whats your school of Piano...

[SDL]

A friend and I were casually discussing our piano education heritage.  Ive had 3 lines of music education -

My 1st 2 teachers were pupils of Derek Wyndham at the Royal Norther College of Music in Manchester whose produced well known pianists such as Donohoe.  I cant find anything on Derek Wyndham apart from he was a polish immigrant from the 2nd world war and took on an English name.

My last to present teacher and praobably the most important to date, was a pupil of Ryszard Bakst who was a pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus pupil of Godowsky.  And it ends here because Godowsky was self-taught!

My current is a pupil of Fanny Waterman in turn a pupil pupil of Tobias Matthay -> ?? I cant find who his teacher was at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Whats your lineage?

[sharon_f]

My first teacher, many, many years ago studied with Dame Myra Hess who was a student of Tobias Matthay. I haven't been able to find any information on who Matthay's teacher was.

My current teacher studied with Sidney Foster who was a student of Venegerova who was a student of Leschetizky, who everyone knows was a pupil of Czerny, who of course, was a student of Beethoven.

[SDL]

Hi sharon_F

wasnt Leschitsky a pupil of Liszt?

did you study with Kovacevich -> Hess??

Tobias Matthay is an enigma - Ive searched on the internet and all I got was he studied at the RAM un London and then became a professor there.

does anyone know about Derek wyndham?

[Hmoll]

I've had a total of six piano teachers in my life. They all trace back through Liszt, to Czerny, to Beethoven, etc.

That means if you take piano lessons from me, your lineage goes back the same.

Just thought I'd mention that to illustrate  - although it's interesting - how meaningless this "lineage" business is.

[shasta]

Studied with a pupil of Arrau's.

[pianonut]

i had the blessing of happening upon a great teacher in Anchorage, Alaska.  The year i completed my senior recital was the year that he retired from the University there.  his name is Prof. Jean-Paul Billaud.  You can find his name on Steinway and Sons Artists Roster.  i can't say i deserved him, but i learned so so so much from him.  in fact, the things that he taught me are really beyond monetary calculation as they have brought so much of the joy of music into my life.

He studied with Auguste de Radwan(who studied with Leschetisky), Jaques Fevrier, Cortot, Margurite Long, and a few others like that.  BUT, i must add, it isn't the teacher that gives you a name.  It's how much YOU practice and what RESONATES for you.  You don't have to copy a teacher down to every last detail (although I do tend to try to copy the things i like).  Some of the best things I liked about Prof. Billaud (and, my current teacher Dr. Cranmer) is that they hold Master Classes (as well as piano lessons) so that you can practice performing as well as playing for yourself.   Both know about the history of composers and make music interesting.

Dr. Carl Cranmer, i've had for three semesters at WCU.  He, too, is very very good (Graduate of Julliard- i have to look up teachers again).  I think good teachers let you become yourself.  Whatever you gravitate towards naturally, is probably going to be your forte.  Dr. Cranmer has challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone, though, and i am practicing some Barber (a bit distanced from Mozart) which i am coming to appreciate. (especially since West Chester was Barber's hometown).  Dr. Cranmer 'specializes' in everything i've heard him play.  He can go from Chopin to Poulenc to Mozart to Spanish composers (like Prof. Billaud) and play with grace and ease.

ps if you happen to live in Virginia, Prof. Billaud's wife (Louise) teaches at New River Community College (and, I believe at University of Virginia).  She is often a featured artist (as Dr. Cranmer is here in Pennsylvania, US, and Europe) in the States and Europe.  I think she has a web site under her name Louise Billaud.  Highly recommended.

[ted]

I don't think I have any musical or pianistic heritage.  My teacher, as a boy, was befriended by Elgar, who was impressed with his improvisation. It seems something in the way of informal composition lessons took place. Aside from anecdotal interest it doesn't signify anything much.

[pianonut]

it does if you practice what they teach you (which you must do)!  the most important thing i learned from both my teachers was relaxation.

CCranmer is mentioned here: 
www.golandskyinstitute.org/glanden.html
also his bio: www.wcupa.edu/CVPA/som/am_faculty_ccranmer.html

some of Dr. Cranmer's teachers were Martin Canin, Robert Shannon, Karl Kammerling, Jacob Letiener, Hans Graf  and Bob Durso (teaching relaxation method)

[SDL]

wow - some people have gotten serious about this.  Its only meant as a bit of fun not as an advertising of superiority.  HMoll - I know it doesnt matter!

[pianonut]

if i wanted to be superior, i would have searched out these teachers specifically and moved to where they were located.  as it happened, one was teaching in my hometown and the other was assigned to me.  i feel that it's not your teacher that defines you (and i mentioned that i was neither's best student) but it's how much you practice!  also, the enthusiasm of my teachers affected me.  when you meet someone really great--they leave a lasting impression and make you want to work harder.  i've noticed that really great teachers are like coaches (similar to olympic gymnastics).  Prof. Billaud and Dr. Cranmer do not look at their watches and end the lesson exactly on the minute.  Of course no one can afford to go overtime too much, but these teachers (if you start putting in the practice) notice when you are improving.  Billaud would make me the last lesson of the day (before dinner and more lessons) and spend 1/2 hr or more past my lesson explaining something, going over something, just being relaxed and showing me sometimes philosophical ways of approaching not just piano but life.  he was a very hard working person as is Dr. Cranmer.

[SDL]

pianonut - I wasnt suggesting you were trying to be superior.  I was referring to HMoll's post because I wanted to make the point that I wasn't trying to say I was better because of the teachers. 

[pianowelsh]

I prefer not to name my teachers - for the above reasons

[Hmoll]

wow - some people have gotten serious about this.  Its only meant as a bit of fun not as an advertising of superiority.  HMoll - I know it doesnt matter!

Relax. You're the one who's too serious. I was making a self depricating joke.
 

It's obvious that you weren't making a big deal about your "lineage," and were just posting it as something that was interesting, which it is. Some people take this stuff too seriously, and think because old so-and-so studied with teachers who go all the way back to Liszt (or whoever), that means they are great teachers. Never mind the fact that Liszt wasn't a great teacher anyway.

[Hmoll]

 ..

[anda]

My last to present teacher and praobably the most important to date, was a pupil of Ryszard Bakst who was a pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus pupil of Godowsky.  And it ends here because Godowsky was self-taught!

so i guess we're kind of related one of my many teachers was student of a student of neuhaus too

[BoliverAllmon]

My first teacher, many, many years ago studied with Dame Myra Hess who was a student of Tobias Matthay. I haven't been able to find any information on who Matthay's teacher was.

My current teacher studied with Sidney Foster who was a student of Venegerova who was a student of Leschetizky, who everyone knows was a pupil of Czerny, who of course, was a student of Beethoven.

I have the same heritage except it goes from charlotte mueller to Walter hautzig to Venegerova

[SDL]

No worries 

[pianowelsh]

the blood in my lineage is a bit too complicated to trace. I think Im a bit of a pianistic Bastard! No offensive jokes please!