Give yourself a pianistic makeover at the online Pianimals Institute summer session. Studio teachers too tied up through the year, this is your chance to overhaul your studio regime and bring new, effective strategies to your teaching. Explore the ingenious exercises of Pianimals, that have you play better automatically because now the hand has learned how. The learning is easy and natural, like a baby who eventually gets up and walks without ever having thought about how.
Are you intrigued? Attend a SPECIAL FREE INTRODUCTORY SESSION on June 19th to get a taste of these new learning strategies - and invite your colleagues as well. Register for the free event.
The Institute Awareness Through Piano Movement (ATPM) lessons combine the sensory refinement of a Feldenkrais lesson with hand movements related to developmental aspects of piano technique. Devised according to the structure and function of the hand , the exercises tap into to unsuspected sources of capability and musicianship, offering you and eventually your students a "pianistic makeover." The individual lessons that follow the ATPM demonstrate how easily these ideas apply, covering beginning to advanced repertoire.
Pianimals veterans will notice that the topics for the 8 weeks remain unchanged, covering the 8 sections of the Pianimals Teachers Manual. However, the ATPM's are continually updated from previous Institutes. Fraser watches the previous version of each week's session and introduces updates creating an ever more clear, comprehensive and easily assimilated presentation of the ideas.
Participants applying the Piano Somatics strategies to their own technique quickly see how they can be utilized in the teaching studio. At the end of the Institute participants report feeling sensitized and empowered, ready to bring new insights and a new creative impulse to their teaching. Read some of their comments here.
The Pianimals Summer 2021 Institute will follow the same plan as Pianimals Spring 2021:
The weekly sessions are cumulative, but we are open to partial attendance. Register for the entire 8-week course, or pick and choose your sessions from the topic chart below. You may purchase video recordings of the sessions you are unable to attend. Late registrations are also accepted.
Purchase your physical copy of Pianiamals here; if it doesn't arrive on time. not to worry: let us know and we will send you a .pdf copy to help you prepare.
Are you hesitant to attend? Feel you are not advanced enough? Not well-enough prepared? Don't worry; Alan welcomes all, no matter what your ability, no matter what the state of your program. The Institute really is open to all interested pianists:
There is no limit to improvement!
Here's what some participants have to say:
"Thanks a lot for the very inspiring sessions of the past few weeks! My playing as well as my teaching have improved a lot and I feel extremely motivated after your lessons.
'No matter what the subject is (the thumb, standing, walking, etc), there’s always an immediate effect on my playing. I experience more control and more ease of playing, more creativity and fun. And last but not least: a better sound!
'Because of the new tools I have fewer technical problems and at the same time I choose different (=better!) fingerings. Moreover the Feldenkrais approach arouses a lot of energy or energetic circulation. I get less tired."
Hans van Ham, the Netherlands
"It´s wonderful to watch the other lessons because it keeps the brain active towards new ideas in one's own repertoire. This way of working seems to be super useful. The classic Phil Cohen exercises mentioned in the group ATPM lesson in my experience are always helpful in finding the feeling of structure when I feel disconected."
Yair Zuluaga Soriano, Mexico City
"Thank you for the very impressive lesson last Saturday. Relaxing my muscles in my forearm is my biggest problem, and I could feel the difference just right now in your lesson. I am also a Feldenkrais student, and this is the kind of experience I really need for relaxing and feeling."
Robert Spaeter, Hamm, Germany
"I had a major revelation yesterday about what you’re doing in particular and what the Feldenkrais Method does in general. You are showing us sensorially what our stability and mobility is. Without both in balance, we don’t have control of our movements. The follow-through from this "aha" moment was huge for me. Thanks."
Francie White, Eugene, Oregon
Time Zone Adjustment
Each Saturday session covers the physical action and musical implications of one Pianimals section:
Introductory Session June 19
To register for the FREE INTRODUCTORY SESSION, email Sophia Cholich. Your name will be added to the list of participants and you will receive a Zoom meeting invitation Friday, June 18, the day before the free session.
Institute Proper (Pianimals Online Institute Summer Session, July 3-August 21)
Register for the institute proper in the table below with a secure credit card payment at our retail partner, Stripe.com. To add an individual lesson or lessons, from the shopping cart hit the browser back button twice to return to this page, then add your lesson(s) to the cart. Do the same to add session recordings to your purchase. You can even add books to your purchase without going through another payment procedure by clicking on the main store menu at the upper left hand corner of the browser to view the complete catalogue.
Partial scholarships (somewhat reduced rates) are available to those of limited financial means. If you feel you may qualify for a scholarship, please contact Sophia Cholich to enquire about a discount or partial refund. Sophia can also explain other payment options and answer any questions you may have.
When you fill out the information sheet, be sure to indicate
We'd like to get to know you better. When you have registered, please come back to fill out this PARTICIPANT INFORMATION FORM. Remember to note in the comments section which weeks you would like a lesson, and the subject matter of the lessons.
After you've completed your institute, we'd like to keep in touch. Please return here to fill out the INSTITUTE FOLLOWUP QUESTIONNAIRE. This helps you and us to evaluate your experience, plan your ongoing regime for further pianistic advances, and fine-tune the institute structure to better meet your needs.
ALAN FRASER
Canadian pianist Alan Fraser gives master classes and recitals worldwide and conducts ongoing research and refinement on the ideas put forth in his three books,
Cancellation Policy
If you must cancel your registration, reimbursement will be as follows: Cancellations more than two months before Institute opening date: 100% reimbursement. Cancellations more than one month before Institute opening date: 75% reimbursement. Cancellations more than two weeks before Institute opening date: 50% reimbursement. Cancellations more than one week before Institute opening date: 25% reimbursement. Cancellations less than one week before Institute opening date: no reimbursement except in cases of doctor-certified illness or acts of God. We reserve the right to cancel the institute due to insufficient enrolment; in this event, all registration fees are fully refundable.
