Online Study Group Recordings
Study Group Lessons & Lectures for Purchase
In this bi-weekly study group, a participant prepares a piece from the repertoire to be studied - often an easier piece, one that we often give our pupils. We're ascertaining which of the Pianimals exercises would best help the pupil improve the composition in question.
In this online roundtable format, we discuss possible approaches to the piece, the participant performs it. and then after further discussion, Alan leads the group through an Awareness Through Piano Movement (ATPM) lesson growing out of issues raised - created on the spot.
If you wish to purchase recordings of past sessions, please browse the detailed lists of repertoire already covered below, then click on the appropriate link to purchase your preferred series.
Pianotechnique.org: the Pianist's Netflix
When accessing video recordings, if you are not an active member at PianoTechniqe.org, you must first subscribe to create an account. PianoTechnique.org is run more or less on the Netflix model. Your initial subscription fee gives you automatic access to our main library with 1300+ lesson videos, over 85 tutorial series curated especially for pianotechnique.org, and your own personal library where all your lesson videos can be gathered in one place - making the study process even more convenient and rewarding. Access to all this is included in the initial pt.org subscription fee, but access to certain specific workshops does require a small surcharge.
If you would like to join the current Study Group, you are more than welcome! Simply return to the Current Study Group page to register.
Study Group I Sessions See Below
STUDY GROUP I: MAY 1 - SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 - Sessions 1-8
The first Pianimals Online Study Group had a fairly large group of participants :
| SESSION | COMPOSITION | ATPM |
|---|---|---|
| MAY 1 | Mozart: D minor Fantasy | The Cardinal Directions of the Hand |
| MAY 15 | Chopin: Waltz in C# minor | Sensitizing the "Hand Hip Joint" in Standing |
| MAY 29 | Bach: Little C Minor Prelude | Linking the Collarbone to Finger & Hand Action |
| JUNE 12 | Prokofiev Visions Fugitive #10 | Link Fingertip to Whole Body |
| JUNE 26 | Chopin Waltz in E minor | "The 4 Sitz Bones:" Link Fingertip to Piano Bench with Whole Body Movement |
| JULY 10 | Chopin: Nocturne in Eb Major Op. 9, #2 | Differentiating the Hands |
| JULY 24 | Mozart: Sonata K570, 1st mvt. | Differentiate Standing Thumb & Swiping Finger |
| SEPT 18 | Mendelssohn: Venetian Boat Song in F# minor | Stand on Thumb, Move Arm |
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP I SESSIONS.
Study Group II Sessions See Below
STUDY GROUP II: NOVEMBER 13, 2021 - MARCH 5, 2022 - Sessions 9-16
The second Pianimals Online Study Group had a fairly large group of participants :
| SESSION | COMPOSITION | ATPM |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 13 | Mussorgsky - The Tear | Side Bending and Arm Shift |
| Nov 27 | Beethoven Moonlight Sonata, 1st mvt | Amorphous Amoeba for Magical Moonlight Sound |
| Dec 11 | Bach: Ab+ Prelude and Fugue, WTC I | Connect Sitz Bones to Fingertips to Transform a Bach Theme |
| Jan 8 | Mendelssohn: Spring Song | Choreograph the Opening of Mendelssohn Spring Song |
| Jan 22 | Nyman: The Heart Asks Pleasure First | The 3 Cardinal Directions Linking Sitting & the Hand |
| Feb 5 | ||
| Feb 19 | Bach: D+ Prelude & Fugue, WTC I | Teetering Toucan for the Bach Prelude in D major |
| March 5 | Brahms: Ballade, Op. 10, No. 1, "Edward" | Amorphous Amoeba in Brahms |
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP II SESSIONS.
Study Group III Sessions See Below
STUDY GROUP III: MARCH 19- JUNE 25, 2022 - Sessions 17-24
The third Pianimals Online Study Group had a slightly smaller group of participants :
| SESSION | COMPOSITION | ATPM |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 19 | Burgmüller Studies, Op. 100, #2, #15, #12 | Link the Thumb to the Whole Arm to the Body |
| April 2 | Kabalevsky Children's Pieces, Op. 27, #3, #12, #20 | Another Lesson on That Old Thumb |
| April 16 | Debussy: Arabesque, Golliwog's Cakewalk | Lie on Thumb to Improve Arm |
| April 30 | Czerny: Etudes, Op. 139, #75-6 | The Thumb & Rotation in Scales |
| May 14 | Clementi: Sonatina, Op. 36, #1 | "Teetering" in Clementi... The Thumb... Arpeggios |
| May 28 | Grieg: Gade, Op. 57, #2 | Opening the Hand |
| June 11 | Schumann, Op. 68: Mignon, Merry May | Floating the Hand or Rooting the Finger |
| June 25 | Brahms: Ballade, Op. 10, No. 1 "Edward" | Amorphous Amoeba in Brahms |
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP III SESSIONS.
