Becoming a One-Woman Band!

Hey there! I’m Joanna, and I am becoming a multi-instrumentalist. I got the nickname ‘One Woman Band’ from my pastor’s wife. I started out playing keys in church, but as the team grew, I picked up more instruments. I became the regular drummer, the only bassist—and this weekend, I’ll be playing the cajón with the band for the first time ever in an acoustic worship set!

When I first launched this platform, I thought it would be an action-oriented blog: tips on what to practice. But nine months into the journey, I’ve realised it’s more than that. Practice tips and videos are everywhere. What I have to offer—what I’m still discovering myself—are these three things:

#1. “Becoming”
I, too, am becoming a musician and multi-instrumentalist. I’m a work-in-progress and work in process. I want to document that identity-driven process—what it looks like to grow, to steward this gift, and to serve others with it.

#2. A “Multi-”
Here’s a question I asked from the start of my journey: is it better to play many instruments, or to focus on one? There are strengths: versatility, value, the ability to fill in where needed and be an all-around asset.

But there are also challenges. You can’t give every instrument equal time, and that means you may not reach excellence in one area as quickly. It’s not just a talent question—it’s a stewardship question. How do we manage our time and focus well? Management is the second area I’ll be exploring here, drawing out principles that apply not just to music, but to every area of life.

#3. “Instrumentalist”
Whether one instrument or many, ultimately, this journey is about being and becoming a musician. Active listening, ear training, and music theory have equipped me deeply in practicing when I’m away from the keyboard, and have helped me to develop my musicianship and accelerate progress on many instruments, while practicing one at a time.

These are the three pillars of this space. If you’re curious about becoming a musician (whether you play one instrument or a few!), about navigating multiple commitments, and about the craft of music itself, you’re welcome to subscribe and walk this journey with me. Finally, I am who I am and do what I do because of Jesus, and it’s my joy to learn how to Zamar—the Hebrew word for praising God with instruments—in all the instruments I can master.

“Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” - Psalm 33: 3

Watch this space!

About Me

Joanna H is a classically trained pianist and songwriter-composer learning to play by ear at HearandPlay’s VIP coaching program, where she also coaches beginners. She is also the author of Shifting Seasons: Navigating Life in Transit. Through music and writing, she explores themes of growth, creativity, and the process of becoming. She also sings, plays the drums, guitar, bass and other percussion instruments, and someday hopes to do them all at once!

Watch her performances of original work here! Or connect with her here.