Inside the Taubman Approach

Benjamin Harding

Welcome to Inside the Taubman Approach Podcast! I’m your host, Benjamin Harding.


This new podcast is an inside look at the power of the Taubman Approach, an approach to  working with playing-related problems, such as discomfort, tension, pain and injuries. Through first hand experiences and discussions with some of the premiere teachers of this approach we'll be sharing how pianists at various stages of learning the piano have benefitted and grown through applying the Taubman Approach.



Sponsored by The Golandsky Institute. The Golandsky Institute is on a mission to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman.  If you're interested in learning more about the Taubman Approach be sure to check out the show notes of this episode and follow links to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with all that the institute offers including their premiere subscription service that allows you to take lessons on the Taubman Approach from anywhere!

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34: Norwegian Pianist, Dimitris Kostopoulos, on Studying the Taubman Work Online
1w ago
34: Norwegian Pianist, Dimitris Kostopoulos, on Studying the Taubman Work Online
Send us a Text Message.Today we welcome Dimitris Kostopoulos to Inside the Taubman Approach. I love this interview so much. Here's why: Dimitris came across the Taubman Technique tapes during a questioning period in his professional career. He studied these 10 DVD's for years. He understood the concepts and the language used to the point where he began to apply them to his playing. But - it was not until he met Edna Golandsky that he realized he that he needed to study this incredible work with an expert one on one. Dimitris in his story shows how studying the Taubman Approach online with an expert really is effective. https://kostopoulos.no/Dimitris Kostopoulos was born in 1984, and grew up in Bodø, Norway. He is among the leading Norwegian pianists of his generation, and holds a Master’s degree in piano from the Barratt Due Institute of Music and the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. His main teacher was the recognized Czech professor Jiri Hlinka. In addition to this, he has participated in masterclasses with the Norwegian professor Einar Steen-Nøkleberg, the Dutch professor Marcel Baudet and the Swedish professor Hans Pålsson. He as also studied the work of Dorothy Taubman and Edna Golandsky through the Taubman Techniques.Dimitris Kostopoulos has established himself as a professional concert pianist with performances at several of Norway’s most famous music festivals and concert halls. His performances as pianist includes the Bergen International Music Festival, ULTIMA Contemporary Music Festival, Oslo Grieg Festival, The Hemsing Festival, Nordland Music Festival, the Music Festival of Northern Norway, the Northern Light Festival and the Opera in Oslo, Oslo Concert Hall and many other venues. In addition to this, he has performed regularly abroad giving concerts in Sweden, Vietnam, Portugal, Lithuania, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Italy and Russia.As a soloist, Kostopoulos has performed with many orchestras, including the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, Lithuaninan State Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Camerata, Tromsø Symphony Orchestra, Barratt Due Symphony Orchestra, Banda Sinfonica da PSP, Bodø Sinfonietta, the MiNensemble, Narvik City Symphony Orchestra, Bodø City Symphony Orchestra and LVO. Kostopoulos has worked with conductors such as Bjarte Engeseth, Arvid Engegård, Stephan Barratt-Due, Pierre-André Valade, Jonathan Stockhammer, Torodd Wigum, Alf Richard Kraggerud, Terje Boye Hansen, Jan Ludvig Jacobsen and Nicolas Carthy.Another important part of Kostopoulos’ career is his devotion to chamber music. His mother was a professional soprano, and already from the age of 13 he started to accompany her and perform concerts with her. Since then chamber music has been a natural part of his work as a pianist, resulting in collaborations with many of Norway’s leading musicians such as Catharina Chen, Guro Kleven Hagen, Audun Sandvik, Bjarne Magnus Jensen, Ragnhild Hemsing, Eldbjørg Hemsing, Cathrine Bullock, Ingebjørg Kosmo, Angelica Voje, Christian Mortensen and others.Internationally recognized and rewardedSince 2011 he has held the position as pianist in the MiNensemble. This is a chamber music ensemble based in northern Norway, touring throughout Norway as well as internationally.The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
33: Father Sean Duggan, Supreme Bach Pianist, on How Studying with Edna Golandsky Enhanced His Pianism
May 3 2024
33: Father Sean Duggan, Supreme Bach Pianist, on How Studying with Edna Golandsky Enhanced His Pianism
