Piano Department
Piano Department Chair Sponsored by Motoko and Gordon Deane
Piano Department - Core Philosophy
The Conservatory’s Piano Department offers a comprehensive piano education. Our staff of professional educator/musicians provides individualized instruction, and specializes in bringing out the best in every piano student – from beginner through advanced. Our department respects the classical traditions of piano instruction, and offers instruction in a variety of music styles. Understanding that while the piano is a versatile and expressive instrument, it can also be a solitary instrument, we offer a number of opportunities throughout the year for piano students to perform with other musicians in a variety of ensembles.
Piano Department Chair - Stephen Deitz
Stephen Deitz began his piano studies at the age of five, studying during his middle- and high-school years with Levin Houston in Fredericksburg, Virginia. During his senior high-school year, he studied in Washington, D.C., with Evelyn Swarthout Hayes, a member of the piano faculty at American University. After beginning his undergraduate studies at the College of William and Mary, he studied with Adele Marcus of the Juilliard School. Stephen completed his Masters of Music degree at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, as a scholarship student of John Perry. Upon relocating to New York City, he began coaching extensively with Oxana Yablonskaya of the Juilliard School. Although he subsequently began his doctoral studies with Nelita True at the University of Maryland, College Park, he interrupted them after being named Artist-in-Residence at the Dunbarton School of Music in Hamilton, Bermuda. After a two-year tenure as Artist-in-Residence, he returned to New York where he resumed his doctoral studies at the Manhattan School of Music. While there he studied with Solomon Mikowski, Constance Keene and Jeffrey Cohen. Chamber music studies have included coachings with Sergiu Luca and Arnold Steinhardt. Mr. Deitz is Artistic Director and faculty member of the Duxbury Music Festival where he performs regularly with its guest artists.
Instrument Instruction
Private Lessons
Most students start private lesson instruction in piano at age 6. During each 16-week semester, each private lesson student receives an evaluation from the teacher to keep the student and the parent apprised of the student’s progress.
30 minutes - $672 per semester
45 minutes - $928 per semester
60 minutes - $1184 per semester
Semi-private:
30 minutes - $336 per semester
45 minutes - $464 per semester
60 minutes - $592 per semester
Group Instruction - three or more students:
60 minutes - $350 per semester
Piano Department - Class Offerings
Piano Duet Class
Piano Faculty
Adults and young adults who would like to get back into piano but are afraid to take that first step, or would like to meet new friends who play and share their same desire, are invited to explore the joy of making music with two at a piano. Duets provide a fun, positive environment in which to strengthen rhythm, note reading, musicality, and teamwork. Each class includes instruction and group practice. To determine the appropriate level and pairing of each group, each student will need to play a short excerpt of something they have played in the past, or are currently playing. No excerpt is too easy! Piano pairs and instructors will determine the one-hour per week time of class jointly.
Minimum 8 weeks.
$35/session
Piano/Keyboard Class for Adult Beginners
Sponsored by Barbara and Fred Clifford
Tom Boyer
Enjoy learning to play and read music in a small group setting.
Hingham
$250
| Tuesday, 10 - 11 am | Tuesday, 6:30 - 7:30 pm | Saturday, 9:30 - 10:30 am |
Adult Piano Class: FakeBook Version
Tom Boyer
Learn to play your favorite melodies with chord accompaniment! Learn note-reading basics and how to make chords. It's fun and allows you to play familiar tunes that are found in fakebooks. Though the class is designed for beginners, slightly experienced readers who are interested in chord accompaniment are urged to give it a try, too.
$250
| Hingham: Wednesday, 10 - 11 am | Hingham: Wednesday, 11 - noon | Duxbury: Monday, 6:30 - 7:30 pm |
Orchestra Incognito
Tim Butterworth
The advent of synthesizers has made it possible for a few keyboardists to sound like a string orchestra, a four- piece rock band, or a percussion ensemble! In this class you’ll use your keyboarding skills, and our synthesizers in our new group instruction lab, to play a part in a band! 12 weeks
$250
| Hingham: Mondays, 4 - 5 pm |
Piano Department Special Events
Concerto Competition
January 22, 2009
4-8 pm, Hingham Campus
All instrumental and voice students are invited to participate in the Conservatory’s annual Concerto Competition. First prize scholarships are awarded in each of three age divisions. All winners perform in the Concerto Competition Winners Recital on Saturday, January 24, 7:30 pm in Hingham's Large Ensemble Studio.
Piano Solo Competition
TBA
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for private lessons for children whose families can document financial need. Application forms are available in the office and as a downloadable Word Document and must be filled out and returned prior to the first week of the semester. All applications will be considered by the Scholarship Committee, which meets before each semester to grant assistance. Recipients of scholarship aid must reapply each semester. The deadline for Fall 2008 financial aid applications is August 8, 2008. The deadline for Spring 2009 financial aid applications is January 9, 2009.
South Shore Conservatory admits students of any race, color, nationality, and ethnic origin to all rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.