Study Group IV Sessions See Below
STUDY GROUP IV: OCTOBER 8, 2022 - JANUARY 28, 2023 - Sessions 25-32
The fourth Pianimals Online Study Group had a stalwart core of faithful participants :
| SESSION | COMPOSITION | ATPM |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 8 | Mozart: A major Sonata, K331, 1st mvt | The First Theme of Mozart's K331 |
| Oct 22 | Mozart: A major Sonata, K331, 1st mvt | Amorphous Amoeba in K331 1st mvt, Var 3 |
| Nov 5 | Burgmuller: The Pearl (Big Chords) | Big Chords Without Banging: Functionality |
| Nov 19 | Heller: Avalanche. Kabalevsky: A minor Etude | Lay Down the Thumb, Differentiate |
| Dec 3 | Schumann: Traumerei | Floating the Opening of Traumerei |
| Dec 17 | Chopin: Db major Prelude | The Whole Self in Massive Chords |
| Jan 7 | Debussy: Golliwog's Cakewalk; Little Shepherd | Oblique Whole Arm: A New Musical Dialect |
| Jan 28 | Kabalevsky: Morning Exercises, Op. 3/86, #2 and Drummer, Op. 14, #1 |
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP IV SESSIONS.
Study Group V Sessions See Below
STUDY GROUP V: FEBRUARY 18 - MAY 27, 2023 - Sessions 33-40
The fifth Pianimals Online Institute ran from February to May 2023 with a relatively small group of participants.
| SESSION | COMPOSITION | RELEVANT EXERCISES | ATPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18 | Beethoven: Pathetique Sonata, 2nd mvt. | ||
| Mar 4 | Brahms Intermezzo Op. 76 #7 | ||
| Mar 18 | Matteo Albeniz: Sonata in D | ||
| April 1 Kathleen | Brahms: Waltz in A flat | Skating Sloth Floating Flamingo LH m. 9 Barmy Bunnies & Rotating Rattlesnake M. 36 Tai Chi Strolling Stork, Singing Stork | Sensitize the Wrist in Kangaroo Chords |
| April 15 | Bach: Sinfonia (Three-Part Invention) #11 | Termite Temerity Teetering Toucan ("rope fingers") Skating Sloth Singing Stork (l.h. m. 9) Floppy Flamingo | "Baroque Style" |
| April 29 | Brahms: Intermezzo in A minor Op. 76 #7 | ||
| May 13 Siri | Heller: Etude in A flat major, Op. 47 #23 | - Teetering Toucan - Bonging Bells RH thumb: - Skating Sloth plus - OrangaThumb | Teetering Toucan expanded to an arpeggio |
| May 27 | MacDowell: To a Water Lily, Op 51 #3; An Old Love Story, Op 61 #1 |
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP V SESSIONS.
Purchase the STUDY GROUP VI SESSIONS BELOW
STUDY GROUP VI: AUTUMN 2023 - Sessions 41-48
The sixth Pianimals Online Institute ran from September through December 2023.
SESSION
COMPOSITION
RELEVANT EXERCISES
ATPM
Sept 25
Christine
Burgmüller:
Etudes, Op. 100 #2 Arabesque #12 Farewell #15 Ballade #5 Innocence
Oct 7
Christine
Burgmüller: Tarantella,
Op. 100 #20
Oct 28
Kathleen
Pythagoras: The Scale of E Major
The thumb in scales:
- a slinky 'Pacman' move between thumb and hand activates the 1st dorsal interosseous while keeping it soft, almost 'empty'
Nov 4
Christine
Chopin Preludes:
E minor Op.28 #4
B minor Op. 28 #6
E- l.h.: Floating Flamingo (chords) Kangaroo Chords (thumb) Skating Sloth (chords) Rocking the Body
E- r.h.: Sauntering Sandpiper
Teetering Toucan
B- r.h.: Tai Chi
Empty Step (orchestration) B- l.h.:
Barmy Bunnies
Rock the body
- Enhance Skating Sloth, Floating Flamingo for E minor chords
- Enhanced Teetering Toucan for E minor melody
- Ultra-Slow Motion Barmy Bunnies for B minor melody
Nov 11
Alejandra
Manuel Ponce: Intermezzo
- Whole Body (l.h. page 1) - Floating Flamingo (page 2 r.h.) - Possums, Mozart Monkeys, Teetering Toucan
- OranguThumb (l.h.)
