Elizabeth Tufankjian, a dedicated piano teacher, has observed that many students lack proper piano technique, often focusing only on note wise dependency without developing true musical expression. She believes correct technique should be taught from the start and nurtured over time. Her course, Studies for Advanced Piano Technique in an Approachable Manner, integrates imagery and storytelling to make advanced techniques easier to understand and apply. By engaging the imagination, students can develop expressive music-making skills more naturally.
A key aspect of the course is whole-body strength training to enhance technique and prevent injury. Partnering with Dr. John Maloney, a chiropractor specializing in musician injuries, the course emphasizes how physical conditioning supports effortless and expressive performance. With 33 structured assignments, students progress through exercises focused on breathing, relaxation, and mastering scales and arpeggios. Each assignment offers three levels of difficulty, making the course accessible to a wide range of students ready to refine their artistry.
This course is perfect for the returning adult amateur and actually anyone wishing to improve technique at a faster pace preventing injury as well.

Online Course (www.pianotechnique.guide)

My online version of this course includes visual demonstrations to make techniques easy to follow. To further apply the concepts, the online course includes 10 Listening Assignments, allowing students to observe and analyze performances that demonstrate the techniques taught. These assignments are beautifully illustrated by artist Paul Griffin.
To reinforce the lessons, the online course is also enriched with supplemental interviews from experts, including:

• Dr. Noa Kageyama, PhD, author of The Bulletproof Musician (performance psychology)
• Dr. Neil Rutman, author of Stories, Images, and Magic from Piano Literature
• Dr. Kimberly Pins Moeller, vocalist
• Augie Hoffman, former NFL linebacker (who offers insights on strength training for musicians)
• Concert pianists Eleonor Bindman, Ronée Boyce, and Polina Kulikova