Karen plays second trumpet with the Pittsburgh Ballet and Opera Orchestras. A member of the faculty at the Rogers Middle School for the Arts from 1981 to 2009, she has also taught music at Carriage House Children's Center in Squirrel Hill. Karen formerly taught in the Music Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and at Seton Hill College. She holds Music Together Certification Level II, Early Childhood Music and Movement Association Certification Level II, and Orff Level One Certification.

She has been a presenter at the Pittsburgh Association of Educators of Young Children annual conference on three occasions, and has led workshops with early childhood educators on children's musical development. She has been a guest presenter at the Greater Pittsburgh Montessori Society. Karen is working to complete her certification in the PQAS training system to provide continuing education for early childhood educators.

Karen attended Music Together classes with her children, Ean and Marnie. She is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, National Association of Educators of Young Children, and the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association.