I help pianists prevent and recover from injuries by playing with healthy technique

Alignment. Efficiency. Freedom.

The world of piano technique is a confusing patchwork of information. Professional pianists play in all kinds of eccentric ways and accomplished piano teachers often contradict one another. Outdated practice strategies carried forward from the 19th century, along with misunderstandings of functional anatomy, have resulted in countless injuries over the generations.

Modern approaches to injury prevention have helped, but they tend to fall into common traps:

• Complicated, dogmatic systems that foster unmusical playing.
• Technique focused entirely on the hand and forearm, neglecting to address the rest of the body.
• Relaxation-based approaches that are fine for easy repertoire but useless in something like a Rachmaninoff etude.

Efficient, safe, virtuosic piano technique requires a synthesis of traditional pedagogy with more recent discoveries about natural human movement.

“Patrick is an excellent pianist who has the rare ability to teach technical skills in a clear and intuitive way. Technical limitations had always prevented me from learning and mastering advanced repertoire and eventually led to an injury that prevented me from playing the piano for years. Lessons with Patrick have helped me solidify my technique and allow me to play with more confidence and ease.”

– Alex

I was stopped in my tracks by tendonitis in my early twenties and quickly realized how much I had been doing wrong at the piano. I found the best teachers available in the piano world and outside of it, and devoted myself full time to learning better technique.

After a couple of years I was playing better than ever – performing big, virtuosic repertoire without pain. I went on to complete my Doctorate in performance at one of Canada’s top schools. (You can read the whole story here)

“Patrick is not only an advanced player but also a clear teacher, patient, and well-rounded in knowledge on the topic of recovering from an injury. Lessons with Patrick have been helping me to get back into playing the repertoire level that I was playing before the injury, now with a stronger foundation and healthier technique.”

– Natassja

I am currently teaching what I learned to intermediate and advanced pianists through online lessons. If you are reading this page, it means I have at least one space available for a new student. 

I can help you: 

• Learn the most important principles of body alignment relevant to piano playing.
• Pinpoint what you may be doing wrong at the piano and fix it.  
• Stay present in your body and notice unhealthy movements immediately.  
• Choose strategic pieces and exercises to get you on the right path. 
• Transform your daily practice into a conscious, health-promoting activity.    
• Navigate the physical demands of complex, virtuosic piano compositions. 
• Use arm movements to reduce or eliminate strain on the hands and wrists.
• Choose fingerings that allow free movement of the arms.
• Achieve powerful expression through coordinated effort from the whole body.

“Patrick’s approach to piano technique – combined with his ability to explain and demonstrate – have enabled me to overcome long standing difficulties, to be more confident in my playing, and to feel as though I am finally beginning to realize my potential as a pianist.”

– Paul

Click this link to book a 15-minute phone call and see if we’re a good fit. 

“Patrick’s technical mastery, musical sensitivity, patience, and general chilled-out demeanour made him the perfect teacher for me!

– Jason