Pennsylvania 2010
Teaching ourselves
Teaching our students

Full Program

The full program takes place
        From:      Saturday, October 9 (9:00 am)
        Through:  Monday, October 11 (1:00 pm)

This will be 2½ days of supportive interaction among all of us. For more detailed information about The Well-Balanced Pianist programs, please visit www.WellBalancedPianist.com.

Click here to see a sample schedule
Click here to view clinics for this session

Each participant will experience:

1. Two half-hour lessons 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.
   • You will have all your lessons with one teacher.
2. One 1½ hour clinic on October 9, your choice of Moving students' 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.
3. One 1½ hour clinic on October 10, your choice of A beginner's first lessons or The Thumb: a powerful force for good or ill (descriptions below).
4. One 1½ hour session on Alexander Technique and its relevance for pianists led by Ariel Weiss.
5. 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.
6. Opening remarks; Teresa Dybvig and Susan Nowicki share their thoughts on teaching ourselves and our students.
7. One teaching demonstration and discussion on Sunday afternoon, with Teresa Dybvig and Susan Nowicki. Please let us know at registration if you would like to have your student play for this.
8. One interpretation class on Monday, led by Teresa Dybvig and Susan Nowicki.
9. An hour of recreational ensemble music on Monday morning. We'll help you find the right partners and music!
10. Mealtime discussions about mental attitude in practice and teaching.
11. Our final class will be your choice of run-throughs or coachings.
12. Practice time will be available to everyone.
13. The option of participating in a SPECIAL OUTING, dinner at Bocelli's Italian Restaurant on Sunday, October 10. 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 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.

Clinic choices for Sunday, October 10: (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.