At first glance the Tholen Fellows program seemed like a crazy idea — who was I to study with such a high-powered concert artist? Thinking further, I decided ‘why not?’ There would be nothing to lose and it might be fun to see how far I could go improving my playing in two years’ time. The price was right! And furthermore, I thought ten years down the road I would regret passing up the opportunity.

Looking back, it’s one of the best experiences I could have asked for as a piano teacher. I gained a huge reservoir of information and techniques that still positively impact my teaching and practicing. As a bonus, it helped me sail through the process of becoming a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. A perfect combination that I strongly recommend to anyone who qualifies for this program and wants to strive for that goal.

Thanks to Portland Piano International I have had the wonderful experience of being a Tholen Fellow. Studying for two years with Tatiana Ioudenitch was a challenge and richly rewarding as her high standards compelled me to become both a better pianist and teacher. I continued online study with her even after the fellowship had ended to work towards a goal of playing a concerto with our local orchestra last year.

One of the merits of this great program is Tatiana is able to work with any skill level of pianist and help that person look deeper into the richness of the music. She is a fabulous resource as a teacher and even her online lessons were a great help and encouragement to me. This program is such a unique and rich resource for teachers and pianists and I would strongly recommend not missing this opportunity to study as a Tholen Fellow especially with the ease of online lessons now.

The lessons for teachers provided by the Tholen Fund have been just exactly what I needed. My goal was to light a fire (under my piano bench) and prepare my 10th solo piano recital, even though 14 years have gone by since number nine. Yes, there’s the intimidation factor, but as with any good teacher, Tatiana Ioudentich is there to help me. My job is to put my ego aside and learn everything I can from her. It takes a whole lifetime to figure out how to play the piano and so, to be able to participate in these high-caliber lessons is extraordinary. I was not feeling stable when September lessons were coming up, but I signed up anyhow. Those three lessons gave me a sense of normalcy in the chaos we’re living through. My piano bench is warm. I feel like myself and I know what to do.

I do not have a degree in piano performance, so was initially somewhat insecure with my skill level, but have learned that the teachers accept our ability and begin where we are at with piano playing skills. Believe me, I was rusty during my first lesson! Those of us who have had not had lessons for many years are welcomed and encouraged by these excellent, highly credentialed instructors. They are also regular human beings who have a genuine desire to develop our piano playing skills as well as our knowledge of repertoire for our students. I highly recommend participation in this program for all of the reasons previously stated. Also, for those of us who are entering our “Golden Years”, it is one more way to keep our brains active and retain our mental health. Our teachers are not judgmental and only offer support and encouragement.

I was excited and eager from the very start, yet I also had some feelings of anxiety and fear as I had not studied privately for such a long time. The idea of practicing consistently and regularly and playing for a teacher again can certainly seem intimidating after so many years away from study.

But from the very first lesson, Dr. Alexander Shtarkman put me at ease. We talked at my first lesson about my background, my concerns and fears, my goals and desired outcome for the study period. Dr. Shtarkman listened and helped me to form a plan. Each lesson has been an amazing experience for me as both a teacher and as a pianist. I have learned so much from this fellowship and from Dr. Shtarkman. It has truly been life changing for me. I cannot emphasize enough that I am so grateful to Portland Piano International and to Dr. Shtarkman for this project.

At I would really like to encourage you to apply for this wonderful opportunity. It’s amazing to me that a grant is available to provide this chance at professional level coaching at absolutely no cost, except for the time involved in practicing (lol). Portland Piano is actively looking for more teachers who are interested in taking advantage of this program.

Both Tatiana and Alexander are extremely warm and approachable, not at all intimidating. They work with each person at their individual ability and level, always pushing them to attain the best possible outcome. The fact that the lessons are virtual now makes it a little easier to schedule one’s life around, as they are once a week or so for 3 weeks every 3 months, instead of having to dedicate an entire weekend to drive to Portland for an intense 3 days every 3 months.

Tatiana has been the one assigned to the Roseburg applicants so far. I found myself very stretched at first, not having had any lessons or input since high school (in the 60s!), but once I got over the hump, I was very pleased with the progress I made. I found her very exacting, but also very encouraging and quick to praise progress. And she’s good at getting you to produce the results she wants.that goal.

The impact of Tholen Fellowship in my growth as a musician is beyond words. As a piano studio teacher, I was always focusing on my students and not enough on my own skills as a pianist. Tholen Fellowship gave me exactly what I needed. My mentor Tatiana Ioudenitch helped me to not just overcome technical challenges in Chopin etudes and Mozart sonatas, but most importantly, she challenged and inspired me to set ambitious personal goals, and showed me the ways to achieve them. This led me to taking my piano playing abilities to a completely new level. I was provided opportunities to perform, and it inspired me to return to my own musical roots and re-discover compositions of Lithuanian composers I shared with my colleagues. Tholen Fellowship has made a world of a difference for my students who benefit most from the training that I received thanks to this program. I wish that Tholen Fellowship will continue to grow, providing opportunities for more teachers to experience its transformative powers.

I feel it is important to point out that all the fellows privileged to take part in this unique program (including me), achieve not only the personal satisfaction of achieving our self-challenging goals. The benefits of reaching our personal goals and the effect of the Tholen Fellowship extends far and wide into our communities. Our work and achievements, like stones dropped into a lake, set off waves of goodness to our students, to their families, to all of our friends and colleagues who learn of our work, to our students' friends and schoolmates, to our fellow teachers....The numbers increase exponentially when we stop to calculate how far into the culture and the society of the State of Oregon even a single Tholen Fellowship reaches. To my enormous pleasure, I have noticed in my own case alone how many people--colleagues, children, grandchildren, friends and family even far away, in other states and other countries--have been uplifted by learning about the program and the substantial benefits to my life. Particularly at a time (which seems to have become a chronic condition) when public education does not--indeed, cannot--reach all the students in need of what we offer, we piano teachers continue to provide the means by which developing brains get the challenge and rewards of learning music, by which children and adults gain important self-confidence, by which people gain membership in a community devoted to the positive and the good in life.

The Tholen Fellowship is an amazing gift to piano teachers. It’s an extended time to learn from master teachers not just in an isolated one-time master class, but over a period of years to increase our own playing abilities and become students ourselves. We have days to focus on our own practicing without distractions. It’s changed my own practice habits (which have increased and become more focused), I’ve learned important teaching practices from my teacher from his teaching demeanor, vast knowledge of repertoire and recommended techniques to work on that go beyond just the pieces I work on with him. He has introduced me to new music as well, both for me and for my students. During the weekend we teachers also have a chance to sit in on each others’ lessons and hear each other perform their pieces, expanding our repertoire and appreciation of others’ playing.  I know I am a better pianist and hence a better teacher because of the Tholen Grant. There is nothing else like it and I’m so thankful! 

I am well aware it’s extremely tough to quantify the benefits of music education on a PowerPoint or spreadsheet, but as teachers we see the deep impact of music in the lives and development of our students. The Tholen Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for teachers to not only come together to encourage and learn from each other, but to receive one-on-one training from hight-level pianists — training that is, due to cost and location restraints, simply not feasible for most private piano teachers. To glean from master musicians and then pass the gleanings on to students is to give a priceless gift!