Announcing a once-in-a-lifetime Piano Somatics Institute opportunity! The institute moves to Spain for the first time in 2026 for a very special reason: the total eclipse of the sun that will take place the evening of August 12th. On that Wednesday, the Institute will end early so that all participants can move to a site with maximum eclipse visibility. If you have never witnessed totality, know that it is infinitely better than a partial eclipse. The sudden insight into the cosmos it offers is a spectacular, and dare we say, even an intensely emotional event. Don't miss it!
The Piano Somatics Institute will last five complete teaching days, with an opening session Monday evening and a closing session Sunday morning. The Modulando Music School in downtown Valladolid is especially conducive to high-quality learning: a recital room with an excellent grand piano and plenty of floor space for the Feldenkrais lessons, plus enough practice facilities to house even a very large group comfortably.
Escuela de Musica Modulando students and staff are welcome to audit the institute at no charge, and receive a 50% discount for active participation.
Alan teaches in English or French, with Spanish translation available.
Many relatively inexperienced pianists hesitate to attend an institute, feeling they are not good enough or not well-enough prepared. However, we are here to learn. Alan's approach can help all of us, no matter what our ability, no matter what the state of our program. The Institute really is open to all interested pianists:
Acquiring the Piano Somatics skill set allows pianists to play with more agility, more power, more sensitivity, and more expressivity - with a deeper, more rewarding artistry - and there is no limit to improvement. At a Piano Somatics Institute, everyone benefits from watching each other's lessons. Advanced pianists learn something from lessons with the less gifted pianists - for instance, how to work with their own students - and the amateur pianists get a special pleasure out of watching Alan tell the professionals the same things they've been hearing: "Grow that hand arch more! More lateral arm movements to shape the phrase!" It's always about unlocking the hidden blocks to movement within, no matter what your level of ability.
Alan's Feldenkrais-informed approach to performance also helps instrumentalists and vocalists transform their sound by making minute postural adjustments that release hidden physical blocks. If you have a friend or colleague with a specific performance issue, invite them to come along - they'll be glad they did.
The institute is a mixture of
Alan composes the ATPMs each day according to the technical issues raised in that day's individual lessons.
The evening before the first full teaching day, we come together to meet and discuss our goals for the week. A closing session and debriefing is held the morning after the conclusion of the last full institute teaching day.
Partial attendance is completely acceptable. Even if you attend the full four days, you are not obliged to take four lessons. You can tailor-make your participation to your own needs at registration.
The schedule may be modified according to the makeup and needs of the group.
Participants will be invited to select from this list of lecture topics for the daily seminars:
Click here for travelling directions to:
Escuela de Musica Modulando C/Guardería 5-7, 47007 Valladolid Espana
There are several accommodation options in the Valladolid area.
• To book a hotel we recommend Booking.com. • www.airbnb.com also offers several listings. Book early to get the best choice and the best price.
PROPOSAL TO SHARE AN AIRBNB
As accommodations might be hard to find at this time of year, we are asking institute participants if they would be willing to share a large multiple-bedroom airbnb rental with other institute participants. We cannot make that booking for you, but if we can connect two or more of you, you could organize a viable solution to the housing question amongst yourselves. One potential participant coming from the USA is already interested in this option.
MEALS
We look forward to exploring Spanish Tapas, paella and other delicacies at the many restaurants not far from the music school.
To register for the Valladolid institute, click on the link immediately below the table. The payment table is no longer responsive; this price list is purely informative.
To receive your discount, register at the full price and then contact Nina Nikolich, letting her know your status. You will receive the appropriate refund on your initial payment.
We'd like to get to know you better. After registration, please come back to fill out this PARTICIPANT INFORMATION FORM.
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.
As every lesson is packed full of information and experience, they are video recorded for later review (unless the participant requests otherwise). The ongoing video study process offers a valuable chance for further progress, more breakthroughs - deeper learning. Lessons are stored at
THe Piano Somatics Video Library is run more or less on the Netflix model: if you are not already an active member at PianoTechniqe.org, a subscription will allow you to watch your lessons. You get automatic access to
Separate from tuition fees
Access to all this and to other recordings from this Hamm resideny is included in the pt.org subscription fee which is separate from your residency registration fee.
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 books:
ROSA GONZALEZ GIL (Music School Director)
Rosa Gonzalez became passionate about music education when she met Jacques Chapuis, a disciple of Willems. From then on she has remained convinced that music can be learned in a different way than the traditional one. As Alan Fraser's teacher Phil Cohen said, "There is always another way."
Rosa's clear philosophy: the ultimate goal of music must be to create more sensitive, intelligent, and happy people. Music is a language, which must be learned in the same way as one learns one's mother tongue. This approach helps create the special nurturing atmosphere of Escuela de Musica Modulando.
Contact Rosa González Gíl.
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.
