Steven Bianchi's StudioSteven Bianchi’s Bio | Practice Contract | Performance Classes & Recital Dates | Memory Festival | Dates to Remember | Application for Recitals | Tuition
Steven Bianchi, Piano TeacherSteven Bianchi is the Director of the Amherst School of Music, Inc., where he also teaches the piano and administers its programs.
In 2004, 2005 and 2006, Bianchi’s student, Mark Asirwatham won first prize in the Classical 11 class at the Dynamics Music Festival. More recently, another student of Bianchi’s, Eitan Fischer, won a 2nd prize at the 1,000 Island Chopin Competition in 2006 and then in April of 2007 won 1st prize in the highest level of the Junior Festival Piano Competition held in Baird Hall. In 2008, You Jung Kim (a.k.a. Christina Kim) won first prize in the Classical 11a class at the Dynamics Music Festival. In 2009, Tushar Kesavadas won the same prize. At the 2009 New York Federation of Music Clubs, District 8’s Honors Recital Competition, Bianchi’s students, Paco Quebral (Difficult Classes 1 &2) and Chanho Park (Very Difficult Classes 1&2) each won 1st prizes in their respective classes. Also, in 2009, two of his students, Eitan Fischer and Anthony Lefebrve were both invited to give lecture/recitals at the 20th Century Club of Buffalo. Bianchi began taking piano lessons at the age of seven with Estelle Seifert of Williamsville. He then began teaching in 1975 and in 1978 was awarded an apprenticeship in piano performance and pedagogy at the Bradley Institute for Music Education Research at the age of eighteen where he studied with Harold Bradley (1906-1984). Bradley had studied with two of the great legendary pianists from the Golden Age of Pianism, Isidor Philipp (1863-1958) and Mark Hambourg (1879-1960). Thus, Bianchi absorbed the French, Russian and German piano traditions through his association with Bradley. Then studies with Norman Anderson at the Guildhall School of Music in London, England and further studies at the University of Buffalo, with Professor Frina Boldt, resulted in a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and a Master of Arts degree in music history, both from UB. During these years, Bianchi also studied jazz harmony and arranging with the renowned jazz accordionist and pianist, Russ Messina. Bianchi's Masters thesis on the noted Niagara Falls, NY composer, John Pierce Langs (1882-1967), is the definitive study of the composer and his works and an important contribution to American Music History. Bianchi has subsequently established the John Pierce Langs International Piano Competition, which debuted in 1994 and has drawn competitors from all over the world. A frequent judge for music festivals, Bianchi also enjoys being President of the New York Federation of Music Clubs, District 8 and chairman of its annual Junior Festival. As composer, his piece, Three Pieces for Jack, received its world premiere in June of 2001 at Buffalo State College’s Rockwell Hall. Bianchi performed it while dancers from Maris Battaglia’s American Academy of Ballet danced her choreography of this work. This ballet was presented once more at Chautauqua Institution in their amphitheater. It is a solo piano work devoted to his brother Jack who died in 1972 of cancer at the age of seven. The three movements are titled: 1. Childhood 2. Funeral March 3. Afterlife. Listen to a selection from Three Pieces for Jack (240K MP3) He has performed for the Amherst Youth Ballet and in the June recitals for the American Academy of Ballet for the past six years.
Practice ContractStudent is required to practice at least 180 minutes each week. Please document the amount of time spent practicing each day. This will help me give you an appropriate assignment each week. Remember, 180 minutes is a minimum amount of practice time. Older students and those students taking 45 or 60-minute lessons should consider longer practice sessions, especially on the weekends. After every 1000 minutes of practice, get a prize from the Treasure Chest. Click here for printable version (pdf)
Performance Classes
Recital DatesIn order to participate in a recital, the student must fill out an application form. You may get an application form from your teacher or on our website.
Memory FestivalThe Memory Festival is a special event in which a student will prepare six pieces by memory and then receive a trophy. Participation in this event is optional and is evaluated on a pass/fail basis. The dates for evaluation are January 17 and June 6, 2010. It is suggested that a student “collect” pieces during the three or four months preceding an evaluation. It is advantageous to collect pieces the child most enjoys playing. If a child is not able to play through all six pieces adequately, they will be given another chance to do so in the very near future. The goal of the festival is to give the student a tangible reason for keeping a group of pieces “in their fingers” that they enjoy and can play well. Something very special happens when a musician plays a piece by memory for a long period of time. The playing of the piece becomes so automatic and effortless that a higher level of expression and artistic accomplishment is possible. There is an application fee of $10.00 for each performance. Make checks payable to Amherst School of Music. The adjudication takes place at Mr. Bianchi's studio. January 17, 2010 (Application deadline: December 1, 2009) Click here for printable version (pdf)
Dates to RememberPERFORMANCE CLASSES RECITALS May 2, 2010 Junior Festival MEMORY FESTIVAL SPECIAL EVENTS TUITION DUE DATES NO CLASSES Application for ASM Student Recitals on SundaysDecember 12, 2008 Below is a link to the application form for the ASM’s student recitals which are held on Saturdays at Denton, Cottier and Daniels, located at 460 Dodge Road, Getzville, NY 14068. There will be six, 30 minute recitals every half hour from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. There is a $5.00 charge for each performer and no admission charge for anyone who would like to attend the recitals. Please return the form to Steven Bianchi as soon as possible. If I receive it two weeks ahead of the performance date I may be able to include the performer’s name in a press release to the Bee Newspapers. Click here for printable version (pdf)
TuitionPlan A – participation in this plan is contingent upon student completing weekly contract of at least three hours of practice a week, preferably six, 1/2 hour sessions a week. This suggested amount of time, three hours, is basically a minimum amount and those students taking longer lessons should consider longer practice sessions. Fees for each student for each 11 week trimester are: Plan B - under this plan there is no required contract for practice time. Dates for each trimester are as follows: There will be no lessons: 11/23 to 11/28/09, 12/21/09 to 1/2/10, 2/15 to 2/20/10, 4/19 to 4/24/10 Make-up lessons will be provided either during the trimester, during the first few days of vacation or during the summer session. Make-up lessons will not be carried over into the next school year. To receive a make-up lesson I must receive notice of cancellation 24 hours ahead of the scheduled lesson time. Payment is due at the first lesson of each trimester. Additional charges will be made for books, recitals and/or festivals. Summer lessons – Usually I teach six weeks during the summer. Students can opt for as many lessons as they like. Payment will be arranged at that time. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Regarded as one of Western New York’s premiere music educators, Bianchi has produced numerous students who frequently have been prizewinners at regional, national and international competitions as pianists and composers. Also, many have been awarded scholarships for their university studies in music. One of his students, Charles Czarnecki, was awarded first prize at the Bartok/Kabalevsky competition, in Radford, Virginia. Another student, Dan Castellani won the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra Piano Competition and earned the opportunity to perform The Grieg concerto with this orchestra in the fall of 1999. In 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2004 Bianchi's students were awarded the top prize given by the Music Forum for Piano Teachers of Western New York, a scholarship for university study.