Classical Training

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In my late teens, I was captivated by the great jazz pianists — Bill Evans, Brad Mehldau, Thelonious Monk, Michel Petrucciani, Chick Corea, and others. Back in the days of record stores and portable Discman players, I’d listen to their albums on repeat, in awe of their brilliance, playfulness, and technical command.

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At some point, though, I realized I lacked the physical freedom and technical foundation to play the piano the way I wanted. That feeling led me to explore the classical tradition more deeply. Through studying with a variety of teachers, I was fortunate to find one who emphasized awareness of movement — something that’s harder to develop when you’re focused mainly on improvisation and rhythm. Taking the long road through classical training opened up a new understanding of the piano: its range, its sound, and its expressive possibilities.

 

Now, when I work with students, I enjoy helping those who are naturally drawn to the classical tradition — those who love studying great works and developing sensitivity to sound, balance, and movement. Each student brings a unique personality to their playing: some are excited by fast, dramatic pieces, while others are drawn to quiet, contemplative harmonies.

 

My goal is to bring out that individuality while helping them develop confidence, fluency, and artistry. Classical training involves practicing the music as written and committing to the composer’s intentions.

Students gradually build a repertoire that spans the centuries — Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and contemporary — gaining technical skill and historical awareness along the way.

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In addition to spending considerable hours practicing in solitude, having the support of a community as an audience — whether in recitals, school events, or informal family gatherings — is vital for growing as a musician.

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We use graded systems and method books as broad reference points for progress, such as pianosyllabus.com, ABRSM and RCM repertoire lists, Keith Snell’s graded series, and MTNA guidelines.
For additional support and practice, students can explore:

• musictheory.net for written theory

• EarMaster for ear training

• Piano Marvel for interactive learning and sight reading

• freepianomethod.com for long-term sight reading fluency

• IMSLP.org — a huge blessing that simply wasn’t available a couple of decades ago — offering free access to thousands of classical scores