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Episode Overview

In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant violinist, Sophie Till, founder of the Till Project, to discuss the transformative power of the Taubman Approach for stringed instrument players. Sophie shares her journey into the world of music, the influence of Edna Golandsky’s work, and how the principles of the Taubman Approach can help string players unlock their potential.

Connect with Sophie Till

• Website: The Till Project

Final Thoughts

Sophie’s insights on the Taubman Approach and her dedication to helping musicians thrive are sure to inspire listeners. Whether you’re looking to improve your technique or simply explore new ways of playing, this episode offers valuable guidance and encouragement.

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

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Welcome to Inside the Taubman Approach I’m Benjamin Harding. On today's episode, I want to outline the idea that yes, the approach is a comprehensive foundation for all of piano technique, but it is more than that. I want to give you steps to pursue this incredible work; for you to be exposed to its transformative power and to excel in the work itself.

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

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Welcome to Inside the Taubman Approach! I’m your host, Benjamin Harding, and today we’re diving into an inspiring conversation with the incredible Mary Moran.

In this episode, we’ll explore the teaching of the Taubman Approach to young children—how to make these foundational techniques accessible and engaging for the youngest pianists. Mary, with her decades of experience, will share valuable insights on new course and program development initiatives, offering guidance for piano teachers looking to integrate the Taubman Approach into their private studios.

We'll also take a fascinating look at the evolution of the Taubman work through the years, highlighting the pivotal moments and innovations that have shaped its impact on piano pedagogy. Whether you're a teacher, a student, or simply passionate about piano, there’s something here for everyone.

So, grab your headphones, and let’s get started!

https://www.marymoranpiano.com/

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Inside the Taubman Approach, I’m Benjamin Harding.
Today’s episode is a must listen. We welcome the great Edna Golandsky to the podcast to discuss her new book: The Taubman Approach to Piano Technique: A Comprehensive Guide to Overcome Physical Limitations and Unlock Your Full Pianistic Potential. Part one of the interview is today and next week we will have part two. 

You can visit Edna’s website to purchase this book.
I have my copy in front of me that I purchased on Amazon.

You can also get it on Barnes and Noble. 

Did you know that Edna has a weekly podcast show on her YouTube channel. 

Let’s get into today’s episode!

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

Send us Fan Mail

Hey there, it’s Benjamin Harding. Welcome to Inside the Taubman Approach. We’re stepping into a brand-new season of the podcast, and it’s a thrilling time for us here at the Golandsky Institute. Why, you ask? Because next week, September 10th, Edna Golandsky’s highly anticipated book is hitting the shelves! Have you reserved your copy yet? If not, now’s the time—trust me, it’s an incredible read. https://www.ednagolandsky.com/taubman-approach-book

So, today’s episode is titled “3 Reasons Why I Think You Need to Listen to Next Week’s Episode.” And let me tell you, you’re not going to want to miss this.

Reason Number 1:

Next week, we have a very special guest on the podcast—drum roll, please—Edna Golandsky herself! Whenever we get the chance to hear from our master teachers at the Golandsky Institute, it’s a moment to treasure. Edna’s contributions have been foundational. Without her, this institute wouldn’t exist, and the Taubman Approach might have remained a footnote in the history of piano pedagogy. This is a rare opportunity to gain insight directly from one of the pillars of our field.

Reason Number 2:

Edna will be diving into why she decided to write this book. You’ll get an exclusive look into her motivations and the inspiration behind it. It’s not every day that you hear from the author about the journey and thought process that led to such a significant work. If you’ve ever wondered what drove her to pen this book, this episode will answer that and more.

Reason Number 3:

We’re also going to get some insights that aren’t in the book. The Taubman Approach is a living, evolving body of knowledge. It’s shaped by its practitioners and the ongoing exploration of its principles. Edna will share some fresh perspectives and additional insights that you won’t find in the book, giving you even more value and understanding of the Taubman Approach.

So mark your calendars and tune in next week. This is an episode packed with invaluable insights and a deep dive into the heart of the Taubman Approach.

Thanks for joining me today. Until next time, keep exploring and keep playing.

