Private Piano Studio of Yolande Witkin: A Pianist, Teacher, and Composer's Life Story

Do you want to be the next Mozart? That’s what most parents ask when they hear their children are taking piano lessons, but it’s not only talented young musicians who need piano lessons—everyone can benefit from learning the instrument. If you don’t think you have the time or talent to learn to play the piano, consider this: famous pianist and composer Yolande Witkin has been playing since age 5 and teaching her private piano studio students for 30 years, yet she still found ways to incorporate music into her daily life as she pursued her career in business and education.

Chapter 1: An Early Start

Her early studies were with the Royal College of Music in London and shortly after having immigrated to the United States she attended Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio. Since then she has taught over 1000 students from ages three to seventy years old at her private piano studio. Her goal is to instill a love for music in each one!

Chapter 2: Meets Franz Liszt

One day I came in to my piano studio and found a note on the desk that read Franz Liszt will come to visit you in your new private piano studio next Saturday. Needless to say I had never heard of Franz Liszt so looked him up. Turns out he was not only a famous pianist but composer as well. I began practicing for his visit like crazy-one wrong note from me would cost me my new studio!

Chapter 3: The Famous Leopold Godowsky

The famous Polish pianist Leopold Godowsky, who came to the United States in 1938, studied with Franz Liszt at age 12 in Weimar. Godowsky also had a private piano studio where he taught for 20 years. He would do this so he could be sure that his students were being trained from the heart and soul.

Chapter 4: Moving to America

After graduating college with a degree in music composition I came to America in the hopes of furthering my studies. Once here I enrolled at Yale University where I studied with John Perry until he retired.

This enabled me to spend six years studying with one of the greatest piano teachers and composers who was still active. During this time I learned how to be self-sufficient and developed my own philosophy on music which later formed the basis for my private piano studio.

Chapter 5 : Teaching and Recording

A musician always needs to have a good sense of time. If they're not able to read the music correctly, then it could be difficult for them to teach their students how to read it correctly. There is always a fine line between feeling the beat and tapping on it with your foot. I'll often play with my eyes closed as a way to gauge my sense of rhythm and if I've crossed that line.

Chapter 6 : Performing Solo and With her Band 'Yolande'

As an accompanist to many distinguished guest soloists she has been fortunate to play with the likes of Norman Lacey, Roger Bourland and Susan Lissenberg. She performs as a solo pianist at festivals in Britain, Japan and Switzerland. 

For 10 years now she has had her own private piano studio with students from early childhood right up to adult students who are graduating from leading colleges. All ages find they enjoy her teaching style which is based on understanding what the student wants to achieve in their music studies

Chapter 7 : Composition

Yolande's compositions have been performed by world-renowned soloists including international star, Marlee Matlin. Her teaching philosophy is centered on a balanced piano education that focuses on performance skills as well as music theory. As the head instructor at her private piano studio in Greenwich Village she has refined an approach to playing for one hour every week which includes classical repertoire as well as modern work in order to cultivate a diverse repertoire.