We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachele DeMeo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rachele, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I began my musical journey as a child with classical piano lessons, and in my teens, I took opera lessons. Since my childhood and into my young adult years, I sang Christian music in a church, growing up in Southern France surrounded by a family of musicians. Music has always been part of my DNA—my grandfather was a jazz pianist, my mother sang, and my uncle is a guitarist, singer, and composer—so it felt natural to follow that path. My brother is also a guitarist, singer, and composer. Later, I wanted to learn how to play rock music. I was fortunate enough to work with the talented Sarah Ingraham. She taught me not just chords, riffs, and patterns on the piano, but also how to shape my voice, position my mouth and lips, and learn rock songs.

At that time, I was a young mother, and music became a vital outlet—a way to carve out time for myself here and there. Alongside mothering, I also taught part-time at local colleges, which kept me engaged in different aspects of my life.

Looking back, if I could speed up my learning process, I’d tell myself not to overthink things or complicate the journey. Passion is the most powerful teacher, and when life is busy, it’s important to prioritize your family while keeping music fun and fulfilling. Consistency has been the single most essential skill—I often tell my son, who is learning ukulele and guitar, that even just 10–15 minutes a day makes a huge difference.

The biggest obstacle along the way has been time—balancing music, work, and family is always a challenge—but it’s also taught me to be disciplined and intentional with every practice session. Ultimately, what matters most is to keep learning with joy and curiosity, and let music remain a source of energy and inspiration rather than pressure.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an educator who has spent a significant portion of my professional life in teaching and leadership. I’ve taught at several schools and universities and now serve as the director of FLAM San Diego, a French school, as well as a teacher trainer/speaker. While this work isn’t directly music-related, it has shaped the path that brought me to where I am today. I’m naturally an extrovert, so performing and connecting with audiences has always felt like a second home. Music has been a joyful complement to my professional life, allowing me to express myself creatively and connect with people differently. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to play in seven different bands, both in the United States and in France, which has been a lot of fun.

Outside of my work in education, music is my passion and my outlet. Performing, whether in small local venues as a duet or with a full band, allows me to recharge, have fun, and continue growing as an artist. I’m proud of balancing a demanding career, motherhood, while continuing to pursue music with the same passion I’ve had since childhood.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me is seeing people truly enjoy themselves—dancing, singing along, and creating memories at events. I also love the energy and dynamics of performing alongside talented musicians, feeding off each other’s creativity in the moment.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I grew up with this vision that musicians needed to know everything there was to know about music—reading every note perfectly, mastering every technique, and being flawless in every style. But over the years, I’ve met so many professional musicians across genres who don’t always read music, some don’t compose, and some can’t play by ear—but each of them brings something unique that inspires others through their music. I had to unlearn the idea that I needed to master every detail, like reading every piano sheet perfectly or knowing every rock technique when I was singing. The best part of performing now is embracing the joy of it, having fun, and feeding off the energy and feedback from both the audience and fellow musicians. I’m deeply grateful for all the positive feedback I’ve received over the years—it’s been both humbling and motivating, and it’s taught me that connection and passion matter more than perfection.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachele_demeo_music/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/racheledemeomusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@racheledemeomusic?app=desktop

Image Credits

– Jastin DeMeo
– Kyle Longfritz