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

Send us Fan Mail

On today's episode the brilliant pianist, Andrew King, shares about his incredible journey of reaching new artistic heights through the Taubman Approach. He has been studying this work with master teacher, Robert Durso, for two decades.

His quest to finding a comprehensive piano technique was on his heart for many years until one day, serendipitously he was making eggs in a communal kitchen in Vienna when someone shared with him the Taubman Approach.

You will have to listen to the full episode to hear about his journey which includes a sketchy treatment for pain offered by a teacher which included bunches of garlic and whacking his hand with a Bible. Don't miss it! Here we go.

http://andrewkingpianist.com/

Pianist Andrew King is a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative artist based in Connecticut.  Mr. King has performed throughout the Northeast, including to a sold-out hall at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall as soloist and with his colleague, soprano Julie Reumert.  He has played in masterclasses for several world-class pianists and pedagogues, including Edna Golandsky, Ilya Itin, Paul Roberts, Yael Weiss, and Robert Wyatt. After winning many local competitions by age 17, Mr. King went on to Bowdoin College to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. He subsequently completed his master’s degree in piano performance from the Hartt School of Music as the recipient of the William S. Vincent Scholarship. While studying in Vienna, Austria, he and violist Sean Reilly won the first prize in chamber music for the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) program in 2003, and they performed with musicians from Milan, Italy.  Mr. King regularly performs on the St. John’s Summer Music Concert Series in Williamstown, Massachusetts.  

In addition to performing, Mr. King continues to refine his technique as both student and teacher. He is a Certified Associate Instructor of the Taubman Approach, the groundbreaking and transformative approach to piano playing that provides the necessary tools for musical expressiveness through healthy motions at the keyboard. He has studied extensively with Robert Durso, master Taubman teacher and co-founder of the Golandsky Institute, in New York; he was also a student of Gerald Stofsky in Vienna, and Margreet Francis and David Westfall at the Hartt School of Music. After teaching as faculty of the Hartt School Community Division for many years, Mr. King now offers private lessons, both online and at his home studio in Connecticut. He is a long-standing member of the Hartford Chapter of the Connecticut State Music Teachers Association, through which his students have frequently placed in local competitions. He also serves as an adjudicator for piano competitions and presents introductory workshops on the Taubman Approach. For more information, please visit andrewkingpianist.com.

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

Send us Fan Mail

Well, in North America at least, we are in the "dog days" of Summer. It's hot; we're on vacation; and, we are getting ready to get back into the Fall with regular rhythms of teaching and life! 
It's a perfect time for you to sign up for the streaming service at www.golandskyinstitute.org. The quality of the content on our streaming service is not be to be found anywhere else and it is world class. 
On today's episode, we give a little snippet of a lecture presented by John Bloomfield on polyrhythms. Enjoy! 

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

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 www.bethgrace.com
Elizabeth Mueller Grace, NCTM, enjoys a multi-faceted career as performer, teacher, clinician and adjudicator. An award-winning pianist, her performances have been praised for their “depth of sound, intelligent interpretation and fluid technique.” (Omaha World Herald)
A frequent collaborator, Ms. Grace is a member of the Capriole Duo with Barbara Leibundguth, former co-principal flutist in the Minnesota Orchestra. The acclaimed ensemble has performed extensively together throughout the United States since 1984. The Duo was chosen to perform at the National Flute Conference in Chicago, toured under the auspices of the Midwest Arts Council and was featured on the Ruel Joyce Series in Kansas City. Ms. Grace has appeared with the Ives Quartet on the Chamber Music Tulsa Series, and has performed in ensembles nationwide, including at the University of Texas, University of Denver, Drake University and the Lawrence Conservatory of Music. Ms. Ms. Grace regularly concertizes with Dr. Janet Fetterman in duo-piano and four-hand collaborations. The duo was featured as the Conference Artists for the Missouri Federation State Convention.
Ms. Grace was selected as a 2021 Steinway and Sons Top Teacher and was the winner of the 2014 Kansas Outstanding Teacher of the Year. A dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, she has taught at Rice University, Houston, Texas and Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Her students frequently win top prizes in competitions and festivals.
Ms. Grace is certified at the Master Level of the Taubman Approach through the Golandsky Institute, New York City, and has been involved with the Taubman Approach since 1986.  She regularly coaches with Edna Golandsky and John Bloomfield, New York City. She has extensive experience teaching the principles of injury prevention and recovery. Her work with injured musicians is described in Preventing and Resolving Piano Injury and is featured onMajoringinMusic.com and MTNA.org.
The recipient of numerous prizes and awards, Ms. Grace served as Keyboardist in the Houston Symphony, Topeka Symphony and as Principal Keyboardist in the Omaha Symphony. For fifteen years, she was a member of the performing artist faculty of Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, Colorado and served as the Center’s Music Director for eight years.
Ms. Grace graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University.  She was the first recipient of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Fellowship Award given for advanced musical study.

