About Us

A Piano Studio that comes to you
With lessons in your home, two recitals available each year, beautiful certificates, and a wide range of available music selections outside of the method books, Heltne Piano is here to provide every student with the best music learning experience possible!

Meet Our Team

Braelyn Heltne
Owner and Classical Piano Instructor
Braelyn has been playing piano for over 23 years and teaching since 2018. Her journey began at age five and continued under Dr. Wesley True and Dr. Mia Hynes, both former heads of the music department at the University of Central Missouri. She studied Piano Pedagogy and Spanish Language at UCM from 2014-2016 under full music and academic scholarships before moving to Texas with her husband. She now lives in Denton, Texas with her husband and three kids who share her passion for music and nerd culture. She worked as a Church pianist for about 10 years and has also performed both as a soloist and accompanist for various weddings and events up to 1700 people.

Devin Hite
Piano/Guitar/Drums/ Voice Instructor
Devin is from Stillwater, Oklahoma, where his musical journey became a dedication as he taught students within the Music Department while earning his Bachelor’s degree from the Theatre Department. Over the years, Devin has dedicated his whole heart to perfect his craft of being a guitarist, drummer, pianist, and vocalist. Currently, since he has moved to Fort Worth, Texas, he’s been actively searching for live performance opportunities while releasing online music performances through social media. His age range of teaching is wide open from kids to adults, and enjoys teaching folk, country, Americana, blues, funk, classic rock, and hard rock. Students most remember him saying, “Whatever YOU want to learn is what I want to learn. You tell me, and we’ll make awesome music!”

Darby Rojas
Piano/Strings/Drums/Voice Instructor
Darby started piano lessons at age 7, followed by lessons in violin, cello, and voice. She played violin and cello in school orchestras, including on live TV. She performed in piano recitals at a young age and was inspired to teach children to do the same once she got older. She studied at Cedar Valley College where she received a certification in Recording Technology and learned music production. She then went on to receive a BAAS degree in Management, Communications, and Piano Studies from the University of North Texas. With about 10 years of teaching experience in 8 instruments (Piano, Violin, Guitar, Cello, Voice, Bass, Drums, Ukulele), Darby has used her skills to teach both in-home and in-studio lessons around the DFW metroplex. Darby enjoys RnB and EDM music and attending festivals and concerts. She’s also explored performing live, karaoke, and DJing. Her teaching philosophy is to aim for students to reach their musical goals and have fun while doing so!

Sarah Rodriguez
Classical Piano Instructor
Sarah is a classically trained pianist with over 20 years of teaching experience, working with students of all ages and skill levels. She earned a Master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma in 2005. She believes in tailoring lessons to each student’s individual learning style and goals. Raised in a musical environment from an early age, she developed a deep appreciation for both performance and music education. In addition to piano, she also studied Flute Performance during her undergraduate studies, which broadened her understanding of musicianship and instruction. She finds teaching to be consistently rewarding for both the student and herself and strives to create a positive, encouraging, and fun learning environment!

JT Molina
Piano and Percussion Instructor
JT Molina teaches the art of keyboard and piano with an emphasis on theory, musicality, performance, and cognitive development. As a former member of the Texas Tech School of Music, the Dallas Cowboys Drumline, and a current member of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, JT brings real-world performance experience into every lesson, building students musical proficiency, confidence, and deepening their understanding of musical performance. Coming from a family of educators, JT is passionate about helping musicians grow artistically. With over three years of teaching experience, his goal is to provide students with balanced, engaging, and fulfilling music lessons tailored to each individual’s strengths and interests.

Ryan Runquist
Piano, Voice, Guitar, and Percussion Instructor and Piano Tuner
Ryan is a Music Instructor and Piano Tuner with over 14 years of training in piano, voice, guitar, and drums. He specializes in working with beginner and intermediate students of all ages, focusing on building strong fundamentals while keeping lessons engaging and enjoyable. His approach encourages consistent progress and helps students stay motivated between lessons.
