Where are you all ....

[SDL]

studying?
and with who?

Im interested to know your experiences with different teachers.  Ive studied in the UK with 2 well known concert pianists Ronan O'hora and Benjamin Frith as well as  Sally Ann McLeod (nee Bottomley) and John Gough (RNCM teachers), and a masterclasses with Daniel Adni, Stephen Kovacevich.   

I think Daniel Adni & Ronan O'hora did the most for me in terms of technique and were both saying more or less the same thing (weight, loose arm wrist etc) and this revoutionised my playing.  I couldn't play a Chopin etude without getting tired before I learnt the "new school" technique.  After a 8 yr break I studied on my own (Ive mentioned Gyorgy Sandor's book in a previous post) now Im going to Benjamin Frith (a pupil of Fanny Waterman), but I cant comment yet because my first lesson is tomorrow!   Stephen Kovacevich does not get my respect after his (suspect) choosing of his own pupils (a foregone conclusion shall we say)  in a masterclass audition and that he thought a friend of mine's slow movement of a Bach/Mozart work didn't show anything at all!    Besides his playing I found was soooo boring in a concert he did.

I found that a consolodation and a sift of all you've been told along with my own experimentation of how my playing apparatus works comfortably and efficiently definately works!

What's everyone else's experiences and who do you consider are the best and why?

[johnnypiano]

I witnessed Stephen Koka... in a Master class.  He was dead boring; his own recital was dead boring;I spoke to him - he was dead boring.  Have I made myself clear?             

[pianowelsh]

You should take the one year Advanced piano course at Leeds College of Music and study with Fanny herself!

[johnnypiano]

Fanny Waterman would be over-over-over powering, but at least she has some personality, and at least we come from the same county in England.   

[SDL]

Fanny teach at Leeds colledge of music??? what you mean she does?  I thought she only did private at a tons of pounds per hour?

presumably you 2 are in/around Leeds then?

[Torp]

I'm in the thriving metropolis of Boise, Idaho.  A true mecca of piano instruction....NOT!

My current "teachers" are Gyorgy Sandor & Abbey Whiteside.

If there is anyone in the Idaho area, let me know.

Jef

[BoliverAllmon]

I am learning in baytown texas. I have 3 seperate teachers. dr. Charlotte Mueller, dr. earnest Boamah, and tom sicard.

[steinwayguy]

North Carolina School of the Arts, High School, 11th grade
Clifton Matthews, Allison Gagnon, Andrew Eitel

[e60m5]

Currently study at Manhattan School of Music with Nina Svetlanova.

Nina is the BEST. 

[musik_man]

I'm studying at Texas A&M, but I'm studying Mechanical Engineering there.

My teacher for piano would be the collective knowledge that I've gleaned from books, the internet, and experience (in other words I'm f***ed .)

[musicsdarkangel]

Illinois Wesleyan with Lawrence Campbell.

He's quite amazing.

[SDL]

Hi all - nice to put a place to a username 

Isn't Gyorgy Sandor's book great though  good teacher.

Has anyone had masterclasses with concert pianists - what were your experiences?

[pianonut]

Collegeville, Pennsylvania - studying at West Chester University under Dr. Carl Cranmer.  He is very intense, and performs as much as he teaches.  He does what he says, and i believe him when he says it is 'hard work.'  He is a recent graduate of Julliard and has concertized extensively.  He is very very good, and has 'microwaved' me as a grad student (though i am far from his best student).  If you like to practice a lot - come to west chester!

They are building a new music building at west chester (with steinways in every practice room!) 

[pianonut]

ps  if you type in carl cranmer, you can read his bio.  it's really great!

[richard w]

Hi SDL. I too studied with Benjamin Frith for a couple of years, and before that with Andrew West, although I am going back around 7 years now. Since then, I've been my own teacher and recently I've been thinking of replacing myself as I'm not doing a good job! I'm not too sure how to track down the right teacher for me though.

I assume you are perhaps based in a more Northerly location in the UK, as am I. Are you more east or west?



Richard.

[pianowelsh]

Hi Torp i believe we share a similar bookshelf?! Does anyone know the book by Thomas Fielden 'The science of pianoforte technique' i ve been trying to get hold of it for years now ( i read it once from library then the library lost it and its now out of print!!!). Regarding Fanny Waterman she teaches a one year post graduate Advanced piano diploma at the Leeds College of Music (not the Uni) Very limited places - priority to international students! You have to have undertaken a couple of pro engagements first and its designed to perpare for international level competitions.

[DavidW]

I'm new to this board.  I'm 41.  I originally studied with Lois Gauger at University of Oklahoma -- I think her background was studying with descendants of Schnabel; and later with Leonard Sure back east -- she was very solid to study with but I was such a mess in college I couldn't take advantage of what she had to offer.  But I'm finding every time I study with a new teacher we start off with everything Ms. Gauger was trying to get through to me back when I was younger.  I'm currently living in Los Angeles and have studied with Zora Mihailovich who is now performing often on the east coast and teaching some at Rochester, and am currently studying with Sergei Silvanski, former professor of piano at the Kiev Conservatory.  Sergei and his wife Ganna Parvenova have a huge studio in Los Angeles.  They are wonderful.