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

Send us Fan Mail

You are going to love today's episode! Barbara Banacos is an inspiration. 

As a young pianist, she endured an injury that manifested itself as a form of dystonia. This is significant because it is not well-understood in the medical community. The Taubman Approach can help you if you are struggling with a devastating injury. Some of us are experiencing devastating injuries in regards to playing the piano. We are here to help! Go to Golandskyinstitute.org and we will get you connected to a teacher to help you. 

If you could list my website and social media in the show notes I'd greatly appreciate it!
Website: www.barbarabanacos.com
Instagram.com/barbara.banacos
Facebook: Barbara Banacos Piano Studio
youtube.com/@barbarabanacos

Barbara Banacos is the daughter of world-renowned jazz educator Charlie Banacos and pianist/educator Margaret Banacos. She began teaching in her mother's studio in 1997. Ms. Banacos teaches children and adults from beginner to advanced levels with a focus on classical music and offers advanced technical training in the Taubman Approach. 

While completing her undergrad and graduate degrees in music from CUNY Hunter College, Ms. Banacos ran a private studio in Millburn/Short Hills, NJ and taught at Montclair State University Preparatory School. Since returning to the Boston area in 2003, Ms. Banacos teaches in-home private lessons in Lexington and Winchester, MA and at her home studio in Hamilton, MA. She has also taught remotely since 2010, reaching students as far away as Malaysia and New Zealand.

One of only three teachers in the Boston area certified in the Taubman Approach, Ms. Banacos has studied with Robert Durso of the Golandsky Institute since 1997. She is certified at the Associate level with the Golandsky Institute, is adjunct faculty for their annual summer symposiums at Princeton University and has led their support groups for many years. She has presented lectures on piano technique at the Golandsky Institute Boston Workshops and was invited to teach at the Danilo Pérez Foundation in Panama, assisting Edna Golandsky. Check out the Golandsky Institute and info/videos about the Taubman Approach here. Other significant teachers include Edna Golandsky, Charlie Banacos, Garry Dial and Lefteris Kordis.

Ms. Banacos has performed as a soloist, accompanist and in numerous piano duos with her favorite duet partner, Margaret Banacos.

(If you are looking to study the lessons of Charlie Banacos via online lessons taught by Garry Dial, click here for more information or inquire by emailing Barbara at [email protected])

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

Send us Fan Mail

John Bloomfield is a Ken­tucky native and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Furman University in Greenville, S.C. An award-winning solo and chamber pianist, he has been broadcast by Public Radio in New England and has been heard on the air in New York under the auspices of Ars Viva. He earned a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music, and since then has been a long-term student of Dorothy Taubman and Edna Go­landsky. He has taught at Adelphi University and in the pre-college division of the Manhattan School of Music. In demand as a clinician and adjudicator around the country, he has lectured at a number of colleges and universities. He was invited several times to teach in Taiwan and has been a featured presenter at the Breckenridge Music Institute, state MTA conventions, and the MTNA Conventions in 2005, 2009, and 2014. He was the keynote speaker at the 2007 MTA convention in California. He was guest artist at the University of Alabama in 2013. He traveled to Australia in 2014 to teach and present lectures on the Taubman Approach. Mr. Bloomfield maintains a studio in New York City, where he is also a performance associ­ate at Hunter College and an adjunct instructor at Queens College. He travels regularly to Portland, Atlanta, and the San Francisco Bay Area to con­sult and give lessons. He is a co-founder and senior director of the Golandsky Institute, which he also serves as faculty chair.

The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.
Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.