No openings for 2023/24 school year

Margaret Denton headshot

Welcome to my website! While taking a break from in-person teaching for the upcoming school year, I will be adding online resources useful for intermediate, advanced, and adult students.

Although there are no firm boundaries, I consider a student to be upper intermediate once they have mastered the basics of note reading, know scales and arpeggios in all keys, and have a basic grasp of intervals and chords. Technique work continues of course, but the focus moves towards interpretation and performance concepts including:

  • how to read and interpret a score (beyond correct notes and rhythms)
  • how to choose phrasings and articulations
  • how to use physical gestures to clarify and/or magnify a musical gesture

Artistry

Developing an artistic frame of mind goes beyond hours spent in the practice room. Having contact and exposure to a wide range of perspectives and ideas from a variety of disciplines is essential to unlocking the imagination. For example, in order to learn how to produce a warm, singing line in a Chopin Nocturne, there must be some concept of what a “bel canto” singing style is all about. I recommend:

  • Attend live concerts whenever possible, and if you can’t, no worries, YouTube is here to help!
  • Listen to a variety of genres, including non-classical and non-western (there is a whole world of Indian Classical Music that is fascinating!)

Beyond this, I encourage making connections beyond the world of music. Go sailing! Go hiking! Pet a baby goat! Whatever intellectual or physical activity might interest you will likely bring something positive that will transfer to your piano world.

–Margaret Denton, D.M.

NEW! Study Guide for C.P.E. Bach’s Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments
Chapter Two, Embellishments: The Snap

NEW! Study Guide for C.P.E. Bach’s Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments
Chapter Two, Embellishments: Ornamentation of Fermatas

Study Guide for C.P.E. Bach’s Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments
Chapter Two, Embellishments
Appoggiaturas
Trills
Turns
Mordents
Compound Appoggiaturas
Slides

Below: J.S. Bach’s Table of Ornaments, transcribed into modern notation, found in the preface of a collection of teaching pieces for his eldest surviving son, Wilhelm Friedemann (1720)

Margaret playing piano
Margaret at piano with beautiful pet cat, Yuri