2020 Golandsky Institute Berkeley Seminar
ABOUT EVENT
Join us for an immersive learning experience.
The Golandsky Institute's Berkeley Seminar Online offers lectures, demonstrations, masterclasses, and observed lessons to expand your skills and knowledge of the Taubman Approach to piano technique.
November 6-8, 2020
Saturday, November 7th is the main seminar day.
Friday is a day of observed lessons.
Sunday offers the Pedagogy Workshop, lessons, and Q&A sessions.
*All times are Pacific Standard Time
Friday, November 6
Observed Lessons
Participants may observe senior faculty members Mary Moran and John Bloomfield teach one-on-one lessons. Each lesson is one hour, with a 15-minute break in between.
Registrants interested in taking lessons must sign up during registration.
Observed Lessons
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (PST)
Sign up for lessons during registration.
Saturday, November 7
Seminar Day
Join us for a day of talks, masterclasses, and breakout groups.
Marc Steiner
9:00-9:45 AM
Lecture
An Introduction to the Taubman Approach
John Bloomfield
9:55-10:40 AM
Lecture
Going In on the Last White Thumb Before a Black Thumb
Moving into the black-key area often creates problems. Because situations are so varied, it is impossible to give hard-and-fast rules. A particular maneuver that is often overlooked, however, is to move in on the last white thumb before a black thumb plays. John Bloomfield will use examples from the repertoire to illustrate and clarify such passages.
Mary Moran
10:50-11:35 AM
Lecture
What? That was a leap!?
How recognizing subtle leaps and organizing them can make a big difference in your playing
Masterclass
Two pianists will perform pieces and work with faculty of the Golandsky Institute.
11:45-12:45
Lunch Break
12:45-1:30
Elizabeth Swarthout
1:30-2:15 PM
Lecture
Combining Baroque Tools for Expressivity with the Taubman Approach
Bach's Prelude and Fugue in F# Minor, WTC, Book II
Bob Durso
2:25-3:10 PM
Lecture
Time for some fun!
How the Taubman Approach can help a piece like Etincelles (Sparks) by Moritz Moskowski sound virtuosic but feel easy to play!
Debbie Poryes
3:20-4:05 PM
Lecture
An Exploration of Sound
A few improvising ideas to make you smile
Breakout Groups
Join one of four faculty members to ask questions from the day and try out passages!
4:15-5:00
Sunday, November 8 (Option 1)
Pedagogy Workshop with Mary Moran
Pedagogy Lecture
Mary Moran
Piano pedagogy and the Taubman Approach.
Q&A
Mary Moran
Open hour for asking questions.
Pedagogy Workshop
Mary Moran
Mary Moran will coach six students.
Sunday, November 8 (Option 2)
Lessons and Q&A with Bob Durso and John Bloomfield
Observed Lesson
8:30-9:30 AM
One-on-one lesson open for observation
Observed Lesson
9:45-10:45 AM
One-on-one lesson open for observation
Q&A
11:00 AM -12:00 PM
Open time to ask John of Bob any questions that came up during the seminar.
Observed Lesson
12:15 - 1:15 PM
One-on-one lesson open for observation.
John Bloomfield
Senior Director, Golandsky Institute
John Bloomfield is a co-founder and a Senior Director of the Golandsky Institute, as well as serving as its faculty chairman. In demand as a teacher and clinician, he maintains a private studio in New York City and travels frequently to lecture, consult, and give lessons, most recently in Australia.
Mary Moran
Senior Director, Golandsky Institute
Mary Moran is a co-founder and a Senior Director of the Golandsky Institute. Widely recognized as a teacher of the Taubman Approach and for her work in children’s pedagogy, she has a private studio in Albany, New York and mentors teachers in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Canada. She is the author of “Basic Alignment & Rotation – Beginning Lessons in the Taubman Approach”.
Bob Durso
Senior Director, Golandsky Institute
Bob Durso is a co-founder, master teacher, and senior director of the Golandsky Institute. He has worked with Edna Golandsky and Dorothy Taubman since 1983 and was a faculty member of the former Taubman Institute. Specializing in audition and competition preparation, Mr. Durso teaches in Philadelphia and New York City.
Elizabeth Swarthout
Faculty, Golandsky Institute
Elizabeth Swarthout has studied the Taubman Approach since 1985. She serves is the founder and former director of the Golandsky Institute Berkeley Seminar. She teaches in Richmond and Davis, California; Granada, Spain; as well as online.
Marc Steiner
Teacher and Performer
Marc Steiner has over thirty years experience with the Taubman Approach. He regularly gives lectures and master classes on the Taubman work and is a former faculty member of the Taubman and Golandsky Institutes. He performs as pianist with Sierra Ensemble and maintains private teaching studios in the East Bay and Los Angeles areas.
marcjsteiner [at] gmail.com
Debbie Poryes
Jazz Pianist and Teacher
Born in Santa Monica, California, Debbie found herself at the piano when she was five, practicing everything from Chopin to show tunes. Playing led to fascination with music 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.
For questions regarding the Berkeley Seminar, please visit this contact page.
