Your questions, answered by Online Academy experts
As part of our 10th birthday celebrations, we invited pianists to send us the questions they most wanted answered.
The result is Ask the Faculty, a growing collection of video responses from several contributors to the Online Academy, covering technique, repertoire, musicianship, interpretation, performance, practising and more. Drawing on their knowledge and experience, the responses offer both specific approaches and broader ideas to inform your own playing.
Browse the questions below by topic, or explore all the responses from each contributor. New answers will be added throughout October.
Meet the Faculty
We’re delighted to have six Online Academy contributors taking part in this special feature and answering your questions.
Graham Fitch
Graham Fitch is a pianist, teacher, adjudicator and writer who gives masterclasses, workshops and courses for pianists and teachers in the UK and internationally. He writes extensively on practising, technique and performance, and also has a long-standing background as a solo and chamber performer.
Watch Graham’s Ask the Faculty responses →
Explore Graham’s Practice Tools →
Fred Karpoff
Fred Karpoff is an international pianist and pedagogue whose work focuses on helping pianists develop more efficient, healthy and expressive playing. He has served as Professor of Piano at Syracuse University and Visiting Professor at the Eastman School of Music.
Watch Fred’s Ask the Faculty responses →
Explore Mastering Intermediate Technique →
Explore Fred’s resources on the Online Academy →
Lona Kozik
Lona Kozik is a composer, pianist and teacher with broad experience in performance and music education. Her teaching brings together musical understanding, creativity and practical keyboard skills, helping students develop a more connected and confident approach to music.
Watch Lona’s Ask the Faculty responses →
Explore Becoming a Well-Rounded Keyboard Player →
Adina Mornell
Adina Mornell is a classical pianist, music psychologist and professor whose work brings together musical performance, pedagogy and research. Her teaching focuses on deliberate practice, attentional focus and the intersection of neuroscience and music psychology.
Watch Adina’s Ask the Faculty Responses →
Explore Lights–Camera–Action! →
Beate Toyka
Beate Toyka is a performer and teacher trained in the German classical tradition, with extensive experience as a soloist, accompanist and adjudicator. Her teaching is characterised by a lively empathy for both the music and the individual pupil.
Watch Beate’s Ask the Faculty Responses →
William Westney
William Westney is an internationally recognised pianist and award-winning teacher whose work has made a distinctive contribution to piano pedagogy. His projects include the Un-Master Class®, The Perfect Wrong Note and Eros at the Piano.
Watch William’s Ask the Faculty responses →
Explore William Westney’s collection on the Online Academy →