Montreal - Good Piano Teachers

[mcgillcomposer]

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know of any good piano  teachers in Montreal, QC?

I just finished my BMus degree in composition at McGill university and am beginning my masters degree in composition at the university of Montreal come September. I began playing the piano at the age of 15, but due to heavy course loads, was unable to pursue it intensively during the four years I spent at McGill. I am a serious student, have a very strong passion for music, and would like to bring my playing to a more professional level.

- Andrew

[vlhorowitz]

If you ask anyone in Montreal, there are supposedly "tons" of them.

At Mcgill, Richard Raymond, Marina Mdivani, and Kyoko Hashimoto. Not to say that the rest are bad, but I've heard good things about these teachers.
At the U of M, of course there's Marc Durand (the head of the dept.), Jean Saulnier, Jimmy Briere, and of course, the winner of the 1980 Chopin Competition, Dang Thai Son. I actually don't know if any of them teach privately; however, since you're already a student of both universities,  it might be ok.

[viking]

I would also recommend Marc Durand (if you can get in with him) Richard Raymond, and Jean Saulnier.

[mcgillcomposer]

Thanks very much for the replies! I have already studied with Richard, and I don't really want to study with Marc (he is a bit touchy feely with his students). I would also prefer to stay away from the McGill teachers for now; I have had lessons with most of them, and need a different perspective. I will try some of the other U de M profs I didn't know about. Thanks again!

[thierry13]

If you ask anyone in Montreal, there are supposedly "tons" of them.

At Mcgill, Richard Raymond, Marina Mdivani, and Kyoko Hashimoto. Not to say that the rest are bad, but I've heard good things about these teachers.
At the U of M, of course there's Marc Durand (the head of the dept.), Jean Saulnier, Jimmy Briere, and of course, the winner of the 1980 Chopin Competition, Dang Thai Son. I actually don't know if any of them teach privately; however, since you're already a student of both universities,  it might be ok.

Jimmy Briere came to my college (in montreal also) to do a master class, and it was amazing. He sat at the right of the student, and played the most difficult RH passageworks at sight read with his left hand in the upper notes of the piano( because that's the only thing his position let him do). That was quite funny to see. He just completed his doctor degree with Marc Durand. I plan to go and study with him, I met him at the masterclass and he seemed to want me to study with him. Marc Durand is definitely the best alternative, but he is very busy teaching at different schools at the same times, and it's hard to get to him. He taugth to my teacher up to master level, but I think he now only teaches at doctor level.

[vlhorowitz]

Lauretta Altman is also a very good teacher in Montreal. A very kind woman, she studied with Rudolf Ganz in Chicago, then went on to Juilliard I believe.

I've never heard Marc Durand in performance, but he seems to be at the root of many teaching positions in Montreal (a lot of professors are his students).

[viking]

Marc Durand is definitely the best alternative, but he is very busy teaching at different schools at the same times, and it's hard to get to him. He taugth to my teacher up to master level, but I think he now only teaches at doctor level.

I actually have a friend studying with Marc at the bachelor level.  I will also most likely be studying with him next year at the Glenn Gould School.  But he is very busy...