I have served as an adjunct faculty member at Washburn University where I taught Applied Piano, Piano Ensemble, Piano Literature and Piano Pedagogy. I also taught at the University of North Texas, and at Inspiration Fine Arts Colony, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, Michigan. I have established studios in Texas and Kansas and served as clinician and adjudicator for music teacher organizations in and outside of Kansas. 

Though my main goal is to teach students how to play the piano, I recognize that the way to realize that goal is different with each student. I enjoy discovering each student's individuality, and I work with them to find how piano best fits in their lives. We work for excellence as well as enjoyment.

A native Texan, Julie Rivers made her professional debut as piano soloist with the Dallas Symphony. She has appeared in solo and duo performances, workshops and chamber music concerts throughout the nation.  She has been on the roster of the Mid America Arts Alliance and the Texas Touring Program and the Kansas Arts on Tour Program.

Owner of EarthStar Recordings/Publications, LLC, she has recorded eleven albums. She was awarded the Kansas Arts Commission Fellowship in Music Composition for her album One Starry Night. Other albums include: The Kiss of the Sun, Christmastide, As Far as the Heart Can See, Spinning Gold, Tidings of Joy, Romancing the Piano, Touch of Blue, and James and Julie Rivers, duo-pianists, and Prayers at Twilight. One of fourteen pianists nationwide, she was featured on the Spring Hill Records release of the Heartaid Project to benefit victims of the 9/11 tragedies.   See www.earthstarrecordings.com

She was named the Kansas Composer of the Year by the Kansas Music Teachers Association, in 2007 and the Honored Kansas Composer in 2004 by the Federated Music Clubs. She is a member of ASCAP, the National League of American Pen Women, Kansas Music Teachers Association, and Music Teachers National Association. She is past president of both the Topeka Music Teachers Association and the Northeast Kansas Music Teacher Association. She has served on the National Guild of Piano Teachers Board of Judges and also the Kansas State High School Activities Association panel of judges.