The times they are a-changin'... said Bob Dylan in 1964!

Well, they are changing again. Economic crises, coronavirus, political revolutions left and right, globalization and anti-globalization, economic growth vs. fair trade and a turn toward the green economy, a new space exploration... so much is happening and so much is at stake.

Where do art and music fit into all of this?

More than ever, we need to invest in our humanity, our creativity, and all the things that make life worth living, fulfilled, happy. Music is essential in these times perhaps more than ever. Good music, and good musicians, amateurs and professionals alike, are a necessary part of the ideal society we are weaving together, however imperfectly we are doing it.

I love teaching music. Piano is my instrument, but I can help any aspiring musician or new professional think about music, phrasing, general approach etc, on any instrument. Sometimes it is indeed even helpful to hear from a musician not on your instrument, to help see the big picture.

For pianists with at least a few years of experience (children welcome from 10 years old only, with exceptions for very focused kids), I am here to teach you how to learn efficiently on your end, how to become the best you can be, how to free yourself from fear and pressure, and how to fly free. My goal is to ensure that your passion comes through in your playing and that your technique can support your personal vision.

I love teaching pros, pros in the making, and amateurs of all ages who care about music. If you do not care so much, let's talk about why you are pursuing music...

I think there is room in this world for every kind of music personality, and anyone who really cares will find their place in this music world. Creativity, however, is required to figure out one's most fulfilling situation. I am here to help you think about your future and help guide you on your way. The business of music, the realities of living from your passion, and the hurdles to a career are all part of what I can advise you on. Having done many different things in the music world, from performing to teaching to organizing events and producing recordings and films, I think I am well-positioned to share some useful life lessons and good advice.

My technical background is based on the traditional Russian school. But I have evolved and found my own tricks of the trade between all the approaches I have been exposed to in my many years of study and practice. Technique is critical and I have gone through it all, but technique is but a means to an end, and without a clear view of what we are seeking to achieve, technique is but a dead-end. My approach, regardless of a student's level, is to make sure the musical goals are clear. Only then will the correct technical approach be found, resolving any challenge the score may present.

As a musician, I have recently recorded and released Bach's complete Well-Tempered Clavier for London's Orchid Classics (unanimously hailed by the press), which was also made as a film of the entire work and about which a documentary film was made. I am currently preparing to record Beethoven's complete Sonatas as well as an album of French music (J.P. Rameau and Debussy Preludes).

I am lucky to have studied with some of the greatest teachers of the past decades, among which stand Aida Barenboim (Daniel Barenboim's mother and hist first teacher), Elena Varvarova, Brigitte Engerer, Maria Curcio, Rena Shereshevskaya, Vladimir Krainev, Ursula Oppens, James Giles, Earl Wild... I was also lucky to be brought up in a professional musical family in Paris, and to be able to assist weekly rehearsals and concerts of the Orchestre de Paris for over fifteen years, bringing a breadth of musical exposure rare in anyone's young years. As a result of this, I was lucky to have Daniel Barenboim, Carlo-Maria Giulini, and Kurt Masur supporting and guiding me personally in my learning years.

I have taught piano, given masterclasses, and advised students and budding musicians for nearly twenty years. I understand that everyone is different, and what is most important in a good musical and instrumental education is to ally the best of one's individuality with strong basics and tools to help overcome students' limitations and help them fly on their own.

I hope my varied experiences on and off stage can help you on your way!

George

(Photo credit: Céline Oms)

Websites: www.bach48.com and www.georgelepauw.com