Golden Key Paino School’s June 2025 Newsletter

Dear Manhattan Piano Academy Community,

Congratulations on a successful solo recital, here are some highlights and news from the month of June.

1. Register for Exams

If you haven’t registered for the exam yet here is the procedure.

First check with your teacher about what week you are ready for the exam then register.

Then, text Teacher Katrin what your preferred time is to make an appointment.

If you have started your lessons in January 2025 or later, you will do your exams next year.

Keep practising, have fun and see you then!

2. Referral System

Many thanks for your referrals!

To show our appreciation, for each student that is referred, we will:

• Add $50 to our scholarship fund to make our quality lessons available to a wider community.
• Waive the $45 registration fee for your friend as a welcome gift to our school.
• Send you a thank-you gift.

Refer your friends and family for a free 20-minute consultation with Headteacher Katrin.

3. Summer Package

Summer is a great time to catch up with your piano practice and make it your focus. We are running a summer program to help the students improve their stature and focus.

The packages are;

In Person Lessons

• Two piano lessons per week.
• Duration of class is 60 minutes.
• Monthly “polish up” short lesson with headteacher.
• $800 per month.

Online Lessons

• Two piano lessons per week.
• Duration of class is 60 minutes.
• Monthly “polish up” short lesson with headteacher.
• $700 per month.

Space is limited. Please reply to this email to register.

4. Berkeley Solo Recital Videos

Congratulations to all the Berkeley students who participated in our Annual Solo Recital. It is amazing to see where our beginner students start and where our advanced students end up being after years of hard work, persistence and ups and downs. Keep up the good work you all!

The videos of our 2025 solo recital are in the process of being uploaded on YouTube here. Please watch, “like” and share and don’t forget to tag Golden Key Piano School when you share videos on your social media.

Below are our two picks from what has been uploaded so far.

Jessica playing Reverie by C. Debussy

Vihaan playing Rondo alla Turca by W.A Mozart and Scherzo in B flat major D593, no.1 by F Schubert

5. Calendar Reminder

Please note that the school will be closed from July 3rd to July 6th for Fourth of July break. For those classes fall on these dates, your lessons balance out as there were 5 weeks in July/August hence you don’t need makeup classes.

Here is the school calendar for reference in case you need it for future reference.

6. Student News

Eileen

Eileen, one of Teacher Katrin’s students, has successfully passed RCM Level 9 Practical Exam with Honors and we are so proud to be associated with her.

Eileen playing Sinfonia number 2 by J. S. Bach and Nocturne Op. 9 No 2 by F. Chopin

7. Teacher News

Teacher Tara Fiser

With over 11 years of dedicated teaching experience, Tara is committed to nurturing a joyful, supportive, and creative environment where her students can explore the art of piano playing. Her approach emphasizes fostering musical expression, building confidence, and cultivating a lifelong love for music.

Originally from Serbia, she holds a degree in Piano Performance and a Master’s in Chamber Music. Her strong foundation in music theory, combined with diverse performance experiences including theater productions, recitals, accompaniment, band performances, and chamber music allowing her to bring a dynamic and well-rounded perspective to her teaching.

Beyond music, she is passionate about animal welfare and human rights, values that influence, her compassionate and inclusive teaching style. Friendly, approachable, and genuinely invested in her students’ growth, she aims to make a positive, lasting impact through music education. We officially welcome her to the Golden Key Piano School’s teaching staff!

Teacher Jeff

Jeff strives to help each individual cultivate a meaningful relationship with the piano that’s personal, enriching, and lasts for life. Drawing from 25 years of piano experience, Jeff helps his students gain a broad set of musical skills to tackle a diverse range of musical styles, while tailoring lessons to their unique goals and aspirations.

Jeff studied at the New England Conservatory’s pre-college program in Boston, MA. He continued his musical studies at Princeton University, where he performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 1 with the Princeton University Orchestra and earned an AB in economics with a minor in piano performance.

Most recently, he was awarded 1st Prize and “Best Baroque” performance at the 2024 Boston International Piano Competition for Amateur Pianists, performing works by Rachmaninoff, Handel, Ravel, Kapustin, and Prokofiev (see youtube: @lostinfugue). He has performed in hundreds of concerts and is a frequent soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist around the Bay Area.

Outside of teaching and performing, Jeff works full-time as a data scientist for a video recording software product called Loom and lives with his partner and fellow pianist (Ryan) + Australian Cattle Dog (Coda) in Berkeley. He is excited to join the Golden Key Piano School’s teaching staff!

8. Follow Our Blog

We update our blog with a new post every week, where we post useful insights, advice, and more.

Check the blog here:

Women Pianists Who Shaped Music History

Anna Artobolevskaya (1905-1988)