Teachers at Universities

[phil13]

I am auditioning at several universities this year, and I wanted to know if there are any specific teachers I should know about at these schools:

Royal College of Music (UK)
Oberlin Conservatory (US)
Northwestern University (US)
Glenn Gould School of Music/ Royal Conservatory (Can.)

Also, I would like to know if there are any universities/conservatories that you would recommend to me for their teachers and the music program in general. Thanks!

Phil

[zheer]

Also, I would like to know if there are any universities/conservatories that you would recommend to me for their teachers and the music program in general. Thanks!

Phil

  Trinity College of music is very good apparently, the ones i would go to though if i had A level music and grade 8 piano, is the Royal Accademy of music in London.  The other place to go for great piano teachers and reputation is Moscow conservatoire, but according to a number of well known british pianists,the standard in the uk is below the standars in Russia,
so unless you are very good i would save the flight money.Good luck.

[pianistimo]

if i were you, i wouldn't just check the teachers - but also the LIBRARY!  after all, you have to do research, too, and you might have to do interlibary transfers to get what you are after.  if it was me, i'd pick UK because they've been around a long time.  oberlin would be second.  northwestern.  and then glen gould school.  but, i've never been to these schools - so what do i know.  perhaps others on the board have!  and, know the teachers personally. 

[quantum]

Well if you attend Glenn Gould, you have access in the same city to the U Toronto library (extreemly huge collection), the York U library (great for recordings as U Toronto doesn't loan out recs.), The RCM library, and the TPL library (scores and recs) .  All of them are accessible by public transportation. 

I've watched at masterclass by Leon Fleisher once, but probably that's not enough to comment on his teaching style. 

[pianowelsh]

I strongly disagree the standard in Britain is lower than Russia. I dont know who said that but I dont think they can possibly make a statement like that. Britain has numerous internationally recognised schools. We certainly train with a different emphasis in the UK but I for one do not believe the standard of education OR the standard of the pianist is any lower than anywhere you could care to name. Institutions like the RAM RCM RNCM etc are world leaders in piano education. As are the Menhuin, Cheethams Purcell etc for the younger kids. If the comparision is made on the numers of Brits at International competitions then its flawed because we are demographically vastly smaller in the UK we also have a very full curriculum for under 18's which means technically our talents tend to flourish later than abroad. But they have depth!!

[phil13]

Okay, I must bring this up again:

What are the best teachers at Oberlin for piano and also for composition? The application wants me to select specific teachers, but I do not know any of them.

Phil

[pianistimo]

Robert Shannon?  i do not know him either personally or professionally.  i just googled 'oberlin piano professors' or something like that and found that he regularly adjudicates and/or directs piano competitions.

[pianowelsh]

I beleive Peter takas has quite a reputation as a teacher. Shannon seems to be quite up on contemporary music which may be a help if your doing composition. Mr Chow is also well recoginsed as a pianist and teacher.

[pianowelsh]

If you lean towards america.. Whats wrong with Harvard, Yale and Indiana universities, all have excellent facilities , world class staff and not bad libraries!

[phil13]

If you lean towards america.. Whats wrong with Harvard, Yale and Indiana universities, all have excellent facilities , world class staff and not bad libraries!

Harvard and Yale just don't seem to fit me as well as the other two I chose.

Phil

[prongated]

I strongly disagree the standard in Britain is lower than Russia. I dont know who said that but I dont think they can possibly make a statement like that.

[...well for one, I believe they have different sty... ]

OK on a serious note, Trinity, Guildhall, RCM, and (I think there's another top one in UK but I forgot >.<) are all very reputable institutions...Moscow is also very reputable and they all sit up there as among the most prestigious conservatories in the world. In terms of standards, well it depends on the teachers as much as the students - and I don't think UK lacks great piano teachers. [just bear in mind I'm not saying anything about UK piano students and UK conservatories "standards" ^^]

In the end, it's how hard you work that will determine how good you will become - not just because you go to a conservatory with a higher "standard" than another (...as long as you get a good teacher, you'll be fine!)

With that said, here are the people I'd study with, if I ever get to choose

For Royal College of Music, John Lill probably has the best reputation as a (well...visiting) teacher there. Gordon Fergus-Thompson is probably fine too, while I think of Dimitry Alexeev as more of a performer than a teacher.

For Oberlin, I agree with pianowelsh that you should consider Peter Takacs...I'd go even further and say he's probably the best teacher there - he taught Spencer Myer, who is probably Oberlin's most successful graduate in decades (or at least years). Alvin Chow or Angela Cheng is probably fine too, I guess.

For Glenn Gould School, John Perry and Marc Durand go without saying. As for Northwestern...well...I haven't heard of any of them, not that this means anything. If money is a constrain, Oberlin gets my nod for their excellent financial assistance. Otherwise...Glenn Gould!!!

...by the way, in what way does Yale not fit you well? Boris Berman teaches there, and he is good...

[franzliszt2]

They are some great teachers at Royal College of music..

Vannessa Latarche
Andrew Ball
Yonty Solomon
Neil Immelmen
Gordon Fergus Thompson..

John Lill is visiting professor, but I highly doubt you'll get him as your proffesor.

The list is longer, but they are all amzing teachers. Most UK conservatoires have a good list of profs.

[lagin]

Watch out that you don't get someone who concertises exstensively, or you will forever be ending up with the fill in for them.

[franzliszt2]

Yes thats a great point by lagin! I've heard stories about that happening.

[viking]

MARC DURAND @ GLENN GOULD

[pianowelsh]

whats wrong with Indiana...it has one of the best research ratings in the world and the piano staff are pretty hot. facilities are amazing. If you want a uni atmosphere its up there. Agreed John Perry and Durand are pob most prestigious teachers at Gould school..but this is much more conservatory style dept. Do you want to perform or predominantly research/teach?? and to what extent do you focus on chamber music..because some of these institutions mentioned have better reputations for chamber musicians than soloists.

[csy]

Yes. Indiana University is definitely a great school considering its outstanding faculty such as Menahem Pressler, Andre Watts, Starker, Jamie Laredo.....