Piano Instruction

In Studio Cantabile, piano students not only learn how to read music, but they are instructed to play with expression and attention to musical style.  The Italian term cantabile means “in a singing style.”  Students are taught to play the piano with this in view. Careful attention to technique and details such as fingering is stressed.  Students are also encouraged to develop good practice habits.

What is the overarching goal?

• Students that play and perform with technical skill, endurance, speed, accuracy, confidence, poise, humility, delight, expression from the heart, and with interpretive intelligence

What are the detailed goals?

• The elimination of unnecessary tension, by hitting each key and holding it as lightly as possible, which is the key to endurance, speed, and a singing style of playing

• A fingering appropriate to each student’s hands, since good fingering is the key to not stumbling

• A broad range of musical pieces and styles, grounded in the masters

• Piano accompaniment with other instrumental and vocal groups at public music events

• Playing from lead sheets (chord charts) and hymn tunes

• Improvisation/composition in classical, popular music, jazz, hymns, and sacred music

• Minimizing unnecessary finger, hand, wrist, arm, and body motions