AGC Piano - Concert Pianist/Professor

Introduction: •Steinway Teaching & Education Partner •Assistant Professor of Music at Occidental College •Instructor at USC Hello! My name is Anthony Cardella, and I am a concert pianist and piano pedagogue. I have won many competitions on state, regional, and national levels and have performed all over the country as well as in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Serbia! I have a Bachelors Degree in piano performance and pedagogy from one of the top undergraduate conservatories in the country (Lawrence Conservatory of Music), a masters degree in performance at the USC Thornton School of Music, and I am currently a Doctoral Candidate at Thornton as well, studying performance and pedagogy while teaching undergraduate piano. The thing that is special about my training is that I was not only trained to play on an extremely high level and win competitions, but I was also taught how to teach in pedagogy programs, which is something many teachers with performance degrees from top schools are missing! I have done pedagogy programs that have taught pedagogy theory, shaped my teaching skills, developed my understanding of students, and have given me the opportunity to put that into practice through practicum, internships, and paid positions at universities! I have done a lot of research on piano technique including injury prevention, Taubman Technique and ergonomic piano playing, and I have been brought up studying the Russian and French schools of technique. I have also done cognitive psychology research and have presented on its implications in piano teaching and playing. Below is my teaching philosophy: “I believe that being a good teacher is similar to being a good psychologist. One must have the ability to read a student - to understand them in the moment and to effectively gauge many aspects of their personality, as well as their strengths, weaknesses, and disposition. One glove does not fit all when it comes to teaching. There are many methods and approaches, and the best one is the one that will be most effective for each specific student. This method can change and grow, but can only do so with a teacher who is aware and flexible enough to understand the student and allow the student to guide and influence their teaching accordingly. In understanding that each student is different, I can begin to understand the goals, personality, background, likes/dislikes, and ideas of each student, and use these to shape my pedagogy, and the student’s artistry. Through effective communication, I can use my expertise to make music relevant and enjoyable to each student, and open up a door for the student to express themselves artistically while learning and improving. I believe that music is a birthright - we are all musical beings and have the capability to enjoy music and express ourselves through it. To effectively provide a student with the tools to do so, my music instruction includes the following components: Aural skills Music theory and analysis Sight reading Improvisation Effective practice habits Wellness and physical awareness Personal musical interpretations influenced by historical approaches Performance opportunities Encouragement to participate in competitions and festivals” Whether you are just starting out as a beginner and want a strong foundation, or have been playing for years and want to take your playing to the next level, improve your technique, play with less pain/tension, win competitions, or prepare for college auditions, I am confident that I can help you make wonderful progress while inspiring a life-long love for music! Please see below for more education information, as well as my teaching and performing experience, Also, please visit my website for more in-depth details about my education, pedagogy research, performance awards, and for videos of my playing! **I offer zoom lessons as well as in-home lessons**