This is an archival site: for this year's Piano Institutes please visit

http://www.pianotechnique.net/AlanFraserInstitute/

The first Alan Fraser Piano Institute @ Smith College was held in June 2011. Eleven pianists gathered together for a week of intensive piano lessons, lectures and Feldenkrais lessons designed to advance one's technique in the most empowering circumstances possible. This first Institute was a great success which led to new branches being opened in Salt Lake City and Stuttgart, Germany.

The Institute was held in Northampton MA at the Smith College Music Department's Sage Hall. The use of 2 fine Steinway instruments in an intimate concert space (two pre-war New York B's, both beautifully maintained) ensure the highest possible level of artistic work at the Institute. Practice facilities are conveniently located in the same building.

The Alan Fraser Piano Institute is OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PIANISTS: performing professionals, university students, studio teachers and enthusiastic amateurs both young and old...

ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS receive daily: a complete piano lesson (45-60") with Alan Fraser, a Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) Class, a seminar lecture, and the opportunity to observe all other individual piano lessons.
AUDITORS take full part in all activities but receive no individual lessons.
New this year is the EVERY OTHER DAY option. Attend daily but have a private lesson only on alternate days. Go to Registration for more info.

ALAN FRASER: A MASTER TEACHER

With his background in Feldenkrais Method and his long-standing collaborations with pioneer pedagogue Phil Cohen and virtuoso Kemal Gekich, Alan Fraser is on the cutting edge of modern-day piano technique. Author of three major books on piano technique, The Craft of Piano Playing, Honing the Pianistic Self-Image and All Thumbs: Well-Coordinated Piano Technique, Fraser uses his profound knowledge of body mechanics to help you develop the hand power and coordination you need to make the piano to sound like an entire orchestra, giving you a much wider range of tonal colors, deeper musical expression and nimbler fingers as well. Fraser's teaching is especially effective because he not only knows a great deal about piano technique, but possesses exceptional skills as a communicator: he has spent literally decades developing effective ways of transmitting his continually developing knowledge to his students.

FEATURES OF THE INSTITUTE

FELDENKRAIS - Each day your individual lesson is supplemented by a Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) Class that helps you feel in your whole body the coordination you need in your hands. This exceptionally effective combination is unique to Fraser's approach.

OBSERVING - often students learn much by watching others grapple with the same problems and hearing how others transform their sound. The experience is communal - we all grow in our understanding together.

INJURY - if you suffer from performance injury, let Fraser's combination of pure hands-on Feldenkrais lessons and work at the piano improve your condition in a way that simply can¹t be found elsewhere.

GREAT OPPORTUNITY - experience Fraser's pedagogical regime at close quarters, and put the potent ideas of Craft of Piano Method into practice in your own playing and teaching.

WATCH FULL LENGTH ALAN FRASER PIANO LESSONS ONLINE

To give you a clearer idea of the teaching that awaits you, we offer online videos of full length Alan Fraser piano lessons, where his ideas transform his students' sound, agility and musical understanding right before your eyes.

TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE from 2011

WEEKLY SCHEDULE 2011

ACCOMODATION 2011

Smith College offers single rooms in simple dormitory style, with fans but no air conditioning. Linens are provided, bathrooms are communal. Prices are somewhat lower than the off-campus housing in the area. There is some possibility of a home or two in the area billeting a participant at a reduced price. Please enquire when you register.

MEALS

There are at least three dozen eateries within walking distance of the Smith campus. Downtown restaurants offer traditional and regional American food, natural vegetarian meals and cuisine from Italy, Greece, Mexico, China and India.

COST 2011

Register early for significant savings!

Participation and residence fees include full coverage for life, health and accident insurance. If you register online and you qualify for a discount,

FINANCIAL NEED & SCHEDULING CONFLICTS

The recession has hit us all hard in our pocketbooks, and many with busy schedules may be even more strapped for time than for money, so we accept partial attendance and also offer partial scholarships for those with financial constraints. Come for only a day or three days, or register for our afternoon/evening program only which starts from 3 p.m. We want you to attend! Contact Christine Olson and we will find a way to make it happen!

DISCOUNTS: STUDENTS, SENIORS, COUPLES & GROUPS

• Student discount: 25%
• Seniors discount: 10%
  

To receive your discount, include the corresponding coupon on the registration page with your order or contact Christine Olson to receive your refund