PEDAGOGY
About:
Lisa is an heir to a lineage of distinguished teachers who themselves studied with renowned pianists and pedagogues. Leo Litwin, her teacher from age 6 to 16, received training from the distinguished instructors and Moscow Conservatory trained pianists, Rosina and Joseph Levhinne. She spent four summers at the Chautauqua Institute of Music, studying with Ozan Marsh, a student of Emil von Sauer and one of the last surviving pupils of Franz Liszt.
As an undergrad at Harvard, Lisa studied privately with Russell Sherman, pupil of Edward Steuermann. (Steuermann, in turn, was a student of Busoni.) During these years she was also coached by the Walter Bigelow Rosen Professor of Music, composer-pianist Leon Kirchner, who studied with Arnold Schoenberg, as a member of Harvard’s famous MUSIC 180 Student Chamber Music Seminar.
After graduation, Lisa continued with Leon Kirchner as a private student for a decade. She also spent a summer at Nadia Boulanger’s music program in Fontainebleau, France. During her time at Yale for her Masters in Piano Performance, she worked with Claude Frank – a student of Artur Schnabel – and Richard Goode – a student of Rudolf Serkin and Miecyzslaw Horszowski.
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For her doctoral studies at Peabody, Lisa was in the studio of the legendary pianist Leon Fleisher, who, like Claude Frank, received his training with Artur Schnabel. She has also consulted with Feldenkrais expert Marian Hahn, a revered senior professor of piano and chamber music at the Peabody Institute.
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​​Lisa’s years of teaching have combined with this legacy of great teachers to make her a master teacher. Their legacy lives on through her as she generously shares her vast accumulated knowledge in matters of touch, sound and technique, as well as musical structure, form and analysis. She utilizes all of the accumulated wisdom she has acquired and is grateful for the chance to continue the legacy.
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Professor of Music, Emerita, Goucher College, Baltimore, MD
Faculty, Opus Community Music School
Teaching Testimonials
Chris Elliot
Undergraduate
at Goucher College
“Lisa Weiss is an incredible pianist. She always had me engaged in esoteric conversations about the relationship between me and the piano. Taking lessons with her, I learned so much. Not only did I learn about how to play the piano but also a lot about myself as a musician. I feel like you can gain quite a lot from her piano lessons, as long as you’re committed and seek to learn.”
Niloufar Nourbaksh
composer/pianist
Undergraduate
at Goucher College
“One time, I played through a couple of Chopin piano preludes, and instead of talking about notes and articulations and dynamics and forms and harmonies, Lisa opened this giant book about the formation of earth and life itself that contained magnificent photos. She said: “It’s all about this. The preludes are about these pictures”. It was her invitation to a free mind that allowed me to listen in another level to what I was playing. Now I know, with every note, that it’s all about those pictures.”
Garber D.
Student
Private Lessons
Chimwemwe C.
Student
at Opus Community Music School
Eva W.
Mother of Students
Private Lessons
Jessica N.
Undergraduate
at Goucher College
Greg B.
Undergraduate
at Goucher College
“I so admire your ability to impart not only valuable insights and concepts that have given me, even at my age, a sense of accomplishment, but also the spirit which you bring to your music and the excellence that you inspire.”
“Thank you so much for your kindness and your great patience. You are one of the most skilled, knowledgeable, and engaging teachers I have ever had. Your insights and analogies have opened my eyes and ears to a side of music that is more beautifully intricate than I have ever known. Because of you my love for music and the piano have increased.”
“The kids’ time with you has been an extremely wise and valuable investment, and we’re so lucky to have been able to work with you! Thank you for sharing your patience, kindness, and outstanding skills. Both kids found their time with you very special! You truly have a gift and generously share it with others.”
“Lisa has been an instrumental factor in my growth as a chamber musician as well as a soloist. In addition to being a wonder Professor, an invaluable source of support, and a good friend, lisa is the crème de la crème of concert pianists.”
“I consider Dr. Lisa Weiss to be a clear standout amongst a faculty of exceptional individuals.”
Videos: Goucher Chamber Music Seminar, Lisa Weiss, Director/Pianist
Track 1: Butterfly Metamorphosis
Track 2: Milhaud Suite
Track 3: Schubert Lieder
How well did the various components of this course (readings, assignments, activities) contribute to your learning?
• very well
• all of the assignments and activities helped contribute to my learning.
• Very well. All exercises helped me improve throughout the semester
• practicing, music reading
• it was perfect. Hands on from the very beginning
• The course materials (textbooks) were essential to my learning, and the composition assignment was entertaining!
If you (the student) could keep one thing about the course the same, what would it be? Why?
• the professor
• everything, i think it was a great course and i wouldn't change anything.
• I like the books that were assigned. I felt they were perfect for my level of piano.
• the teacher
• Everything
• Occasional 1 on 1 lessons were excellent because they allowed the instructor to get to know the students and their playing styles better and give more constructive advice/criticism that they wouldn't necessarily give during group lessons.