Lineages of Piano Composer/Teachers and Tomoko

 As a piano student, Tomoko took courses in composition, and she has great sensitivity to a composer’s nuanced musical approach and style. Tomoko also knows that several of her favorite piano composers were also piano teachers. Here is a sampling, which also show the lineage and impact of piano teachers.

The late 18^th century pianist Muzio Clementi was known for his piano sonatas and sonatinas. He also taught piano for over twenty year, and passed on his technical legato style to his students. One of those students was the German Ludwig Berger, who even went to Clementi to Russia, and stayed eight years.

When Berger returned to Germany, he transitioned from performing to composing (a concerto, sonatas, and studies) and teaching. His most famous student was Chopin.

Even though Chopin was one of the greatest piano composers even, he did not like to perform in public; he got stage fright and didn’t like being watched. He actually preferred teaching piano, and his etudes were used in such sessions. He wrote many études, which he used in lessons with his students. He mainly taught women who were serious about piano playing, although none performed professionally. One of his favorite students was Adolphe Gutman, who performed with Chopin, and later composed a set of études that were dedicated to Chopin.

Another lineage of piano composers/teachers starts with Christian Gottlob Neefe: a German 18^th century composer and conductor. He started composes at age 12, creaying mainly operas, although he also composed piano pieces. He was also Ludwig van Beethoven’s main piano teacher, and helped Beethoven compose his first works, which were piano pieces.

Besides his composing and public performing, Beethoven taught piano to increase the family’s income. One of his students was Austrian Carl Czerny, who impressed Beethoven with his performance at age 10. On his part, Czerny was impressed with Beethoven technical skill and ability to improvise.

Clementi also taught Czerny, who performed professionally and wrote more than a thousand compositions. Many of his piano pieces were études and piano solo exercises, which he used in teaching the piano. Indeed, Czerny began teaching piano at age fifteen.  His most famous student was Franz Liszt, who dedicated one of his own études to Czerny. Liszt also complemented his performing and composing with teaching, although he mainly taught masterclasses for groups of advanced piano students; he emphasized interpretation in those classes.  

Tomoko’s own students have gone on to perform professionally, compose, and teach piano. So she also has a legacy to be proud of.

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Max Egger

 

As a music major at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Tomoko had the opportunity to study with several famous musicians, including Max Egger. He performed, composed, and taught piano. His most famous recording was his memorial album, released in 2018, ten years after he died.

Tomoko was not the only Japanese pianist to study with him.

Pianist Kiyoko Takeuti was born in Tokyo, and Max Egger was one of her early teachers; she later joined the Philadelphia Orchestra as its pianist.

Japanese pianist Yuko Ninomiya studied with Max Egger at the High School Division of Toho School of Music. A few years she received a Fulbright scholarship to study at Juilliard, where she won several competitions. After touring in Europe and the US, she returned to Japan to perform and teach, including at the Toho School of Music where her studies began.

Still another Japanese pianist,, Kiroko Miyake Dutton, studied with Max Egger at Kobe College. She performed in the major Northeastern US cities, German, and Japan. At this point, she has more then 45 years of experience in piano instruction.

Swiss pianist Margrit Weber studied piano under Max Egger at the Zurich Conservatory. As a professional piano performer, she toured Europe, Canada, and the US. IN 1960 she performed Stravinsky’s Movements for piano and orchestra under the composer’s direction.

Another student of Max Egger’s at the Zurich Conservatory was Swiss musician Jean-Jacques Hauser. After successfully competing in several piano competitions, he taught at the Bellinzona City Piano School.

Another pianist who studied with Max Egger in Zurich was the American Warren Thew, who also taught a solo class at the Zurich Music Academy at the same time. He enjoyed giving concerts on old music played on original instruments of the time. Besides recording a number of works, Thew was a composer, arts, and poet.

German musician Peter Feuchtwanger studied piano with Max Egger, and later transitioned from performance to composing and teaching.

Like Max Egger, Tomoko has a long career of performing and teaching, and has several classical album recordings.