Premium Services

With over 15 years of experience dedicated to helping people succeed as professional musicians, adult musicians and music lovers, and those who wish to keep music but pursue other career paths, I offer my Signature Programs below (acceptance following application and interview process).

 

FAQs:

 

What instruments do you coach?

I work with all instrumentalists and singers. The majority of my cohort are pianists, singers, and string players. I also coach specific musicianship areas such as sight-reading, music theory, ear-training, piano skills for non-majors, rhythm, phrasing, timing, accuracy prep, and other fine-tuning elements through various add-on workshops and packages - perfect for those who wish to go in-depth for shorter amounts of time or auditions around the corner.

 

What schools do your students matriculate to?

100% of my students receive acceptances from their reach schools and top level universities and conservatories. Many receive more than $200k in scholarships. Schools include The Juilliard School, Curtis, New England Conservatory, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, Cornell, UPenn, MIT, Northwestern University, University of Southern California, UC Berkeley and UCLA, Rice University, Oberlin College, University of Michigan, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, and more. With proper time and dedication, by the time audition season comes, many of my students' musicianship level is at their dream school's level and we no longer have to apply to schools on the original list at the beginning of the process.

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As a pianist, how do you coach other instrumentalists?

Music is music is music. A top-quality musical phrase contains the same objective and subjective offerings whether played on piano or violin or flute. I like to utilize a lot of linguistic and sports analogies when teaching. A musical phrase is like a sentence of an argument in the court room. A successfully-orated and curated phrase by a top-notch lawyer will have that much more effect on its listeners. Same with music. The articulation, rubato, phrasing, silences, crescendos, climax, architecture, accuracy, and overall shape of each phrase/sentence has to be worked out to the n-th degree to achieve maximum potency and the ability to reach someone else's soul.

My second instrument is cello, and I have also played trumpet, not to mention, historical period instruments. I am able to talk about bow placement, types of vibrato, thumb position, fingerings, bowings, breathing, etc. I have studied chamber music with some of the world's greatest non-pianists and their insights have helped me grow so much as a pianist and teacher. I wish for young and older music lovers to experience the wondrous world of being coached by an expert who does not play their instrument but can offer a whole new way of looking at your music. Trust me, it is so refreshing and rewarding, not to mention, transformational.

Wouldn't you agree that Yo-Yo Ma could give excellent musical advice to a pianist? Wouldn't you agree that Itzhak Perlman would be able to give excellent musical advice to the cellist of a string quartet? Yes and yes! 

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I came to this page because I hear you have a very high client-satisfaction, transformation, and results rate for college and pre-college applications. What does this entail?

I research and stay up-to-date with the ever-changing landscape and details so that you or your family does not need to go through this painful and time-consuming process in the dark with wrong turns and regrets. Leave the heavy-lifting to me and reap the rewards! 

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I provide full service premium-tier guidance that is one-of-a-kind and offered nowhere else. Like my art, everything I do is at the highest level, and that will be visible from the first consultation. There are no shortcuts to studying music or having a fulfilling life with music in it - be wary of those who make empty promises with "get rich quick" schemes. In music, those who acknowledge the importance of excellent teaching and seek out the right people as soon as possible are those most likely to improve, succeed, find happiness, advance in the field, and find a sense of purpose. Whether you wish to put smiles on your loved one's faces at the next holiday party or get into a top school, my Signature Approach will be sure to transform your ability and understanding of the music on your instrument.

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Clifford Stoll, American astronomer, author, and teacher, famously said, "Data is not information, information is not knowledge, knowledge is not understanding, understanding is not wisdom." I help guide my students from data to wisdom step by step with a 360 degree approach to holistic music training and education so that they get closer to achieving more and becoming their own teachers.

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II also recommend all potential clients and parents to watch this interview with Krzysztof Jablonski starting from 7:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLwme-v1ASc 

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If you have read this far and want to continue your musical journey with a pro, email fortepianonyc@gmail.com with your name and musical story and you will be contacted if eligible for a first consultation.