Welcome to Elfenbein Klaviermusik!

inside a grand piano

Image © 2007 Mark Nichols

Elfenbein Klaviermusik offers thorough and carefully guided instruction in piano literature, technique, ear training (audiation), memorization, and theory. The piano curriculum prepares students for festivals, competitions, and the Music Progressions Auditions through the Kansas Music Teachers Association.

Particular attention is given to a natural and injury-free technique and to thorough mastery of all studied materials.

Elfenbein Klaviermusik has been serving the Greater Manhattan Kansas area since 1994, and recently reopened the Manhattan studio after an 18-month sabbatical.


The Studio


Photographs

Photographs have been added to the site. Follow the new link above to see them all!


Upcoming Events

Piano Summer 2009!

June 1 - July 31

private piano lessons . group lessons . performance classes . special events

All students are required to schedule a minimum of eight 30-minute lessons or six 45-minute lessons or four hour-long lessons during the summer session in order to retain their spot in the studio for the fall semester. Special arrangements will be made for students who are out of the country for more than four weeks during the summer.

Students are guaranteed the equivalent of eight 30-minute private piano lessons but are encouraged to attend as many lessons and group events as they wish and scheduling permits.

Summer tuition (all-inclusive): $130

Special events to be announced soon!


Just a Thought

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires - William Arthur Ward

… and the best teacher does all of the above. She tells, she explains, she demonstrates, she inspires, and she knows which student needs which at what moment. - Sibylle Kuder


Just Another Thought

During the eighteen months that I was a traveling piano teacher, I discovered an unexpected advantage: I got to see the instrument on which my students practiced (presumably) daily as well as the setup and environment in which they practiced. Occasionally, a parent would apologetically say, "I am sorry, we only have a - " and then proceed to tell me what they "only" had: a digital keyboard, an old piano that needs tuning, etc. - followed by, "I don't know if that is good enough for lessons."

That's a curious thought. It begs the question: how can something that's "not good enough" for teaching be possibly good enough for practicing?

Think about it: when students come to the teacher's studio for their lesson, once a week for 30 to 60 minutes, they get to play and study and try new things and correct old things on the (hopefully good) instrument their teacher has. Then they go home and practice, (presumably) every day for 30 to 60 minutes or longer, on their instrument. That's a ratio of at least 1 to 6. If you are afraid your instrument at home is not good enough for lessons - that makes it one "good" instrument to six or more inferior instruments. How can you possibly expect to make progress like that?

Imagine, pretend, that you are taking lessons to learn how to color with coloring pencils. Your teacher has a nice assortment of nicely sharp pencils. The lesson goes well, you are motivated to practice at home. Only your collection of pencils at home has quite a few colors missing, and some of the rest are broken. Or, you only have crayons to practice with.

If you want to learn how to color with coloring pencils, you need a good assortment of sharp coloring pencils at home. If you want to learn how to play the piano, you need a good piano at home. Simple, isn't it?


Opinionated Musings

Please also visit Elfenbein Klaviermusik Notes for music- and piano-related news, opinion, fact, research, and ideas. Thank you!