Send us a Text Message.Thank you for joining us on today's episode on Inside the Taubman Approach. I'm your host, Dr. Benjamin Harding. Today we welcome Father Sean Duggan to the podcast. Pianist Sean Duggan is a monk of St. Joseph Abbey in Covington, Louisiana. He is also a professor of piano at SUNY Fredonia. Father Sean is a master pianist and a master teacher.  His teaching and playing was and is enhanced in studying with Edna Golandsky. His work in the playing of Bach and memorization is renowned. We cover so much in this episode. Also - bonus! A video of this interview is available on our YouTube channel. Check out the show notes of the podcast for the link and for more information on Father Sean Duggan. YouTube Interview Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw5lYnjvjMQFather Sean Duggan at SUNY Fredonia: https://www.fredonia.edu/academics/colleges-schools/school-music/music/faculty/Sean-DugganPianist Sean Duggan is a monk of St. Joseph Abbey in Covington, Louisiana. He obtained his music degrees from Loyola University in New Orleans and Carnegie Mellon University. He received a Master’s degree in theology from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. From 1988 to 2001 he taught music, Latin, and religion at St. Joseph Seminary College in Louisiana and was director of music and organist at St. Joseph Abbey.In September 1983 he won first prize in the Johann Sebastian Bach International Competition for Pianists in Washington, D.C., and again in August 1991. Having a special affinity for the music of Bach, in 2000 he performed the complete cycle of Bach’s keyboard works eight times in various American and European cities. For seven years he hosted a weekly program on the New Orleans NPR station entitled “Bach on Sunday.” He is presently in the midst of recording the complete cycle of Bach’s keyboard (piano) music, which will comprise 24 CDs.Before he joined the Benedictine order he was pianist and assistant chorus master for the Pittsburgh Opera Company for three years. He has performed with many orchestras including the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Leipzig Baroque Soloists, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the American Chamber Orchestra, and the Pennsylvania Sinfonia. From 2001 to 2004 he was a visiting professor of piano at the University of Michigan. Currently he is associate professor of piano at SUNY at Fredonia. During the fall semester of 2008 he was also a guest professor of piano at Eastman School of Music. He has been a guest artist and adjudicator at the Chautauqua Institution for several summers, and is also a faculty member of the Golandsky Institute at Princeton, New Jersey. He continues to study the Taubman approach with Edna Golandsky in New York City.The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
32: Yegor Shevtsov on the Taubman Approach Helping in Practical Applications
Apr 26 2024
32: Yegor Shevtsov on the Taubman Approach Helping in Practical Applications
Send us a Text Message.Welcome to Inside the Taubman Approach sponsored by the Golandsky Institute. I am your host Benjamin Harding. Today’s episode is fascinating.Yegor Shevtsov  is one of the most interesting people that I have ever met. He truly is a Renaissance man. He’s an intellectual: he speaks many, many languages; he devours repertoire, literature, poetry, and art. He grew up being a dancer, then studied economics in Amsterdam. He then came to the United States and pursued music at Manhattan school of Music all the way through the doctoral level. We were students together at Manhattan school of music in the studio of Nina Svetlanova. Yegor is one of the most kind and humble people I have ever met as well - a joy to talk to. What surprised me today in this interview is how he came to the Taubman Approach for a very practical solution. You'll see what I mean.  Let me read an excerpt found on our website from Yegor. From Yegor Shevtsov:I am a working pianist, and I owe that honor in no small measure to Edna’s precise, encouraging and constructive teaching. Both she and her wonderful colleagues at the Institute are an incredible resource to pianists of all levels, from beginner students to those wishing to recover from injury to those who simply look to be better pianists, better musicians. I came to Edna to get help with very practical and concrete problems: I needed to perform some pieces that I could not play well. Over the years, I have brought to her Chopin and Scriabin Etudes for gigs, Beethoven and Brahms Sonatas for competitions, Strauss and Stravinsky orchestral excerpts for auditions. From fingerings to articulation, from sound quality to rhythmic vitality – Edna leaves no stone unturned. What separates her from other teachers is of course the fact that she enables you to explore all those categories as rooted in the anatomical evidence of playing the instrument. Through studying with her, I have become not just a better performer, but a better musician and a better teacher myself. Edna is an embodiment of a Master Teacher. Thank you, Master.Yegor ShevtsovPianist, Arctic Philharmonic, Bodø, NorwayPianist, Ballet West, Salt Lake City, UTPianist, Mark Morris Dance Group Ensemble, Brooklyn, NYFaculty, MSM Precollege, New York, NYDMA, Manhattan School of Musichttps://markmorrisdancegroup.org/profile/yegor-shevtsov/The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
