Beyond the Keys
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.
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.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"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." -Noah Park (Portland, OR, USA)
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This is so much more than a book. It's a doorway to enter the world with fresh eyes and ears. Jeeyoon has a gift for sharing personal stories, framing them, and offering insights that are actionable and achievable. But that oversimplifies what she's achieved with this book. Offering 52 chapters and following each with an opportunity to see and hear her play her music via QR codes that lead you straight to a video of her performing on piano, reflecting and listening on the thoughts in that chapter becomes easy and luxurious. Her honesty and straightforward advice and reflections really hit home. I am eagerly anticipating starting again on Chapter 1 and devoting myself to ONLY reading one chapter at a time and taking the time after each to listen - and only listen (no distractions or scrolling!) - uninterrupted to the piece of music she's selected. (Bonus is that I got to learn - or remember - the names and composers of pieces that I've loved).
When I first got my hands on 'Beyond the Keys' by Jeeyoon Kim, my first thought was, “This might be the most visually stunning book I’ve ever seen!” Then, as I began reading the stories one by one, I was completely drawn into her world—moved by the honesty, depth, and wisdom in her reflections on life’s joys and struggles. These 52 short pieces invite you into the heart and mind of a world-class concert pianist who writes with rare vulnerability and pure-hearted sincerity.Each chapter is paired with a contemporary artwork, adding a fresh visual dimension to the writing. The pairing feels so natural that I often found myself pausing to linger over the art before continuing with her words. Together, they form a thoughtful and beautiful dialogue between image and story.What truly sets this book apart, however, is its seamless integration of music. Every story includes a QR code linking to one of Jeeyoon’s own performances, on audio or video. The synergy between story and music is magical—joyful reflections paired with uplifting tunes, tender moments with profoundly moving piano pieces. Reading her words and then hearing her voice through the piano creates an immersive experience unlike any book I’ve encountered.Beyond the Keys is at once a book, an art gallery, and a concert hall. It is beautifully written, beautifully presented, and endlessly inspiring. This is a work to return to again and again—whether for comfort, reflection, or a reminder of life’s beauty. I cannot recommend it highly enough for both music listeners and music makers. It is a true work of art. Bravo, Jeeyoon!
You don’t need to be a musician to appreciate and love this book.The artwork alone is stunning and vibrant, sometimes whimsical. The author’s personal stories spark a range of emotions. The piano performances (accessed via QR code) are artistically brilliant. Together, the whole is greater than the sum of these parts, creating a one-of-a-kind exceptional book whose 52 short chapters can be read in any order and cherished at any time.This is a book that I will come back to time and time again, whenever a few moments of calm reflection or inspiration are needed.
This book is a rare gem. Fifty-two short essays about pianist/author Jeeyoon Kim's life are accompanied by beautiful works of art and scan-codes that take the reader to a performance of Ms. Kim on piano. It's an absolutely inspiring production--I've never come across another book like it. Even if you don't open the song links, the essays are wonderful on their own. Ms. Kim takes moments in her life and draws larger lessons that we can use in our own lives. My favorites are how she struggled learning to surf, and had to let go of expectations and learn to be a "beginner" again; the chapter called "Clarity of the Mind," about clearing out clutter of the mind, the calendar, and the closet; and of course the chapter on what it was like performing at Carnegie Hall! I love this book and will be sharing it with family and friends.
“Beyond the Keys” is an absolute gem and the perfect gift for anyone in your life. The writing is incredibly engaging, drawing you in with a beautiful sense of openness and vulnerability. It’s the kind of book that invites you to slow down and savor each moment. I found myself purposely reading just one chapter at a time because I didn’t want it to end! The integration of QR code performances and artwork makes the experience truly immersive and unforgettable. I also love the thoughtful design of the first and last pages, which make it easy to gift and keep the circle of positivity and art going. I can’t recommend it enough!
Each chapter of “Beyond the Keys” is a new experience, one that I can’t (and didn’t want to) anticipate.It reflects the discoveries that make up the unveiling and (sometimes) unravelling of a life.There is a joy and an innocence alongside the pains and struggles of a developing awareness as people turn out to be kind, indifferent, arrogant, and loving, from the deepest of family relations to the accidental public encounters. Jeeyoon plays the innocent observer, discovering kindness, pain, tenderness and joy, all in the context of a life that evolves and revolves around the single pivot point of the piano through the eyes of an artist who struggles, and succeeds in the act of creation.This book is a triumph and an invitation… an invitation to open ourselves to be more fully human, and to aspire to great art.
