Valerie Thomforde is an adaptive pianist, music educator, and choral director based in Massachusetts. She was born with an atypical cleft hand, which means that her right hand has a thumb and a pinky in the shape of a U. Valerie studied piano with Arlene Kies at the University of New Hampshire, whose clever approach to technique was profoundly influential. She holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire, Orff-Schulwerk Certification from George Mason University, and a Master’s in Music Education with Kodály Emphasis from Holy Names University.
Valerie has been a lifelong member of the Helping Hands Foundation, a support group for children with limb differences and their families. Because she grew up seeing other children with limb differences pursue their own dreams, Valerie developed a sense of pride about her limb difference and the courage to try whatever she wanted, including piano.
She has done presentations on adaptive piano at the OHMI Conference in the UK and the ABLE Assembly at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
Valerie is writing a book for piano teachers who work with adaptive pianists with Dr. Deborah Amend. She is also composing a book of beginning études for the adaptive pianist.