Elaine B. Smith Piano Studio

Hyde Park Neighborhood- Chicago IL 60637
(773) 330-6759
ebspiano@gmail.com

About Piano Lessons
Beginner to advanced students of all ages are accepted after a free, non-obligatory interview. All students have an hour weekly lesson (younger beginner two half hour lessons weekly) and one group piano lab each month. Students learn music from all musical periods– Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary/Jazz. Sight playing, technique and understanding the music are related to the hearing of the music. The small group piano lab includes performing for each other, duets, theory/musicianship, and music history. The piano labs are an integral part of the program because sharing their musical experiences keeps students motivated and they learn from each other. The cost of the piano labs is included in the individual lessons.

Students have many performing opportunities that include two studio recitals. Students may use computer for additional ear training and composing.

My teaching philosophy is that students should get the ‘feeling’ of the music and progress to more complicated music at their own pace. Being flexible in approach allows each student to develop a love of playing the piano and for music. Many students continue their studies in college. Hyde Park is especially rich in musical activities through Music Teachers of Hyde Park (MTHP) including chamber music and workshops.

Professional Organizations
Member of professional organizations that provide opportunities for students to perform in other settings in competitive and noncompetitive ways including theory examinations, contests, jazz festival, composition festival, chamber music, sonata/sonatina festival, workshops, recitals. Some of these are: Chicago Area Music Teachers Association, Hyde Park Piano Seminar and Friends (co-founder), Illinois Federation of Music Clubs (Junior Federation Club – The Dynamics), Illinois Music Association, Music Teachers of Hyde Park (co-founder and past president), National Piano Teachers Guild, Society of American Musicians.

Music Background and Experience
Pianist for All-City Orchestra in New York in high school
BM Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester with high honors
Graduate work Yale University
Yale Summer School chamber music at Norfolk, Conn
MM De Paul University, winner of Annual Concerto Contest.

Studied with Frances Mann, Martha Lantner Levitzky, Artur Balsam, Orazio Frugoni, Ward Davenny, John Crown, Phil Cohen, Dmitry Paperno. Piano pedagogy with Doris Koppelman.

Member:
Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) –Nationally Certified Teacher of Music.
Chicago Area Music Teachers Assn (CAMTA) – Past president, program chair, sonata/sonatina chair, contest chair, technology chair, newsletter chair, presently Philippe Gelinas Ticket Fund co-chair, and voted Member of the Year in 2000.
Co-founder of Hyde Park Piano Seminar and Friends – raised money to buy a Kawai piano and a CD Collection for the Blackstone Library, and continues to raise money for the Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council Hunger Programs through Performathon recitals.

Active performer as soloist and chamber musician for over thirty years. Chosen to perform four consecutive years with the Hyde Park Chamber Orchestra including Shostakovich First Concerto, Beethoven First Concerto, Mozart Concerto, K. 271, Bach Fifth Brandenburg Concerto.

Some performances include:
Lake View Musical Society,
Musicians Club of Women,
University of Chicago Service League,
University of Chicago Thursday Noon Concerts,
Blackstone Library,
Rodfei Zedek Sisterhood,
Montgomery Place Retirement Community,
Self-Help Retirement Home,
KAM-Isaiah Israel,
Cultural Center Preston Bradley Hall.

Adjudicator for many contests in the Chicago area.

Lecture-recitals include:
How to Judge
Unusual Sonata/Sonatinas
Children Composing and Analyzing Spanish Music