Instructional video with Edna Golandsky on separate hands playing.
June 3, 2012
I discuss separate hands playing, and also multi-tasking, at the Panama Jazz Festival.
Why is it important to have lessons in the Taubman Approach, besides just watching the 10 DVDs?
May 29, 2012
Learning the Taubman Approach is an experiential process of embodying coordinate movement. One can certainly learn aspects of the Taubman Approach through studying the DVDs, and become familiar with the vocabulary and key concepts. However, problems may arise if the individual disregards crucial information, exaggerates or misunderstands instructions, or adds variants that contradict the fundamental premises of the technique. Each individual has to be seen by a skilled teacher in order for their specific problems to be diagnosed and addressed.
The teacher’s role is central in diagnosing inefficient or harmful positions and movements, and assisting the student in incorporating healthy, coordinate alternatives into their playing. It is with this expert guidance that a student can transition from the more pronounced practice of the Taubman Approach’s central components to the more subtle integration of these movements into a healthy high-level technique. Thus, DVDs can supplement but not replace individual tuition with a certified Taubman teacher.
Instructional video on staccato playing
May 29, 2012
I work with a student at the Panama Jazz Festival on staccato playing in Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca.
Problem solving session with healthy typing and laptop use
May 23, 2012
I work with healthy laptop and mouse use in a short problem solving session at the Golandsky Institute Summer Symposium.
You can also go to my Healthy Typing website for information, free video clips, and a link to buy the Healthy Typing DVD.
This year’s Golandsky Institute International Piano Festival
May 17, 2012
Read about the exciting line-up of performances at this year’s Golandsky Institute Summer Symposium and Piano Festival 2012.
The majority of these amazing pianists have benefited hugely from studying the Taubman Approach.
Don’t miss this fantastic week at Princeton University, this year from July 7-15.
Choreography of the Hands
May 17, 2012
This YouTube channel features a film that is part of the history of the Golandsky Institute. It is the work of Dorothy Taubman as presented in The Choreography of the Hands.
http://www.youtube.com/user/urwyke/videos
You will see footage of the early days of the Taubman Institute and through this wonderful film understand the very foundation of what the Golandsky Institute is built on. Now in our ninth season at Princeton University, we have expanded the scope of this remarkable body of knowledge through private lessons, current lectures on the basics of the Taubman Approach, technique clinics, special presentations, concerts, applications to violin, and performance opportunities. Click here to join us for the Golandsky Institute’s Summer Symposium at Princeton University in July 2012!
Read feedback from past Golandsky Institute Summer Symposium participants!
May 15, 2012
Read what previous participants of the Summer Symposia at Princeton had to say about the richness of the program, and what they gained, both professionally and personally from the experience.
- “This week has shifted a paradigm in my approach to the piano…This technique provides and describes the tools to solve problems. I no longer feel like there is a limitation to what I can do and how well I can play, and the feeling is liberating.”
- “I have never experienced such a nurturing and welcoming community in the music world – one without pretension or competition. And yet the quality of the performances and the instruction is unparalleled.”
- “wonderful insights and pedagogy”
- “The training you gave me has been invaluable. No pain at all!”
- “I wanted to thank you once again for such a wonderful week. I learned so much and had so much fun! I also want to mention what a nice collegial atmosphere the Institute has—which is pretty uncommon”.
- “This is a huge thank you to all of you for an amazing week at Princeton. It exceeded my expectations in every way. All of the sessions were terrific…I look forward to a continuing association with you all”.
- “I wanted to thank you so much for the great work you did during the Summer Symposium. For me was the first time there and, for sure, not the last!”
- “It’s been more than a month since the lecture on Un Sospiro at the summer symposium in Princeton, and just in case you’ve ever wondered whether your lecture changed anybody’s life, I’m pleased to report that I started learning the etude… (more out of curiosity than anything else, since I’d never dared to play anything by Liszt before). I must say, it was remarkably easy to learn the whole piece because of all the meticulous detail you wrote down on the score, especially with regard to fingering! I love practising the piece, and it’s now going to be part of my exam repertoire this term. Thank you so much for all the work you did to make the etude playable with ease. I am sorely in your debt!”
Hopefully you can join us and share the wonderful learning environment at Princeton this year. July 7-15.
Instructional video: Trills
May 15, 2012
Edna works with a student at the Panama Jazz Festival. In this excerpt, she shows how to play fast trills and addresses the problems that the non-playing fingers can cause, eg. the thumb stretching away.
What can I gain from studying the Taubman Approach?
May 8, 2012
Any pianist can benefit through studying the Taubman Approach, regardless of their current performance standard. Apart from overcoming technical limitations, many pianists find they develop greater facility, control, timbral palette, security, reliability in memory and performance. Intuitive performers can become more conscious of what they naturally do well, allowing them to grow further as well as help others. Others report they can practice fewer hours, yet achieve higher-level and more consistent results. As students come to lessons with a wide range of backgrounds and varied learning goals, Taubman teachers tailor lessons to addressing each student’s particular needs at that point in time.
Instructional video with a double bassist
April 28, 2012
I work with a double bassist at the Panama Jazz Festival, on how to move the body without twisting, and reaching extreme ranges of the double bass comfortably.
There is a full string program with Sophie Till at this year’s Golandsky Institute and International Piano Festival, running concurrently with the piano program. Tell any of your string friends who may be interested!
