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Author: Ángel Magaña

Piano is an acoustic instrument, invented in the 1700’s, acquires its name from the Italian terms for “soft” and “loud”, and is derived from the word pianoforte. This instrument, although it has more than three hundred years, it is still very popular in our decade, being the accompaniment in bands, in some orchestras or even played solo in modern musical pieces. In this interview, we are looking the piano on another perspective, the educational perspective, seen as a pianist teacher.

José Ramón Tirado is a classical piano teacher; he is 48 years old and has been teaching for 28 years teaching piano, he owns the “Franz Liszt Escuela de Música”, located in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. We interviewed him, and here are his answers:

Why do you like your job? “It is something that I had always done, it’s what I studied, and I like it because it is a wonderful experience to share with people, work with them, from the ages of 4 years to elder people. I have always liked it, because I’m a musician, and I like to teach people what music is, what I do.

What is your favorite instrument? My favorite instruments are piano and guitar; I have studied both in a formal way, not only as a hobby. These is, reading notes, practicing it, perfecting it, and reaching deeper in the instrument. This doesn’t mean that I know everything; it means that I’m more focused on the instrument.

What is the most important thing for you in this moment? The most important thing in this moment for me is to keep growing up as a person; music is something that has helped me. Also, sharing my knowledge of classical formal music to my students in order to make them feel the music as the authors intended it.

What is your favorite piano piece? For me, there is no single piano piece that I prefer, there are beautiful pieces from different authors, such as Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, but one in particular that marked my life, and even influenced in the school’s name, is Franz Liszt ‘s Nocturne, Dream of Love.

What was your formation before being a teacher? I prepared, studied Music, I assisted particular classes, but at college studied different instruments as piano, guitar, mandolin, accordion, flute, keys, bass, and the drum. This has helped me deepen my knowledge in music, but I also studied for being a piano teacher, studying different subjects, theory, educational sciences, harmony, sol-fa, all of that to be able to prepare to impart music classes.

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What is the most difficult thing to do as a piano teacher? The most challenging thing as a teacher is when a student doesn’t want to practice, but is obligated by the parents, because, this is not about the difficulty to find a method because he doesn’t understand it, the student doesn’t wish that new knowledge, but we don’t despise them, we eager for them, because somehow we manage to make the student comfortable with music and attain the knowledge.

Do you feel that it has been a long time since you started being a teacher? For me, time goes fast, I haven’t felt this past 28 years , because I like my job, I enjoy it, I don’t feel any discomfort.

What is the maintenance a piano needs to stay tuned? The piano needs maintenance depending on the person and its purpose with the piano. A pianist that has taken advanced classes or he practices constantly will need to tune the piano more often, maybe three or four times a year. On the other hand, if the student doesn’t practice too much it will not require maintenance too often.

Was learning piano difficult for you? I didn’t struggle when learning piano, I suited my schedules in order to dedicate more time for the practice of piano. I even left water, some snacks, and fruit in order to not get out of the piano seat. I even analyzed the piano pieces when I was resting or eating on my break, taking more advantage of my time.

Do you have another activity besides being a piano teacher? I give maintenance to the pianos; this is something that I think all musicians must know, but most of them just dedicate to their respective instrument.

Is teaching piano classes a hobby for you? Teaching piano is a hobby, is something that I like, it’s fun with some students, and it teaches me as a human, as a teacher.

We have had students with “limitations” as autism, schizophrenia, depression… with each of one I learn in a different way. “ José Ramón has spent almost his entire life teaching piano for people from the ages of 4 years old to 81 years old, overcoming obstacles and looking forward to approach them and solve each with the same enthusiasm that he had shown this past 28 years.

Ramon’s favorite piano piece: Franz Liszt’s: Nocturne Love Dream

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