McLelland Piano Studio

Introduction: The teacher, Amy Aberg McLelland, is an award-winning pianist whose playing has been described as "ravishing ....with a wonderful variety of tone colors and nuance of interpretation." For over 30 years, McLelland has taught students of all ages and levels of advancement in colleges and independent studios, and her students regularly receive the highest ratings in festivals and competitions. Students at McLelland Piano Studio receive specialized training in piano, theory, sight-reading, ear-training, piano technic, injury prevention, development of performance skills and more. Goals and objectives are carefully developed for each student based upon age, ability, and interests. A wide selection of repertoire is carefully selected to match the needs and strengths of each student. McLelland holds Bachelor and Master degrees in piano performance and has pursued post-graduate studies in New York City, Atlanta, Williams College, and Princeton University since 1996. An expert on advanced piano technic, healthy motion, injury prevention, and the Taubman Approach, McLelland has helped pianists and instrumentalists of all levels of advancements, piano college professors, concert pianists, and amateur advanced pianists recover from injury and technical limitation by applying the healthy principles of the Taubman Approach, which is a groundbreaking analysis of the mostly invisible motions that function underneath a virtuoso technique and has helped pianists from all over the world overcome technical limitations, improve tone production and other components of expressive playing, as well as cure playing-related injuries. I love seeing the joy on students' faces when they are able to finally enjoy and master the art of music-making at the piano. I am continually excited about playing and teaching piano and my goal is to share this excitement and to use my knowledge to help instill a love of music in my students. When both the student and the teacher give their best, you can expect to see some wonderful musical milestones. Ultimately, a student will have the most fun in music study when they see improvement and can feel a true sense of accomplishment. This includes accomplishment in all areas of musicianship -- from note reading, performance, creative interpretations, composition, to the development of a healthy and virtuosic technic. The curriculum is designed to find ways to allow students to develop their unique talents and strengths by understanding their unique learning styles and by creating the most ideal learning atmosphere. While no two students are alike, I believe that students of all ages and personality types learn best when they are in a happy, motivated and calm emotional state. I think it is important to take the craft and art of music seriously, as well as the development of our talents and skills. It is also vital to have fun with learning, teaching, and performing, and I always try to provide an upbeat atmosphere in the private lessons and small-group classes. I expect my students to take their own music-making seriously -- even when we’re having fun in the process of learning -- and I always try to make sure that the first thing out of my mouth is positive, no matter how a student might have played that day. I am relentless in trying to find new and better ways to challenge my students and help them become not only better pianists, but better people as well. I always try to put the welfare of my students over any personal gain. The knowledge I have gained through my extensive studies of the Taubman Approach has allowed me to help pianists and other instrumentalists discover new levels of freedom and virtuosity, overcoming technical and musical limitations, pain, fatigue, and even injury. Based upon a thorough understanding of coordinate movement, the Taubman Approach provides a vocabulary to describe the motions that function underneath a virtuoso technique and allows pianists to develop the skills required to play difficult music with greater tonal control, accuracy, clarity, and speed.