♪ Spring studio recital! ♫
Thursday, May 24th at 6:30 pm in All Faiths Chapel on the K-State Campus.
♫ All are welcome to attend. ♪
Welcome to Elfenbein Klaviermusik!
Elfenbein Klaviermusik offers piano lessons to students who habitually show a high level of enthusiasm, motivation and commitment.
Lessons offer thorough and carefully guided instruction in piano literature, technique, ear training (audiation), memorization, and theory. The piano curriculum prepares students for festivals, competitions, including the MAMTA Piano Concerto Competition, 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 is conveniently located in Lee Mill Heights off Miller Parkway.
♪ Summer Lessons Start June 4th!
See the Tuition page for more details. ♫
The Studio
- Two concert grand pianos: a Kawai GS-70 (7'5") and a Kawai KG-6C (7'4")
- Adjustable benches and an adjustable foot pedal stool to accommodate pianists of all sizes
- Yamaha P85 Digital Piano, for recording to Sibelius Music Notation software
- Edirol R-09HR Digital Stereo Recorder, for recording musical performances in high quality
- Zoom Q3 HD Video Recorder, for creating performance and practice videos
- Computer station with educational software (Music Ace, Professor Piccolo, Music Conservatory, etc.)
- Extensive music library, including sheet music, audio material, and reference material
How to Get Started
While the monthly tuition is based on the number of lessons in a semester, new students can start at any time. Call or email to set up a first meeting where we can discuss your musical goals, discover a little bit about each other, and decide if this is a good fit for every one. Parents, this initial session gives you and your child a chance to see how they react to me and my teaching style. The first meeting usually lasts twenty to thirty minutes and is free of charge.
Image source unknown
All students must have a good instrument at home for practice. The best instrument is a good quality, well maintained grand piano. However, space restrictions and cost often make this less of an option. A good quality studio upright (approximately 44 to 48 inches tall) or a good quality console (approximately 40 to 43 inches tall) would make an excellent instrument. These instruments have strings long enough to produce a rich, full sound. Studio uprights many times have longer strings than "baby" grand pianos and consequently a better sound and playing experience.
It is possible to purchase a good digital piano that has weighted keys; however, money invested in a gently used upright would be better spent. I am happy to accompany any student to area piano stores to help with the selection of an instrument. The Blue Book of Pianos website is an excellent online soure of information about the different styles of pianos for those wanting to do some research.
Words of Inspiration
"Inspiration is when the heart takes the lead. That is what we are practicing for every day: to be free when inspiration visits us because we have mastered the craft." ~ quote by William Grant Nabore
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 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, they get to play and study and try new things and correct old things on the instrument their teacher has. Then they go home and practice, every day, on their instrument. That's a ratio of about 1 to 6. If you are afraid your instrument at home is not good enough for lessons - that makes it one "good" instrument to about six inferior instruments. How can you possibly expect to make progress like that?
Opinionated Musings
Please also visit Elfenbein Klaviermusik Notes for music- and piano-related news, opinion, fact, research, and ideas. Thank you!