Here are some testimonials from students, parents and visiting master teachers:
Your Piano Academy revolutionized my son’s life and music. For the first time in my life, he was exposed to exceptional training by a distinguished faculty. True to his style, he took it all in like a sponge. It was at the Piano Academy that he learned to understand and integrate a composer’s intent with the notes in a particular piece. Today he got first place in a competition at the University of Buffalo. The judge congratulated all the students and further explained that the winners were set apart by how well they communicated the music – excitement, lyrical, etc. Thanks to the Piano Academy for getting my son started on this pathway.
I am eternally grateful for everything I learned and experienced during my 3 summers with all of you and am thrilled to see that the program is going strong after all this time. I grew a great deal musically and personally during my summers at IU and feel like I can remember every minute of those 9 weeks. I send my best wishes to you and hope that everything continues to go well for you and the Piano Academy.
Thank you once again for an incredibly inspiring and enjoyable experience at the IU Piano Academy this past summer! I have learned so much from my peers, the counselors and the faculty from my time spent at the Academy, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity I received to attend the Academy. I just had a lesson with my private teacher today, and I was very excited to tell her about the things I’ve learned at the Academy.
Your advice was very helpful, and being exposed to 6 different teaching styles really helped me shape my playing. My piano teacher was very happy with my progress, which would not have been made without your program. Thank you for running a wonderful camp that supports young musicians!
Each unique event and opportunity at IUPA helped me to realize what an important role music plays in my life, [especially] the many opportunities to listen to my friends’ performances… Although I never in my life have been this serious and thoughtful about my own future, I feel like I can be that passionate now… I am now much more motivated to practice and ‘make progress’; I’m very excited already thinking about hopefully attending Piano Academy again next year, so please look forward to much progress in my playing. I will try my best to become a much improved, completely different performer! Thank you SO much!
The dream, the love of music that formed in me during my three summers [at the Academy] has guided me ever since.
Thank you so much for helping to give me such an incredible camp experience. When I came home last night and played my piano, I felt like a different player and person! I am so much more excited to make music now that I have all these new tools.
…attending your program for three weeks has dramatically increased her knowledge of piano music (and also other music that she heard at evening concerts). In addition to her learning so much from all of you related to the pieces she is working on, practice tips, etc., she also had the unusual opportunity to experience different teaching styles and personalities (most programs I am familiar with assign one teacher to each student for the duration). This was a great experience for her. I have observed in her playing since she got home, that she learned a lot there from all of her teachers, that she appears more confident and says she learned to enjoy practicing more… She is really motivated to work on her college audition repertoire…
The students who played for me were just wonderful. They were well prepared, serious and enthusiastic. I’ve been telling my spouse [member of a university piano faculty] what a fantastic experience I had.
It was just great to see you and all that you’ve created for so many young aspiring pianists. We are so grateful that our son had the chance to experience it. He learned and enjoyed it so much! It was everything and more that I expected it would be. Thank you!
My parents and I truly appreciate the life-changing opportunity you gave me by letting me go to IUPA! The good of IUPA is still sinking in and manifesting itself in new ways…
I still remember my experience (at the Academy) fondly, more fondly than any other summer I spent making music (which was every Summer). Your program was one of the highlights of my education, and something I will always carry with me. I want to thank you one more time for that…
What a wonderful experience she had, thanks to you, your staff and the other students. The Piano Academy has strengthened her love of music and passion for performing
I really felt like I learned a lot at this camp. And I noticed that all of the faculty were interested in us as individuals and were interested in helping our future. I really appreciated that, especially since I have been to other camps and I can honestly say that this is not true of every camp… Thank you for making the experience a joy. I know you went to a lot of work to make that happen…
I remember [my participation] coming at a pivotal moment in my development as a pianist. It played such an important part in my decision to continue with piano as a career. It’s funny how many people I still run into from IUPA (especially at Juilliard and Eastman!)…