31: Edna Golandsky Inspiring Us All in a Lecture on Passages from Chopin
Apr 18 2024
31: Edna Golandsky Inspiring Us All in a Lecture on Passages from Chopin
Send us a Text Message.Today's episode  is from the Golandsky Institute Online Workshop on August 6, 2020 in the heart of the global pandemic. Our founder, Edna Golandsky, answers questions related to passages in Chopin. Of note is the first 6 minutes or so of the presentation. Edna brings to our attention the clear idea of which, yes, the Taubman Approach can help with the reversal of injuries and bring healing to pianists. However, there is so much more to this approach. The heights of where the technique can take you is limitless. Encountering this work at a surface level will help you. In a previous episode with the pianist Robert Dvorkin, Robert remarks that encountering the Taubman Approach for the first time is like taking the thorn out of the lion''s paw - but that is only the beginning. When a pianist invests in understanding this work and studying it deeply with a qualified teacher, the rewards are immense artistically. So without further comments, let's get into today's episode.  The video of this lecture is available on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPX4QH3VfiEThe Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
30: Josu de Solaun: Why Every Pianist Should Explore the Taubman Approach
Apr 11 2024
30: Josu de Solaun: Why Every Pianist Should Explore the Taubman Approach
Send us a Text Message.Today’s episode features a conversation with Josu de Solaun as he describes the new heights and depths of artistic expression he experienced in studying the Taubman work with Edna Golandsky. Josu was not injured when he came to the Taubman approach. He wanted to understand what he did well at the piano and to discover his limitations in order to play with more freedom, power, speed and artistic expression. https://www.josudesolaun.com/In the 2023 edition, the ICMA jury expressed: "Josu de Solaun is one of the most impressive discoveries of the past decade. Not only is he a technically impressive pianist, but his interpretative imagination also knows no limits. His interpretations ideally reflect De Solaun's ability to engage with works symbiotically and at the highest energy levels. Free of aesthetic dogmas, the pianist creates cosmoses of a solitary nature."He is also the sole Spanish pianist to win first prizes at the José Iturbi (2006) and George Enescu (2014) international piano competitions since their inception in 1980 and 1958, respectively. Esteemed pianists like Elisabeth Leonskaja (1964) and Radu Lupu (1967) have previously won the Enescu Competition.In 2019, President of Romania Klaus Iohannis appointed him Officer of the Order of the Cultural Merit of the Republic of Romania, acknowledging his artistic work and promotion of George Enescu’s music—whose complete works for piano he recorded under the NAXOS label—and Romanian musical culture globally.Josu, trained by Salvador Chuliá and pianists María Teresa Naranjo and Ana Guijarro in Spain, later studied in New York under pianists Nina Svetlanova and Horacio Gutiérrez, enabling him to exhibit his musical artistry in various forms. Further studies in New York included composition with Giampaolo Bracali and conducting with Robert Isaacs and David Gilbert, along with chamber music with Robert Mann (Juilliard Quartet) and Isidore Cohen (Beaux Arts Trio).Jessica Duchen of BBC Music Magazine praised: "De Solaun allows the expression to lead at all times, no matter how intense the virtuosity. There is always an elastic vitality in his interpretations, a warm and intimate approach to his phrasing, and a beautiful, sweet tone."Justo Romero in Scherzo declared: "It is difficult to imagine a more powerful and creative pianism. De Solaun is one of the most interesting virtuosos of the contemporary keyboard. Spanish and non-Spanish. A vigorous, wise pianism, of refined workmanship and great musicality. We are before a true colossus of the piano, a true virtuoso, in the old style, who makes use of his resplendent technique and the extroverted dramatic, his strong artistic nature to conjugate versions that combine brilliance and effusiveness, fire and delicacy, always with an intense pianistic foundation, all with naturalness, strength, power, sonorous opulence, and intense expressive sense."The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
28: John Bloomfield on Mozart's A Minor Sonata, K. 310 and Chopin's Scherzo no.3 in C-sharp minor, op. 39
Mar 29 2024
28: John Bloomfield on Mozart's A Minor Sonata, K. 310 and Chopin's Scherzo no.3 in C-sharp minor, op. 39
