Natalie Doughty is a pianist, educator, and creative program director whose work explores the intersections of music, imagination, play, and lifelong learning. She serves as Director and Instructor of the James Madison University Music Academy, where she develops and coordinates educational offerings for learners of different ages and experience levels.

Since joining the Music Academy in 2017, Natalie has developed a variety of creative learning opportunities, including themed piano classes, adult group instruction, and online courses. Her programs have explored topics ranging from popular music and musical theater to improvisation, composition, and expressive musicianship. She is particularly interested in designing learning environments that encourage curiosity, experimentation, and creative confidence.

Beyond the Music Academy, Natalie is the founder and director of inRenaissance Music & Arts, an independent educational initiative offering individualized piano instruction, early childhood music and movement classes, and interdisciplinary arts experiences. Her work emphasizes participatory learning, creative exploration, and the integration of storytelling, movement, and improvisation into musical education.

Natalie has developed numerous original curricula and digital learning experiences, including a six-level online piano curriculum for adults, four composition and improvisation courses for K–12 students, and professional development programs for independent music educators. She has also taught undergraduate piano pedagogy at Eastern Mennonite University, where her approach emphasizes student-centered teaching, creative learning design, and the role of play in artistic development.

An active advocate for arts education and community collaboration, Natalie served as President of the Harrisonburg Music Teachers Association from 2019 to 2024. She has presented at the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Symposium and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, sharing ideas on music education, creative teaching, and entrepreneurship. She also founded the community initiative Music in Every Home, which has helped expand access to musical experiences and resources.

Natalie holds a Bachelor of Music (2015) and Master of Music (2017) in Piano Performance from James Madison University. Her broader artistic interests include interdisciplinary collaboration, embodied learning, improvisation, and the ways creative experiences can connect people across generations and cultures.

Outside her professional work, Natalie enjoys international travel, photography, reading, and exploring the arts and cultural traditions of different communities.