenly felt inspired to start the school right away. When I told Sasha, his immediate response was, “I’m in!” Perhaps it was our “musician mindset” that made us think starting a school would be like jamming—a bit spontaneous, fueled by passion, and totally focused on flow. That lightness and optimism propelled us forward.

Today, we share responsibilities as co-founders and support each other in every way. Business has its ups and downs, but having a partner who truly understands my vision—and shares it—makes all the difference. At the end of the day, we know we’re not just building a business; we’re building a shared dream, shoulder to shoulder.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hugmusicny.com/ – https://www.yagull.com/about-1 /
• Instagram: @kana_markovic – @hug_music_nyc – @yagull_nyc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HUGMUSICNY – https://www.facebook.com/Yagull
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HugMusic_NYC
• Other: Spotify:
  https://open.spotify.com/artist/03cgYbirgo0xReVuVDv5Nt?si=klJysAA3RhKTxEP3AwafHg

Image Credits

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