Send us a Text Message.This is a presentation from the June 25, 2020 Golandsky Institute Online Workshop. John Bloomfield speaks about applying the Taubman Approach to Mozart's A minor Sonata, K. 310 and Chopin's Scherzo no.3 in C-sharp minor, op. 39.  Please visit our YouTube Channel to watch this brilliant lecture.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOx5Ukkbge0 PDF Handout: https://bit.ly/62520handoutSubscribe to Golandsky Streaming and gain access to 100+ other educational videos teaching the Taubman Approach. Learn from master classes, technique clinics, lectures, and presentations by the founding members and expert teachers of the Golandsky Institute.SUBSCRIBE TO GOLANDSKY STREAMINGhttp://bit.ly/GIstreamingOr visit our Shop to purchase this video directly.BUY HEREhttp://bit.ly/golandskyshopJoin us for our workshops and symposiums! Participants intensively learn the Taubman Approach by attending private lessons, technique clinics, and presentations by expert Taubman teachers. LEARN MOREhttps://www.golandskyinstitute.orgThe Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
27: Arthur Simoes and I want You to Test the Taubman Approach for Yourself
Mar 21 2024
27: Arthur Simoes and I want You to Test the Taubman Approach for Yourself
Send us a Text Message.We welcome the brilliant pianist Arthur Simoes to the podcast today. You are going to love this conversation. Arthur has tested the Taubman Approach in many mays; from classical literature to Dalcroze and now in jazz and improvisation. What's kind of fun about this episode is that I surprise Arthur with a rapid fire question time at the end of the episode. Stick around for that exciting exchange.You can be in touch with Arthur on Instagram @arthursimoesmusic,https://www.golandskyinstitute.org/arthur-simoes/ “We were captivated by the elegance of Arthur Simoes's touch, as he performed pieces from Ginastera with dazzling virtuosity and an ineffable sense of sorrow.” – ArcinfoArthur Simoes enjoys a diverse career as a pianist, composer, and educator. He has performed extensively in Europe, as well as in Latin America and in the United States, and he frequently presents lectures, workshops, and masterclasses across the globe.Passionate about education, Arthur has run a successful private studio for more than 10 years. He has also taught at the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze and at the Haute Ecole de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland. His teaching is rooted in the conviction that every person has the innate ability to learn music, and encompasses elements from Dalcroze Eurhythmics as well as the Taubman Approach. Arthur is a first prize winner of the 29th European Music Competition “Città di Moncalieri”, in Italy, as well as other piano competitions. Venues and festivals where he performed include the Victoria Hall (Geneva), La Schubertiade sur la Colline (Neuchâtel), and the Berklee Performance Center (Boston).His musical journey began at the age of 6, and he enrolled at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève at the age of 10, from which he graduated with the Arditi Award for the best final recital of the year. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Piano and a Master’s degree in Music Pedagogy – Dalcroze Eurhythmics from the Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève, as well as the Diplôme Supérieur of the Dalcroze method. During his Dalcroze studies, Arthur was awarded the Institut-Jaques Dalcroze Award “for his qualities as eurhythmician”, the Emile Jaques-Dalcroze Foundation Award “for the excellence of his improvisation exam” and the Aletheia Foundation Award “for the excellence of his Diplôme Supérieur choreography”. He has also pursued in-depth studies of the Taubman Approach with his mentor Edna Golandsky, in New York.His passion for improvised music as well as the desire to broaden his horizons have brought Arthur to Berklee College of Music to pursue a Professional Music Diploma with concentrations in Jazz Composition and Performance, as he continues to perform, compose, and teach.The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
26: Hugo Bermúdez on the Taubman Approach in Latin America
Mar 14 2024
26: Hugo Bermúdez on the Taubman Approach in Latin America
Send us a Text Message.Today's episode is so inspiring. We welcome Hugo Bermudez to the podcast where he shares his story of incredible recovery from a massive injury sustained in playing the piano. He tried everything to get better. But, it was only after the expert care of Edna Golandsky that he was able to achieve full and complete healing. This journey of healing prompted Hugo to pursue the Taubman Approach in a deep way becoming the first and only certified teacher in Latin America. This episode relays the ups and downs of Hugo's journey. Don't miss the diagnosis given to Hugo from an emergency room doctor! Hugo Bermúdez is the first and only certified teacher of the Taubman Approach in Mexico and Latin America. He teaches this approach mainly to commited amateurs, conservatory students, teachers and professional pianists in Mexico, Argentina, Guatemala, Chile, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Spain, India and the United States.Working along with the Golandsky Institute, he has created the project “Taubman en Español”, creating original video content in Spanish and putting subtitles into existing