Piano Lessons

I love helping pianists shed years of inefficient habits and discover how to play much more easily and expressively.

Every detail of body position and movement makes a difference. So does having more awareness of sound and rhythmic impulses. It’s like putting a puzzle together – you put all the pieces in place to create something whole and brilliant. There’s nothing like the feeling of genuine mastery of your instrument.

I focus a lot on each student’s perceptions and ideas, so that we can collaborate to create an exciting learning experience for both of us. So instead of only giving you my ideas of how to improve your playing, I will also ask you questions to find out what you already understand and to encourage your own thought process.

Questions like, “How did that feel?” “How did it sound to you?” And even, “What do you think you could do to improve it?” We end up having a real creative dialogue in which I get to know you and can really support your natural learning process with my appreciation and input. Every lesson becomes a rich and fun experience.

“I came to Madeline to fix bad habits and improve my technique, but I almost feel like those were fixed incidentally, and that I learned much more important things along the way. She taught me how to really connect with, listen to, and trust myself — both my body and my heart. I regained the confidence I had lost and learned how to create space for myself to grow, as a pianist and person.”

–Amy Lam, pianist

PIANO TECHNIQUE

I’m passionate about piano technique. Experiencing the physical energy moving freely through your body in relationship to the piano is joyful and life-giving. And that physical pleasure, combined with the visceral experience of taking in the sounds you love as you’re playing, brings such vibrancy to the music you make. No one should feel uncomfortable playing the piano. The happier your body is, the better you’ll sound.

“I discovered an amazing way to move my hands and body that was very gratifying physically. From the very first lesson I got back in touch with my body, and feeling my hands, and a certain physical pleasure in playing the piano.”

–Christian Bonvin, pianist and teacher

“After only three lessons with Madeline, my technique feels amazingly natural and effortless. Instead of struggling for power and sounding harsh, I can now make a beautiful, big, round sound easily, just by making simple changes in how I use my body.”

–Laura Amoriello, Piano Faculty, Ithaca College

“I was unhappy with my playing for years when I started studying with Madeline. She taught me so much about technique, listening, practice, performance, and mindfulness, and all of it completely transformed both my playing and my life. It is because of these lessons with her that I trust in my music making again, and I trust in my heart.”

–Jad Bernardo, pianist and coach

ONLINE LESSONS

Madeline on teaching online:

“The first time I taught online I was amazed. It was incredible to be teaching in Borneo from my studio in New York and to be able to instantly see and feel where the student was holding tension in her body, and to help her play more easily. She sounded better quickly, and I was so grateful for this fantastic technology. I still can hardly believe that I’m able to help musicians all over the world.”

“Teaching me online, Madeline explained and saw in detail what many teachers can’t even do in person. She helped me solve long standing technical problems, and I finally feel confident at the piano.”

–Margaret Wronka Moeckel, pianist, alum of Manhattan School of Music

INJURY PREVENTION AND RECOVERY

Scientists have said that playing a musical instrument is the most complex neuromuscular activity that people engage in. This means that practicing and performing make extreme demands on your coordination, requiring maximum physical control, sensitivity, and precision. It’s easy to fall short of the high level of physical expertise that you need to master your instrument. Because musicians often use their bodies inefficiently and practice with excess tension, 75% of them develop practice-related injuries.

Specializing in piano technique has enabled me to help many pianists recover from their injuries. Read three case histories of accomplished pianists who were able to recover from their injuries and resume playing through their work with me.

Of course, it’s best to prevent an injury from happening in the first place. By training pianists step-by-step in using their hands, arms, and body comfortably and efficiently, I help them avoid excess tension and injury and fully express the music that’s inside of them.