Kathleen Riley

Dr. Kathleen Riley a pianist, Yamaha Artist in Education, performer, researcher, lecturer, teacher and writer. She performed for many years as a soloist and chamber musician. She pursued a doctorate in piano performance and post-doctoral studies in neurophysiology and psychology at NYU.
Dr. Riley is certified in sEMG muscle biofeedback. The ProformaVision® software system was designed based on her research and work. She has taught workshops and masterclasses for every instrument. She is also a certified HeartMath® Trainer.
Dr. Riley served on faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music teaching Optimal Performance courses and running a biofeedback lab. She was also on staff at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine.
In collaboration with the HeartMath Institute, one of her research studies explored the effects of a shared heart intention among members of a string quartet on the musicians and audience members. The research was filmed and produced as a documentary, Intention: The Power of the Heart.
Presently, Dr. Riley coaches and gives Optimal Performance workshops at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and private coaching for students as well as musicians in the Bay area including members of the San Francisco Symphony, SF Ballet and Opera Orchestra, and California Jazz Conservatory. She has recently been appointed Visiting Scholar at San Francisco State University in the Institute for Holistic Health Studies. She will be conducting further research investigating neuromuscular problems and performance anxiety in musicians, the effects of biofeedback on musicians’ psychophysiology, and research with classical and jazz musicians as healers through their performances.