Uncategorized

2026 January Monthly Program

Presenter: JungHae Kim

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 14th 2026

Time: 10 AM PST – 12 Noon

Topic:  Introduction of Historically Informed Performance and 

Understanding How Baroque Notation Differs from Modern notation.

Zoom Link: Will be sent via email

Korean born Harpsichordist JungHae Kim earned diplomas in harpsichord performance at the Peabody Institute, Oberlin Conservatory, and Sweelinck Conservatorium. Her performances have been described as inspired, fluid, engaging, emotionally exquisite, warm, and inviting. Her unique style blends a sparkling virtuoso technique with a gentle and lyrical sensibility that makes music of this genre instantly accessible to the modern ear. Kim is a Professor of Music Theory and Musicianship at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Lecturer in Harpsichord at Stanford University.

2025 October Monthly Program

Presenter: Irina Gorin

Date: Wednesday, October 8th2025

Time: 10 AM PST – 12 Noon

Topic:  Developing Healthy Technique and Musicality from the First Piano Lessons

Zoom Link: Will be sent via email

Irina Gorin, born in Kiev, Ukraine, holds Master’s Degrees in Piano Performance, Pedagogy, Chamber Ensemble, and Accompaniment from Kiev Music College and Kharkov Conservatory. With over 30 years of experience, she is recognized as a leading pedagogue for children, with her students continuing their education at top U.S. institutions. She regularly conducts workshops, masterclasses, and serves as a judge for piano competitions. Her internationally acclaimed method book series, Tales of a Musical Journey, blends Russian and American pedagogical traditions and has been published in over seven languages and 50 countries. She is also the founder and former president of the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition.

2025 May Presentation

Presenter: Dr. Stephen Pierce

Date: Wednesday, May 14th2025

Time: 10 AM PST – 12 Noon

Topic: Peak Performance Preparation

Zoom Link: Please check email

Stephen Pierce is a leader in the field of piano pedagogy, and enjoys a varied career as a teacher, presenter, performer, researcher, and adjudicator. He serves on the keyboard studies faculty at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music where he oversees the keyboard pedagogy and secondary piano programs and teaches applied piano, and courses in piano pedagogy, and keyboard literature. He is also an Academic Ambassador for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), an RCM certified teacher, and teaches at Interlochen Arts Camp each summer.

February Monthly Program

Presenter: Christopher Fisher

Date: Wednesday, February 12th2025

Time: 10 AM PST

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86969247527?pwd=Zbj73Na3fYtxtLRlOOa6JBEyZCbsle.1

Topic: Motivation, Mindset, and Grit; the Powerful Role of Parents;
A Practical Guide to Student Practice

Dr. Christopher Fisher is Professor of Piano at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio where he co-chairs the Keyboard Division. He is the Artistic Director of the Ohio University Piano Pedagogy Seminar and is a Faculty Fellow for the 1804 Scholars Program. Dr. Fisher is the author of Teaching Piano in Groups, co-author of the revised and expanded edition of Piano Duet Repertoire, and co-author of Functional Skills for Pianists. To find more about him, check his website below:
http://www.chrisfisherpiano.com/

2025 January Program

Presenter: Ory Shihor

Date: Wednesday, January 8th2025

Time: 10 am

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83177708740

Topic: Physical Gestures at the Piano – When Musical Expression Meets Kinesics

Bio: Ory Shihor is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning pianist and renowned master teacher who has spent the last 25 years helping young gifted pianists develop their musical talent to its fullest potential.

He has helped countless students ace their college auditions and get accepted into the world’s top music conservatories and universities, such as The Juilliard School and Yale University.

To date, his students have received over $3 million in scholarship offers, performing on the world’s premiere stages and winning top prizes in prestigious piano competitions.

A graduate of Juilliard and Curtis, Mr. Shihor is a frequent speaker and master class teacher at major conservatories and universities around the globe such as the Beijing and Shanghai Conservatories, Seoul National University, Taiwan National Normal University, Northwestern University, San Francisco Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory and the Royal Northern College of Music.

For over a decade, he served as piano professor at the Colburn Conservatory and as founding dean of its pre-college academy for highly gifted young musicians.

After a 20-year teaching career in higher education, Mr. Shihor co-founded the Ory Shihor Institute (OSI) together with his wife, Maria Liu, where he continues to teach young gifted pianists and train a new generation of piano teachers using his proven teaching approach.

Ory Shihor is a Bösendorfer and Yamaha artist.

November Program:Piano Safari:The Journey Begins

Are you interested in learning more about what sets Piano Safari apart from other methods? Join co-author and internationally respected pedagogue Katherine Fisher as she provides an overview of this highly acclaimed piano series that is revolutionizing piano teaching and learning around the world. Topics covered include the essentials of elementary technique, the development of reading and rhythm, and incorporating improvisation into lessons for beginners. 

Presenter:Katherine Fisher
Time: Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 10 AM PST
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2395165866

October Program: Organization and Studio Management

The upcoming monthly program Daily Rituals of the Modern Music Teacher is about organization and studio management. It includes technology and apps, studio policy must-haves. Here is the  landing page and registration URL for Santa Clara branch members. Upon registration, members will receive the Zoom link.

Landing Page URL: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/pqnjk4k/lp/5a2b0e84-87d0-4107-b9cd-e6df8c2f1753
Registration URL: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/pqnjk4k

Presenter: Noreen Wenjen

Time: Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 10 AM PST

February Program

1.  Technique and Artistry:  You Can’t Have One Without the Other – how to master technical skills and how to implement them to make the playing of the music more beautiful, fluid, artistic and simultaneously maintain relaxed physicality. 

2. The Magic of Imagery: Unlocking Creative Potential – how using imagery can inspire us as teachers and inspire our students  to connect to the emotional and expressive character of the music as well as being more confident and intuitive interpreters. 

Presenter: Catherine Rollin

Date: Wednesday, February 14th, 2024

Time: 10 am

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88636307163?pwd=1E68ToNOB52owB9YXZbHBeqDEDEgSR.1