Golandsky Institute videos. This effort is key to helping to make this body of knowledge more accessible to the Hispanic community.Bermúdez holds a Bachelors degree in piano performance from the “Autonomous University of Nuevo León” in Mexico, where he graduated with the highest honors (Academic Merit Award).He has deepened his musical knowledge by studying interpretation with the renowned expert in music phenomenology, Jordi Mora (Spain), by currently working towards his Masters degree in Musical Interpretation and Investigation from “Valentian International University”, and by continuing to study the Taubman Approach with the world's leading expert, Edna Golandsky.Here are some links mentioned in this episode: Hugo's Instagram Hugo's Facebook Page on the Taubman Approach in SpanishHugo will be speaking about the Taubman Approach for the "Mexican Healthy Conservatories Network".  You can find out more about it at this LINK. The event is on Wednesday, March 20th, 2024 at 6pm (GMT-6).The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
24: Debbie Poryes on Jazz Teaching and the Taubman Approach
Feb 29 2024
24: Debbie Poryes on Jazz Teaching and the Taubman Approach
Send us a Text Message.Born in Santa Monica, California, Debbie Poryes found herself at the piano when she was five, practicing everything from Chopin to show tunes. Playing led to fascination with musical theory and structure, then jazz standards, composing, and improvising. Hearing Monk and Miles as a teenager, she fell in love with their music and decided to become a jazz pianist. At twenty, her first regular paying gig lasted a year at a Berkeley restaurant, playing five nights a week from 5 p.m. to midnight.Debbie has always gone her own way musically, even while maintaining a constant study through transcription and analysis of her favorite players and composers, such as Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett, Horace Silver, Hank Jones, Sonny Clark, and Clare Fischer. Drawn strongly to 20th century classical music, she has been influenced by many composers, including Aaron Copland and Norman Dello Joio. In her early years as a musician in Oakland, her passion led her to play frequently at jam sessions while continuing to study classical music and jazz with local players. She composed and arranged music, and produced her own concerts with her duos, trios and quartets in addition to freelancing with various local singers and bands. She has performed all over the San Francisco Bay Area notably, at the Stanford Jazz Festival, SFJazz, Yoshi’s Jazzclub, the Berkeley Jazzschool, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and the Piedmont Piano Company. True to her beginnings, she still loves playing in restaurants and played twice-weekly for 6 years at the New Orleans-styled Oakland restaurant Pican, only stopping when the restaurant up and closed! A significant aspect to Debbie’s musical life has been her experience with tendonitis in her wrists. In her thirties, pain forced her to stop playing for two years, during which time she explored many avenues of healing. A breakthrough came when she happened upon Dorothy Taubman’s piano technique, which emphasized maintaining the natural coordination of the fingers, hand, and arm. Absorbing this new way of thinking, Debbie continues to study it with her teacher John Bloomfield in New York and pass it along to her grateful students. The injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it led not only to Debbie’s development of a beautiful sound without harshness but also an ease and control she didn’t have before. One has only to see Debbie play to appreciate how comfortable her hands are at the keyboard.Debbie felt the call to teach early in her career and continues to adore helping students understand jazz and further their own playing. Debbie has internet students around the globe in addition to her students at her home studio. She taught at the Berkeley Jazzschool for over 20 years as well as many summers at the Stanford Summer Jazz Program and has given presentations to the California Music Teachers’ Association on how to teach jazz. In the summer of 2018 Debbie moved to Philadelphia. Her husband Tony Fels retired from his teaching job at the University of San Francisco and they, along with their daughter, returned to his hometown. She continues to teach her California and global students through the internet and is enjoying her new students and gigs in Philadelphia.Please visit  https://www.debbieporyes.com/ for Debbie's incredible website. The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
23: Nathan Kaplan, student of John Bloomfield, on Learning the Piano through the Taubman Approach as an Adult Learner
Feb 22 2024
23: Nathan Kaplan, student of John Bloomfield, on Learning the Piano through the Taubman Approach as an Adult Learner
