Teacher Profile: Paris Merrill
About Paris Merrill
Paris Merrill is a dedicated piano instructor originally from Carrollton, Texas. She began piano lessons at the age of five and has been playing ever since. Paris is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in General Music and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. During her time at FSU, she studied under Dr. Stijn De Cock and earned top marks on all four of her piano juries. She also performed in two student recitals and gained valuable performance experience through the university’s music program.
Paris’s musical journey includes international study in both Florence, Italy, and Valencia, Spain. While in Florence, she studied for two semesters under David Jackson—organist at the Duomo—whose teaching greatly shaped her expressive style and technical foundation. During the summer in Valencia, she studied with Carlos Amat, gaining exposure to diverse stylistic approaches and international teaching methods. Prior to college, Paris received classical piano training through the KAWAI Music School and the Coppell Conservatory of Music in the Dallas area. These experiences, both at home and abroad, have shaped her into a versatile pianist with a broad musical perspective.
In addition to her formal training, Paris spent a summer as a camp counselor at Camp Winadu in Massachusetts, where she worked closely with 10-year-old boys, led activities, and provided informal piano instruction to young campers. She also played keyboard in the camp's rock band, performing classic hits weekly for the children. As a teacher, Paris is passionate about fostering confidence, joy, and a lasting love for music in every student. She values the opportunity to grow as an educator while guiding her students to develop their own musical voice.
When she’s not at the piano, Paris enjoys working out, hiking, traveling, spending time with friends, going to the beach, and playing with her dogs. She is especially inspired by classical and romantic repertoire and looks forward to continuing her own musical growth while helping her students thrive.