- Stretching Spider (glide palm)
Barmy Bunnies, FLoating FLamingo. Chuckling Chicken (cadenza)
Nov 25
Astrid
Berkovich: Paganini Variations (var. 7)
Floating Flamingo
Floppy Flamingo
Kangaroo Chords
Forte Flying Fox
Tamara Tiger (leaping springboard) Skating Sloth (horizontality) Rocking the Body
Cockatoo Carol
Barmy Bunnies for rippled l.h. chords at end
Octaves: Growing and 'disintegrating' the hand arch to bring 8ves to life
Dec 2
Astrid
Mozart: Viennese Sonatina C dur K439b
Dec 9
Christine
Debussy: Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum
Barmy Bunnies +
Teetering Toucan
Chuckling Chicken (r.h.) Most Beautiful Sound
Thumbs:
6 OranguThumb,
10 Alligator Yawn,
11 Thumb Troll Tromp
Lazy Lion (l.h. low Bb) Pogo Stick (l.h. coda)
Bringing the thumb to life in an empty, skeletal way: internalizng the extrenal hand movements of Debussy's Dr. Gradus
Dec 16
Grace
Maykapar: Toccatina Op 8, #1
Barmy Bunnies r.h. Chuckling Chicken both hands Tightrope Walker
Pogo Stick
Orangathumb
Floating Flamingo l.h. opening
Combining Chuckling Chicken and Barmy Bunnies; sensing the participation of the sitz bone muscles
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP VI SESSIONS.
Study Group Vii Sessions See Below
STUDY GROUP VII: SPRING-SUMMER 2024 - Sessions 49-56
The seventh Pianimals Online Institute ran from March through July 2024.
SESSION
COMPOSITION
RELEVANT EXERCISES
ATPM
March 23
Christine
Tchaikowski
The Seasons,
Op 37
March and April
March, lh: Skating Sloth,
Cockatoo Carol, Tai Chi walking
March, rh: Floating Flamingo,
Rotating Rattlesnake,
Teetering Toucan, Barmy Bunnies
April, lh: Skating Sloth,
Kangaroo Chords (chords; leaps),
Strolling Stork, Tai Chi walking
April, rh: Barmy Bunnies, Orangathumb
A slow motion, body-connected version of Kangaroo Chords
April 13
Sinden
Mompou
Payysages
- Kangaroo Chords (leaping) - Sleepy Bear, Skating Sloth (memorizing) - Chuckling Chicken (low bass note) - Stretching Spider & Flying Fox
Sober Lateral Forearm movements
April 20
Grace
Clementi
G major Sonatina Op. 38, #2
- OrangaThumb, Kangaroo Chords (Alberti Bass) - RockaBye, Barmy Bunnies (m. 68) - Prancing Stallion Thumb Troll Tromp (16th note passages, thumb) - Teetering Toucan, Flopping Flamingo, Elegant Alionus (control of cadences) - Snapping Scale, Barmy Bunnies, OrangaThumb, Yawning Alligator (scales)
Refine Vertical Wrist Movements, Connect Them to the Forearm - More Extension than Flexion
May 4
Kathleen
Schumann
Der Dichter Spricht
- Floating Flamingo, Fox Fandango (smooth chords) - Sauntering Sandpiper (m. 10 Tightrope Walker (end of the cadenza)
Three Strategies to Join Chords Smoothly
May 25
Fraser
Repeated Note Exercises
TBD
TBD
June 8
Christine
Bach
G+ prelude, WTC I
TBD
TBD
July 6
Hans
Schubert
Moment Musical #1
TBD
TBD
July 20
Grace
Schubert
F minor Moment Musical
TBD
TBD
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP VII SESSIONS.
Study Group Viii Sessions See Below
STUDY GROUP VIII: AUTUMN 2024-WINTER 2025 - Sessions 57-64
The eighth Pianimals Online Institute ran from
SESSION
COMPOSITION
RELEVANT EXERCISES
ATPM
October 12
Christine
Bach: F major Invention
TBD
Enhance Whole Body Sitting & Finger Standing
October 26
Grace
Bach: F#+ Prelude and/or Fugue WTCI
Skating Sloth Teetering Toucan Rotating Rattlesnake Strolling Stork Flamingo Flop Snapping Scale
Use Arm and Body to Refine Finger Curvature
November 2
Christine & Astrid
Brahms: Hungarian Dance #5 in F# minor
Fox Fandango for improved ensemble Teetering Toucan for both healthy standing and phrasing Forte Flying Fox for standing Floppy Flamingo for standing in 8ves Barmy Bunnies simplified for the straight back arm movement that releases arpeggio movement. Lipizzaner Leaping: open thumb to improve arpeggios
Whole Body Evenness in Arpeggios
November 9
Christine
Mendelssohn:
Venetian Boat Song in F# minor
LEFT HAND: swivelliing and palmingBegin with left elbow to the outsideTeetering Toucan to lean towards thumb Floppy Flamingo for supinationRIGHT HAND: Skating Sloth for legato singingSwinging Song for legato singingFloating Flamingo for trills Squirming Worm for 1-1-1 legato fingering
Free Singing Legato and Orchestration: use Tightrope Walking and Floating Flamingo
December 14
Christine
Bach: F minor Prelude WTC II
TBD
TBD
January 4
Grace
Courtney: Catalan Carol for the Birds
Tai Chi walking for Melody + Chords Barmy Bunnies for m1 triplets and rolled chords Teetering Toucan for the melody which already rocking Rotating Rattlesnake for freely sounding melodic notes in triplets.
