Meet The Teachers

Meet Our Awesome Teachers 


Katie Kraft, Owner (Piano, Guitar)

Katie Kraft is Accelerando Music's owner and primary instructor.  With a degree in Music from the University of Virginia, an Orff-Schulwerk Music Education pedagogy certification from Boston College, a K-12 teaching certification through Montclair University, and early childhood music training through Music Together in Bologna, Italy, Katie brings her passion and knowledge for music to every party, lesson, or class.  

Katie graduated from UVA in 2003 and started teaching general music, chorus, and piano/guitar lessons at a K-6 elementary school in New Jersey.  There, she discovered what a powerful role music can play in a child's life.  In 2009 she moved back home to Virginia to pursue her true passion, early childhood music.  In June of 2009, Accelerando Music started and has been making a name for itself across the Northern Virginia and D.C. circuit. 

Today, Katie is married to Logan Kraft, a mechanial engineer by day and a rock star in the Logan Kraft Band by night!  Katie and Logan also have an acoustic duo together that performs at weddings, private functions, and events around the D.C. area.  In April of 2014, they were thrilled to make their duo a trio, when they welcomed their son Holden to the world.  In January of 2017, their trio became a quartet when their daughter, Jovie Rae, was born.  


In addition to teaching piano and guitar lessons, Katie is the creator of Tots with Tempo, an early childhood music play and movement program for families. She composed the entire song repertoire for her curriculum and has a YouTube channel and family music classes.

Dawn Abed, (Piano, Voice)

Dawn Abed has been working at Accelerando Studios since 2020. She teaches piano and voice lessons to students of all ages. 

Dawn got her Bachelors in Music in 2015 from Longwood University. She also has a Masters in Music Education from George Mason University which she earned in 2019. 

During the day she works as a public-school general music teacher in the Alexandria City Public School system. She loves working with students to help them achieve their greatest music potential.  

Melissa Peterson, (Piano)

Melissa Peterson loves teaching music to students of all ages! She believes that music and the joy it brings are for everyone of every age! She is a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, GA with a B.A. in Music (Organ Performance) and Psychology.

She lives in Fairfax City and has been a piano teacher for five years in her home studio. Prior to that she served as church organist in two different churches as well as the Piano Accompanist for all Fairfax High School choral groups. There, she enjoyed accompanying concerts, special performances and soloists, annual choral assessments, and even made a trip to the White House for a special concert! She has also enjoyed working as a lead Preschool Teacher in McLean.

Melissa loves teaching music because music has brought such joy and purpose to her own life and she enjoys guiding and equipping students to find their joy and passion in music as well. She enjoys watching all students, whatever their age or level of ability, grow in confidence as they discover their unique gifts and abilities. She enjoys the little tots very much as they are so real and honest, no pretenses or games! They are so unconditionally loving that her heart is warmed more and more each day in their sweet presence!

Melissa lives in Fairfax City with her husband and two dogs, four cats, and a hermit crab. She loves animals and sea turtles and environmental conservation!