Background

 

Early beginnings

Tabea Hirzel is a polymath who started dancing before walking and enjoyed rhythmic-musical education, combined with Montessori and Orff approaches in her early years. 

 

Her love for the piano however came late in her life. She learnt to play when she was six, but in a very dogmatic way that would not allow her creativity to flow. 

 

She rediscovered the piano again during her studies in music therapy. Music is for Tabea a way rather than a goal. 

 

Therefore, she uses the piano as a tool to explore the world and help students’ develop their full potential.
 

An old piano

Piano playing was somehow part of the culture that surrounded Tabea Hirzel. One of the first songs that were taught to any child was The Flea Waltz. There was alway uncle around who would teach it to smaller children looking for a quick great effect.

Pianos could be found almost at any place: at schools, in the church, in large conference rooms and even on the garbidge! And in this way, Tabea's first piano was an old brown Steinway & Sons that someone in her quarter wanted to throw away.

Her parents would spent a lot of money and effort to restore it. They did not systamitacally consider that playing the piano would make their children smarter. They simply had big heart for this undervalued rare piece of art.

Once they had piano, it only made sense that somebody would also learn to play it. This is how I started playing the piano.

Tabea on March 23, 1986 (8 years old)

A lot of effort, little fun

Piano teaching by this time was very much about learning scales and meaningless pieces in a disconnected way, without explaining why one had to learn this or that part. After a more creative education through Orff and Montessori, it came almost like shock to little Tabea. 

On top of that, teachers would be rather stoping and frightening students by telling them how difficult playing the piano was.

Until one day, Tabea Hirzel got a really great teacher. Sadly, it was only for a short time. But she would  who opened her the way to the piano as a tool you can interact with and as a friend in lonely nights, by explaining theory in context, showing simple ways of early improvisation and connecting emotionally to the instrument, and through it with others.

This is the spirit Tabea wishes to pass on to her students. Piano playing must not be difficult. Like in any other field, perfection is dificult, but you may have much fun on the way towards it.

With love and care.

Tabea