The Feet are Another Pair of Sitz Bones
January 11
Astrid
Gurlitt: Theme & Variations
TBD
TBD
February 8
Kathleen
Clementi: C major Sonatina Op 36 #1
Teetering Toucan for melodic shaping Barmy Bunnies for lightness in passagework Forte Flying Fox for a healthy loud dynamic Fox Fandango for melodic shaping forwrad & back Swinging Song for melodic shaping side to side Skating Sloth for a smooth melody in the Andante Yawning Alligator for LH Alberti basses
Integrate Smooth LH broken triads: Combining Amorphous Amoeba, Teetering Toucan and Barmy Bunnies in Clementi Op 36 #1, 2nd Mvt.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP VIII SESSIONS.
Study Group Ix Sessions See Below
STUDY GROUP IX: SPRING-SUMMER 2025 - Sessions 65-72
The ninth Pianimals Online Study Group ran from March 1st to May 24th 2025. The last session will be folded into PIANIMALS X.
| SESSION | COMPOSITION | RELEVANT EXERCISES | ATPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1 Hans | Mendelssohn: Song Without Words Op 19 #1 | Singing Stork, Skating Sloth, Fox Fandango | Differentiate Lead Voice and Whispering Accompaniment |
| March 8 Christine | Bach/Marcello: Adagio in d minor BWV 974 | Repeated chords: Floating Flamingo, Skating Sloth, Swamp Monster, Fox Fandango. Alternate reapeated chords: Sleepy Bear, Amorphous Amoeba. Polyphony: Taichi Empty Step - Strolling Stork. | Three levels of key contact for organic repeated chords: skin, flesh, and bone - all informed by extreme Fox Fandango. |
| March 22 Kathleen | Clementi: G major Sonatina, Op 36 #2, 1st mvt. Allegretto | RH strong entry: Flying Fox, Chuckling Chicken RH melody: Sauntering Sandpiper LH: Sauntering Sandpiper LH 8ves: Sleepy Bear Rhythm: Fox Fandango Scales: Floating Flamingo Leaps: Teetering Toucan | Integrate Sauntering Sandpiper with the Whole Body to increase virtuosity in melodies, changing notes, scales and arpeggios |
| April 5 Astrid | Bach: Little Prelude #2 in C major | Integrate Yawning Alligator and Floating Flamingo with the whole body | |
| May 3 Sinden | Joep Beving: Sleeping Lotus, arr. Jessie Black | Standing and Moving - Differentiating Musical Parts Through Whole Body Movement | |
| May 17 Christine | Beethoven: F- sonata Op 2 No 1 - 2nd & 3rd mvts. | Refine the Basic Standing Action & Precision Choreography for Articulations | |
| May 24 Kathleen | Schumann: Melody from Album for the Young | The Hand Lying Down, The Hand Standing Up, and Everything in Between - It's All Movement | |
| July 5 Astrid L. | Edna Mae Burnham: A Dozen a Day | Postponed | to November 29 |
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP IX SESSIONS.
Study Group X Sessions See Below
STUDY GROUP X: - Sessions 73-80 - Sept - Dec 2025
The tenth Pianimals Online Institute will run from September through December, 2025. To join the group, please visit our registration page. https://www.alanfraserinstitute.com/01-pianimals-study-group-x.php#register
| SESSION | COMPOSITION | ATPM |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 20 | ||
| Oct 4 | ||
| Oct 11 | ||
| Oct 25 | ||
| Nov 15 | ||
| Nov 29 | ||
| Dec 6 | ||
| Dec 13 | ||
| Dec 20 |
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PIANIMALS ONLINE STUDY GROUP X SESSIONS.
If you would like to know more about this cutting edge piano method that brings the transformational influence of the Feldenkrais Method to a developing piano technique, visit our page on
Pianimals: 28 Feldenkrais Lessons for the Young Pianist's Hand.