Piano Instruction

05/12/12

		Piano Instruction by Robert Benson Of all the teachers I studied piano with, the most important one was Verna Trine, who taught for many years at the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Illinois, and with whom I studied piano for 6 years. Miss Trine studied extensively with Carl Friedberg and Rubin Goldmark. Mr. Friedberg studied the piano with Franz Liszt and Clara Schumann, and Mr. Goldmark studied the piano with Antonin Dvorak. Liszt and Schumann were, of course, two of the greatest pianists of the latter part of the 19th century. One basic concept transferred from those great masters through my beloved and revered teacher, Miss Trine, and then to me, was the idea that the piano is best played when one works with the force of gravity. This means that one must learn to play with relaxed shoulders, arms, wrists and hands, and utilize a controlled throwing of the hands when playing. This always allows for a wonderfully artistic rendering of any composition, and guarantees the avoidance of the development of the dreaded stiff wrist. In my teaching, I use three basic musical elements: technical work, traditional piano literature, and pop improvisation. Technical work Scales - The basic movement of the fingers: the thumb under. All major and minor scales, in rhythmic groups of ones, twos, threes, fours, and sixes. Parallel motion at octaves, sixths, thirds and tenths, and in contrary motion. Chords: All major and minor four-note chords, blocked and broken, played in parallel and contrary motion. Arpeggios: Major and minor, parallel and contrary motion. Octaves: Both wrist and shoulder octaves. Etudes: Etudes are studies which often directly and repeatedly apply a specific technique to a musical composition, for the purpose of mastering that particular technique. For example, one tune might consist of endlessly running 16th notes; another might be all arpeggios; another could repeatedly involve changing fingers on one and the same key. Traditional Piano Literature Initially includes course books, progressing to sonatinas, sonatas, and many other types of compositions by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, etc. This phase of your training leaves no stone unturned regarding traditional training. Pop Improvisation This phase teaches you to improvise by chord from lead sheets, leading to the development of a professional style. Chord construction and voicing, left hand accompaniment patterns, right hand melody with one finger, right hand chords, right hand embellishments, key transposition, gradual refinement of style and expansion of range. Daily practice will result in success. Rates Private Piano Instruction One lesson per week One 30 minute lesson - $35.00 One 60 minute lesson - $60.00 Please Note: I reside in a elevator condo building, and do not give lessons in my home. I maintain a teaching studio in Hyde Park. I will also go to the student's home for an extra charge of $20, if you live less than 4 miles from the intersection of North Avenue and Lake Shore Drive. If you have questions, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 312-640-5900

This site was last updated 05/12/12