Pennsylvania 2010
Teaching ourselves
Teaching our students

One-day programs

Please note:
Priority is given to registrants for the full program who register by September 1. If the program is not yet filled, registration for attendance on either Saturday or Sunday will be available starting September 2.

1. One half-hour lesson with Teresa Dybvig or Susan Nowicki
   • Because it's a short program, we will not have partner groups. However, all private lessons will be open for observation. If any of the participants choose to practice together, wonderful!
   • You choose what to work on during your lesson.
   • You are invited (urged, even) to attend as many lessons as your concentratation allows, unless the student specifies otherwise.
2. We encourage you to take advantage of separate private sessions in Alexander Technique (30 minute session for $45), taught by Ariel Weiss. You can arrange your private session in advance when you register. Payment for private sessions in Alexander Technique is due at check-in on October 10. These sessions are in great demand. If you would like a private Alexander session, we suggest you register early.
3. Mealtime discussion about mental attitude in practice and teaching.
4. Practice time will be available to everyone.
5. One 1½ hour clinic, your choice of Moving student's hands or Alignment and Balance (descriptions below). We introduce these concepts and work with each participant in these skill-based clinics, showing people how to coach one another.
6. One 1½ hour session on Alexander Technique and its relevance for pianists Alexander Technique led by Ariel Weiss.
7. Dinner together, soup and salad.

Clinic choices for Saturday, October 9: (Select one at registration.)

Moving your students' hands. Helping students experience the best kinesthetic feelings so they know what to look for can be tricky. Teresa Dybvig will draw from her experience teaching Dorothy Taubman's approach to piano technique to show you how to help your students quickly.

Alignment and Balance. The two foundations of excellent piano technique are often overlooked, in both our own practice and in our teaching - even though healthy movement cannot occur without good alignment and balance. Susan Nowicki will articulate some guidelines for feeling and showing optimal alignment and balance.

1. One half-hour lesson with Teresa Dybvig or Susan Nowicki
   • Because it's a short program, we will not have partner groups. However, all private lessons will be open for observation. If any of the participants choose to practice together, wonderful!
   • You choose what to work on during your lesson.
   • You are invited (urged, even) to attend as many lessons as your concentratation allows, unless the student specifies otherwise.
2. We encourage you to take advantage of separate private sessions in Alexander Technique (30 minute session for $45), taught by Ariel Weiss. You can arrange your private session in advance when you register. Payment for private sessions in Alexander Technique is due at check-in on October 10. These sessions are in great demand. If you would like a private Alexander session, we suggest you register early.
3. Mealtime discussion about mental attitude in practice and teaching.
4. Practice time will be available to everyone.
5. One 1½ hour clinic, your choice of A beginner's first lessons or The thumb: a powerful force for good or ill (descriptions below).
6. One teaching demonstration and discussion with Teresa Dybvig and Susan Nowicki. Please let us know at registration if you would like to have your student play for this.
7. The option of participating in a SPECIAL OUTING, dinner at Bocelli's Italian Restaurant on Sunday, October 11. If you select this at registration, we will add your name to our reservation. They serve delicious food, and you can see from the menu that it is reasonably priced, too!

Clinic choices for Sunday, October 11: (Select one at registration.)

A beginner's first lessons. Susan Nowicki shares repertoire, activities, and technical instruction for getting beginning pianists off to a happy, musical, and healthy start.

The thumb: a powerful force for good or ill. Teresa Dybvig will coach you on the neutral place of the thumb, its best movements for playing, and how it can help the other fingers play.

We are grateful to Cunningham Piano Company & Factory for donating practice pianos to The Well-Balanced Pianist Pennsylvania 2009.

Would you like to read some great reasons to attend The Well-Balanced Pianist? See what past participants have to say.

Note: No previous experience in the Taubman approach or Alexander Technique is necessary for participation in this program.