Available on September 19, 2025

Get four FREE chapters of my newest book

Hello, I am Jeeyoon, concert pianist and author. Enter your email address and download free 4 chapters of PDF. These chapters include heartfelt reflections, exclusive solo piano performances, and artwork from around the globe.

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    "More than a book—it’s a soulful blend of words, music, and art that lifts me whenever I need it. In this turbulent world, it’s exactly what we need: to be uplifted by the arts. What a beautifully creative gift this book is!"

    Maya Biehn

    Chicago, IL

    What you get:

    Beyond the Keys: Music and Stories of Inspiration

    This book isn’t just something you read—it’s something you feel, hear, and see.

    ​

    Each of the 52 chapters is a heartfelt reflection inspired by Jeeyoon Kim’s journey as a classical pianist. Accompanying every essay is a solo piano performance (accessible via QR code) and a piece of artwork that deepens the emotional experience.

    ​

    Whether you read one chapter a week or all at once, this book invites you to slow down, reflect, and reconnect—with yourself, and with the beauty of life.

    ​

    ​

    ​

    READER REVIEWS:

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Noah Park, father and poet
    "I didn’t expect a book to slow me down in the best way. I found myself savoring each essay, then listening to the music in complete stillness. What a thoughtful and moving creation."
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amy Brothers, educator
    “Beyond the Keys is like a glorious bouquet of flowers chosen for their colors and enticing scent to enhance your day. The Table of Contents let me create a mini retreat using a choose-your-own menu: by title, by artwork, by musical selection. Jeeyoon’s stories are shared with humor and vulnerability. Her music invited me to linger in the beauty of art and sound. It brightened my day each time I picked it up. Drop your phone and enjoy this book!”
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Karen Thickstun, retired professor of piano pedagogy
    Ever the teacher, Jeeyoon Kim inspires us with life-affirming lessons and universal truths. With an engaging writing style, she weaves a tapestry of color, sound and masterful storytelling, replete with empathy and authenticity. Beyond the Keys transports us deep into the author’s lived experiences, awash with vibrant colors and steeped in timeless melodies.
    ​
    Do you remember what it felt like as a five-year-old listening to someone, maybe a parent, read a story to you? The words alone transported us off to a new adventure. But then we saw the illustrations and went beyond the words into a magical or mysterious place. We traveled even farther if the reader added sound effects or different voices.  During those wonderful moments, we felt curious, hopeful, perhaps a bit scared…but always safe and loved. And we had a calm sense that all is right with the world. So it is with Jeeyoon’s stories. Months, even years, from now, we will not remember all the words she wrote, but we’ll never forget how she made us feel.
    ​
    ​
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hannah Brown (Santa Fe, NM, USA)
    “This book moved me in ways I didn’t expect—heart, mind, and spirit. The moment I finished it, I thought of three friends I had to share it with. It’s that kind of special.”
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Emily Torres, mom and artist
    “Part book, part concert, part gallery—it's my little ritual of calm"
    ​
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Carlos Lin (Minneapolis, ME, USA)
    "Jeeyoon's combination of storytelling, music, and visual art is unlike anything I’ve experienced. I laughed, teared up, and felt genuinely inspired. It’s the kind of book you keep on your nightstand."
    ​
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Paul J Gudel, professor of law
    "When you read these stories, you may think, “Wow, Jeeyoon has had an eventful, interesting life.” But she really hasn’t. Everything that has happened to her has happened to you, or could happen to you. What makes Beyond the Keys special is how Jeeyoon looks at things, and what you can learn from them.
    ​
    Could reflecting on a beautiful painting, or a Chopin nocturne, help you put your own life and all that has happened to you into better focus? Try it—you might be surprised! One of our big problems today is fragmentation, made worse by digital “communication” and “social media.” Jeeyoon doesn’t tell you how to achieve greater wholeness; hers isn’t a self-help book in that sense (thank goodness). Rather, it is an exemplary set of models you can use on your own route to coherence by reflecting on the journey of a sensitive person who has devoted her life to seeking The Whole.

    ​

    ​

    This book contains:

    Just as a piano has 52 white keys, Beyond the Keys presents 52 uplifting stories that take readers behind the scenes of a classical pianist’s life. Jeeyoon shares her journey as a South Korean immigrant, entrepreneur, and artist in her 40s—exploring resilience, growth, and the power of positivity. With warmth and vulnerability, she offers encouragement, insight into an artist’s world, and the healing power of the arts.

    ​

    ​

    A glimpse at the table of contents offers a sneak peek at the artwork and musical selections featured in each chapter’s Concert Corner."
    Five musical movements shape the book’s 52 chapters
    Each chapter ends with a QR code linking to a piano performance by Jeeyoon Kim, accompanied by artwork from around the world that reflects the essence of the preceding essay.
    The artwork reflects a love for people, animals, the piano, and everyday moments that invite you to pause and savor life.
    ​

    Meet Jeeyoon Kim

    Jeeyoon Kim is a classical pianist, educator, and author known for her poetic artistry and deeply personal connection with audiences. With warmth and authenticity, she blends music, storytelling, and visual art to create transformative experiences.

    Beyond the Keys is her third book and most personal project yet—an invitation to explore life, creativity, and the human spirit through the lens of music.

    ​

    Let the music, art and words speak—are you in?

    ​

    ​

    ​

    ​

    ​