STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Edgar joined Opus on Swain just six months ago, bringing a whirlwind of energy to the studio. Like many 8-year-olds, his initial challenge was channeling his enthusiasm into focused finger work.

He is currently working on Adventures in Keyland and loves anything that sounds "fast and loud." His goal for this year is to learn the theme song from Star Wars.

Victor is one of our most advanced students, currently preparing for rigorous college auditions. He has a natural gravity at the piano, producing a deep, resonant tone that belies his age.

Currently, Victor is tackling Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G Minor. Outside of piano, Victor composes his own electronic music, which gives him a unique perspective on classical harmony.

Lily played piano as a child but stopped during college. Now a marketing executive, she returned to the piano looking for a way to disconnect from screens. She calls her Wednesday evening lessons her "therapy hour."

She has a special affinity for the Romantic era. We are currently working on Chopin's Nocturnes, focusing on rubato and "bel canto" singing tone.

Sarah has an incredibly sensitive ear. While many students love fast and flashy pieces, Sarah is drawn to color and atmosphere. She was the one who asked to learn Debussy.

Her current focus is on pedal technique—learning that the pedal isn't just an on/off switch, but a tool for mixing colors. She is preparing The Girl with the Flaxen Hair for the Spring recital.

Mateo is a rare talent. Discovering he had perfect pitch at age 6, he can hear a song on the radio and play it back almost instantly. The challenge is getting him to read the notes!

We use a hybrid curriculum for Mateo. Half the lesson is standard classical repertoire to build discipline, and the other half is Jazz improvisation, where he learns to read lead sheets.

Dr. Thorne approaches piano with the mind of an academic. A retired history professor, he isn't satisfied with just playing the notes; he wants to know why Bach wrote them that way.

He admits that his fingers aren't as fast as they used to be, but his understanding of musical structure is profound. He is currently working through the Well-Tempered Clavier.

Chloe is a powerhouse. Driven and disciplined, she enters local and state competitions regularly. However, last year she struggled with severe stage fright. We have shifted our focus from "perfection" to "communication."

She recently performed Liszt's Liebestraum with shaking hands but a singing heart, a massive breakthrough for her confidence.

Jackson breaks the stereotype that you can't be an athlete and a musician. As a competitive soccer player, his schedule is packed, but he treats piano practice with the same dedication as his drills.

We focus on "efficient practice" techniques for Jackson—how to get the most out of 20 minutes a day. He loves energetic, rhythmic pieces by Kabalevsky and Bartók.

Anya is a Biology major at IU who needed a creative outlet away from the lab. She played casually in high school but wanted to refine her technique without the pressure of exams.

She is currently exploring the lighter side of classical music—Mozart Sonatas and Satie's Gymnopédies. Anya brings a wonderful curiosity to her lessons, often drawing parallels between biology patterns and music theory.