[Torp]

Hi Torp i believe we share a similar bookshelf?! Does anyone know the book by Thomas Fielden 'The science of pianoforte technique' i ve been trying to get hold of it for years now ( i read it once from library then the library lost it and its now out of print!!!).

Pianowelsh, here is a sight that you can use to find just about any used, out-of-print book imaginable:

www.abebooks.com

Type in the author's name and you will see there are copies available.  It will cost you around $10 USD.

Hope that helps...Jef

[Etude]

studying?
and with who?

Im interested to know your experiences with different teachers.  Ive studied in the UK with 2 well known concert pianists Ronan O'hora and Benjamin Frith as well as  Sally Ann McLeod (nee Bottomley) and John Gough (RNCM teachers), and a masterclasses with Daniel Adni, Stephen Kovacevich.   

Hey, my teacher is John Gough right now at the JRNCM! 

[SDL]

Hey Richard W.

Im in Yorkshire nr Ben Frith.  I dont know who else is around that Ive heard is good.  You have to get someone that suits your needs.  I needed Sally Ann at Uni but then I benefitted from Ronan o Hora (who was in manchester at the time) for arm weight technique. 

I was once thinking of going to Margaret Fingerhut firstly because her name is intruiging  , secondly because I heard her on radio playing Elgar piano concerto and loved it and thirdly cos Ive heard shes good and she was at the RNCM.  Im not sure if thats the case now.  Let me know if you find out.

Etude - I only had John Gough for a few lessons.  Have you been to Sally Ann his duet partner?

[SDL]

Richard W - think I know you = check your personal messages!

[thracozaag]

Collegeville, Pennsylvania - studying at West Chester University under Dr. Carl Cranmer.  He is very intense, and performs as much as he teaches.  He does what he says, and i believe him when he says it is 'hard work.'  He is a recent graduate of Julliard and has concertized extensively.  He is very very good, and has 'microwaved' me as a grad student (though i am far from his best student).  If you like to practice a lot - come to west chester!

They are building a new music building at west chester (with steinways in every practice room!) 

  Please give my best regards to Carl; he's a terrific pianist.

koji (STSD)

[richard w]

Richard W - think I know you = check your personal messages!

That means I must know you! Someone who knows me - best behaviour from now on! 

You should find a reciprocal personal message.




Richard.

[SDL]

Richard - you may know me but not sure - messaged back!

[ehpianist]

I have studied with many teachers at various points of my musical development.  What I write here are some of the key points I absorbed from these teachers at those particular stages, this does not mean that what I say here is in any way a descriptive of the full spectrum of their teaching.  Each provided me with things I needed at that time.  Quite possibly if I had studied with them in a different order the descriptions of their teaching would be different.  But this is what I believe is the lasting contribution of each to my playing.


Studied with Stephen Drury  at New England conservatory ( vibrant, open-minded, adventurous, always questioning, opened my ears for the first time, great in developing good practice habits)

PAtricia Zander in Boston for only one year (good for discussing interpretation ideas, and sound, no discussion about technique, that I can recall, I think I was too immature a musician when I studied with her to really get the most out of her lessons.  would like to go take another one some day)

Studied with John O' Conor in Dublin (helped me a lot in overcoming performance anxiety, detailed work on colour/tone production, touch, a good source in helping me create my own library of interpretation styles for each musical period and also provided practice techniques that strengthened my hand and finger independence)

Studied with Ferenc Rados in Spain (biggest influence in my interpretation of music in the last 8 years, does not discuss technique AT ALL.  For him all music emerges from its rhythmic base.  Once you understand this base the music is simply an audible expression and variation of the heartbeat of the piece.)

I highly recommend them all.  Drury and O'Conor are great teachers who are also willing to work with students trying to find their own voice if it is not yet fully developed. Zander and especially Rados are great polishers but you need to be fairly secure in your abilities, your technique  and your musical maturity before you go to them in order to be able to get the most out of their teaching

Elena
www.duoscarbo.com

[melian]

I'm quite new at this, so I  guess this is a nice way to begin..   
I'm studying in the national conservatory of athens, greece with Maria Karytinou..
i've had masterclasses with Lefevre, Toufexis, K. Ganev, G. Hadjinikos and E. Mouzala.
I'm getting my diploma in June and (hopefully  ) continue with master classes in chamber music and piano duos in munich or paris..


   nice to meet you all.. 

[tosca]

I am new to this forum.  I am 29 and studied with Dean Kramer and Steve Hesla (U. of Oregon and U. of Montana,  respectively.. I am living in Italy but originally from Portland, Oregon.   I am a professional vocal pianist and am also studying classical singing. 

~Tosca

[robertp]

Melian, I just saw your post, and a name jumped out at me. Toufexis. I assume you mean Dimitri Toufexis?

I studied with him for a couple of wonderful years while he was in the USA, but I've lost track of him since he went back to Greece/Athens.  Can you tell me anything about what he's doing, where he's at, how to get in touch with him? He's unfindable on Internet so far.

Thanks!