Send us a Text Message.In a previous episode we mentioned that the Taubman Approach is for everyone. For example, if you are an older adult that played the piano when you were younger and want to begin to get back into playing the Taubman Approach is the best way to accomplish your dreams!  Today's episode with Nathan Kaplan goes through the ups and downs of learning the Taubman Approach as an Adult Learner. Nathan is a retired public school teacher in the New York City Public School system where he taught music and even played professionally. Nathan came to the Taubman Approach at the age of 65 wanting to play the piano at a higher level. At first, Nathan's experience in learning the work was a difficult one. But,  through the patience and perseverance of both John Bloomfield and his own, his playing has totally been transformed. Nathan is an inspiration! In this episode he shows that through the Taubman Approach the sky is the limit for what can be achieved. We will update the show notes as Nathan's upcoming recital is publicized! The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
22: Jacob Silver on Hope,Teaching, Community, Healing, and Jazz
Feb 15 2024
22: Jacob Silver on Hope,Teaching, Community, Healing, and Jazz
Send us a Text Message.Today's episode features an interview with pianist and teacher, Jacob Silver. He teaches full-time out of his Brooklyn studio. Jacob faced an injury in graduate school where he reached out to Taubman expert, John Bloomfield. Jacob was able to retrain under the direction of John Bloomfield. His website references that 6 out of 10 musicians have debilitating pain. We get into this epidemic that faces musicians in both the jazz and classical worlds.   And, stay tuned until the end of the episode where Jacob turns the table and begins to interview me! We get really personal about the idea of bringing hope for pianists around the world. Here is Jacob's website: www.jacobsilverpiano.comJacob Silver graduated with a Bachelor of Music from The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. He then went on to get his Masters of Music at Manhattan School of Music.Jacob has 15 years of experience and is an incredibly in demand teacher. Known for breaking down the fundamentals of piano technique for all ages and styles. He gives students the tools to solve playing problems on their own and develop a fluid piano technique. He specializes in teaching and applying the Taubman approach. A revolutionary piano technique developed by Dorthy Taubman and continued on by the Golandsky Institute. The technique teaches pianists how to play any repertoire, no matter how difficult, with ease and utmost musicality. It focuses on a piano technique free of pain, stress, or fatigue.Jacob discovered the Taubman approach after being injured during his masters program. The Taubman approach allowed him to fully recover and play even better than he had before. 60% of musicians will develop a disability over the course of their lifetime. Jacob recovered and is driven by making sure every student he works with has the tools to prevent playing injury. He also works with pianists who are currently injured to help them retrain and heal.His performance career has taken him around the globe. Touring with Jazz groups in Japan and Singapore. As a composer, his works have been featured by the American Studio Orchestra in Baltimore, MD.The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
20: Famed Jazz Pianist, Adam Klipple, On the Power of the Taubman Approach for Jazz
Feb 1 2024
20: Famed Jazz Pianist, Adam Klipple, On the Power of the Taubman Approach for Jazz
Send us a Text Message.I am watching the Taubman Technique videos. Actually, I am absolutely consuming this material. Friends, it's what you are searching for in giving freedom and new levels to your playing.  On those tapes, there is an interesting quote of Dorothy Taubman some of which appears in the publicly available documentary, The Choreography of the Hands. (We have it available on the Golandsky Institute YouTube channel). She says something to the effect that teachers must provide answers and direction to these sincere, talented and earnest people who are studying the piano. It seems that Taubman really wanted to provide answers to students. Like for example, how do you put your finger on the key? Why do you get really tired playing? How do you play scales? How do you move in an arpeggio? The Taubman Approach through the Golandsky Institute and its certified teachers has answers. The Taubman Approach has solutions for jazz pianists. It opens up possibilities never seen before. Today's guest, jazz pianist Adam Klipple, gives us a window into the artistic freedom that this paradigm can give. Listen to the full episode because we talk about a ton of amazing ideas. And - Adam on a fun departure from the conversation, heads to the piano and plays! Wow. “The body is capable of fulfilling all pianistic demands without a violation of its nature if the most efficient ways are used; pain, insecurity, and lack of technical control are symptoms of incoordination rather than a lack of practice, intelligence, or talent."Dorothy TaubmanAdam Klipple is a student of John BloomfieldVisit Adam Klipple's website at: https://adamklipple.com/Adam Klipple, who has been described as "a standout pianist who has gone to school on McCoy Tyner and Cecil Taylor and earned his degree," plays piano, Hammond organ, sampler, and a variety of vintage keyboards. He currently records and performs with Veronica Swift, and is a member of the legendary jazz rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears.Adam has recorded and performed onstage with the likes of Ghostface Killah, Lauryn Hill, Graham Haynes, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Craig Harris, Joe Bowie's Defunkt, Sekou Sundiata, Marc Ribot, John Medeski, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Carla Cook, Dave Fiuczynski, David Gilmore, Josh Roseman, Peter Apfelbaum, Jay Rodriguez, Groove Collective, and Smokey Robinson. He has appeared at renowned venues including the Blue Note, Iridium, the Jazz Standard, Blues Alley, and the Knitting Factory, and at jazz festivals around the world.Also a composer and arranger, Adam has earned grants from Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Arts International, Meet the Composer, and the U.S. Department of State, enabling him to tour and teach master classes in southeast Asia, the Pacific Rim, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
19: The Brilliant Swiss Pianist, Sebastian Issler, with Key Insights on the Taubman Approach from Robert Durso
Jan 25 2024
19: The Brilliant Swiss Pianist, Sebastian Issler, with Key Insights on the Taubman Approach from Robert Durso
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode we welcome the brilliant, Swiss pianist, Sebastian Issler.  Sebastian was in London during the beginning of the pandemic. He was in need of lessons online and remembered watching 'The Choreography of the Hands' a few years before. He then sought out Robert Durso. Since then, he has been having lessons with Robert Durso online and has travelled to Philadelphia several times for in person lessons. His story demonstrates  the possibility of excelling in the Taubman Approach through a combination of online and in person lessons. Sebastian is an inspiring pianist! Please visit Sebastian's website at: www.sebastianissler.com Swiss Pianist Sebastian Issler received the Jean Meikle Prize for best Duo at the 2022 Wigmore Hall/Bollinger International Song Competition, together with British-Hungarian soprano Anna Cavaliero. He is the winner of the 2022 Paul Hamburger Prize for Lieder, finalist of several international competitions, including the International Schubert Competition Dortmund, and multiple prize winner of the Swiss Youth Music Competition.​Sebastian is the first pianist-in-residence at the City Music Foundation in London, which also acts as his management.​With his duo partners, Sebastian has performed at Milton Court Concert Hall, International Lied Festival Zeist, LIEDBasel Festival, Origen Festival Cultural, Liedrezital Zurich, Abbey Library of Saint Gall, Tonhalle Zurich, Barts Heritage Great Hall, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and Wigmore Hall, among others. He also appears regularly as an accompanist in masterclasses with luminaries such as Brigitte Fassbaender and Thomas Hampson, and recently as a soloist with the Collegium Vocale Lenzburg in Switzerland.​In 2021, he recorded his unique programme ‘The World of Song’ for the Montreux Jazz Festival China at the Schubertiade Hall. ‘The World of Song’ was first broadcast in an immersive cinema in 360 Reality Audio at the festival in Hangzhou, China.​He is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, where he completed his Artist Diploma as a Guildhall Scholar working with Julius Drake and was a member of Graham Johnson's Song Guild. Prior to his studies in London, Sebastian completed two master's degrees, both with distinction, at the Zurich University of the Arts. He is a scholarship holder of Arosa Kultur and LIEDBasel.​Sebastian is influenced greatly by working with Robert Durso at the Golandsky Institute in New York which significantly changed his own playing and teaching style. He is based in Zurich and enjoys teaching, specializing in the Taubman Approach.​He is currently a fellow at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where he gives his lecture ‘Choreography of the Hands’ to piano master students in the piano accompaniment programme. Sebastian is a teacher for piano accompaniment at the Zurich University of Teacher Education and is a guest lecturer at the Zurich University of the Arts.The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
18: Robert Dvorkin on Changing Careers to Teach the Taubman Approach in Ottawa, Canada
Jan 18 2024
18: Robert Dvorkin on Changing Careers to Teach the Taubman Approach in Ottawa, Canada
Send us a Text Message.Here is Robert Dvorkin's website! www.robertdvorkin.comRobert Dvorkin loved music and studied it at a high level when he was a young man. To pay the bills, Robert entered into a career in IT and continued to enjoy the piano, practicing and performing. Through a variety of circumstances, Robert moved back to Canada from New York City for his work in IT and came to a place where he wanted to get back into music full-time. As he had been studying the Taubman Approach with John Bloomfield since 2000, he was able to be certified in the Taubman Approach and is only one of three Canadians currently certified in this work. This episode frames the incredible journey of Robert in his love for the piano and teaching. He gets to the heart of why teaching this work is so important. People need music! I also want to say, the learning process is explored and some key insights into the work is discussed. Here is a bit more about Robert:I grew up Edmonton, AB, where I began to study piano at the age of nine. For five years, until I was 17, I studied with Ernesto Lejano. Dr. Lejano taught at the University of Alberta, but had a few private students, and I was privileged to be among them. He imbued me with a love for music that continues to this day.From there I went to the Indiana University School of Music (now the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University), studying primarily with Enrica Cavallo-Gulli. Maestra Gulli was a consummate musician, both as a soloist and as a partner in the Duo Cavallo-Gulli with her husband, violinist Franco Gulli. It was under her tutelage that I grew as a musician. I graduated from Indiana University with Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in piano performance. In 1988 I moved to New York City, where I lived for the next 25 years.While in New York, I taught and concertized in both the United States and Canada. In 1999 I began studying with John Bloomfield, who remains my teacher to this day. With John I intensified my study of the Taubman Approach, which I describe in detail here. I am certified to teach the Taubman Approach as an Associate of the Golandsky Institute, one of only three Canadians to have been so-honoured.In 2014 I repatriated to Canada, settled in Ottawa, and built a teaching studio out of my home in the Copeland Park neighbourhood. I continue to concertize, lecture, and teach privately. I teach practical piano as well as theory and harmony. I am currently accepting students from intermediate to advanced levels. Whatever your musical goals are, I know I can help you achieve them. Please feel free to get in touch!The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.
16: The Joy of Learning the Taubman Approach with Vincent Wong
Jan 11 2024
16: The Joy of Learning the Taubman Approach with Vincent Wong
Send us a Text Message.Vincent Wong is a dedicated music educator and pianist, specializing in piano improvisation. With a deep belief in the transformative power of improvisation, Wong is committed to providing students with a holistic approach to learning music.With a rich musical background, Wong has honed his skills through extensive experience and training. He has had the privilege of collaborating with renowned musicians and ensembles in diverse genres, including classical, baroque, contemporary, and non-classical music.Notable recent productions showcasing Wong's musical prowess include his involvement in the successful arrangements for "Animenz" and the Hong Kong Doujin Philharmonia in 2023. He also participated in the post music production of the movie”Still Human". Wong's compositions have been recognized and he has served as a member of CASH in Hong Kong. He worked as a media composer at Hong Kong TML Media.As an educator, Wong brings a wealth of teaching methods and experiences to his students. He has completed ANCOS Orff music and movement education level courses level 1, studied the Dalcroze method under Joseph Reizer, and participated in a Dalcroze workshop at Carnegie Mellon University. Wong's expertise extends to teaching music in Montessori kindergartens and serving as a lecturer in Montessori teacher training programs. In fact, he was invited to speak at the Montessori Asia conference in Hong Kong in 2017, where he shared his unique approach to music education.Wong's commitment to fostering creativity and musical expression through piano improvisation is evident in his teaching philosophy. By imparting the skills and techniques of improvisation, Wong empowers his students to explore their own musicality and develop a deep connection to their instrument.Wong holds a Master of Education from Hong Kong Baptist University, having previously earned a first-honor Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the same institution. His passion for music sparked at a young age when he began playing the piano at six years old. Throughout his musical journey, Wong has been privileged to study under esteemed instructors such as Mr. Shi Jing Lin, Miss Kwok Ting, Mr. Raymond Young, and Mrs. Nancy Loo. Currently, Wong continues to enhance his musical knowledge and skills through his studies of the Taubman Approach with Mary Moran.Vincent's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@backtozero40Vincent's YouTube channel that specializes in improvisation: https://www.youtube.com/@vwmusic3456Vincent's Studio Website: https://sumszemas.com/The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.