Peter Kristian Mose: Piano Lessons in Toronto

02/08/2026

Yesterday many of us attended a Zoom tribute to recently deceased well known US piano pedagogue Marvin Blickenstaff. He was still vital at 90. One speaker spoke of his integrity and joy. A former student said being with him was like being embraced in a wonderful hug. He was someone who inspired many far-flung studio piano teachers and students through his optimism, encouragement, childlike decency, and modesty. A small-town American from Idaho - he went on to a distinguished, wide-ranging career as a piano professor, author and lecturer - who never swayed from his enviable values. There's a life lesson here that embraces more than music, more than the arts - especially at a time of such American anguish.

07/28/2025

There were about 800 of us attending the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) held in suburban Chicago over the past several days. Lectures galore, teaching presentations, a trade show featuring music publishers, software designers, piano manufacturers, etc. An American buoyant can-do vibe prevailed,
in troubled times.

04/01/2025

Never imagined it, but US President Trump and Vice President Vance have even disrupted my Toronto piano studio. I am supposed to be teaching a weekly lesson right now, but my adult student has cancelled since she is suddenly overwhelmed with media requests for three distinguished American scholars of fascism - Timothy Snyder, Marci Shore, and Jason Stanley - who have newly abandoned the US for the University of Toronto. The profs cite the current intellectual and academic climate of their nation as a reason for immigrating to Canada.

I just was looking forward to teaching “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” from 1938.

12/16/2024

Recently I was invited to give a talk on classical music to the residents of Christie Gardens, one of Toronto’s premier seniors residences. I try to immerse people inside classical music, through recordings, guided listening activities, and personal musings.

https://www.facebook.com/ChristieGardens

A community you can have faith in for 40 years. We do retirement living differently.

01/22/2023

Paul Sheftel, an American independent piano teacher I have long held in highest regard, turns 90 today. Still teaching, still playing, and still brimming with love for both endeavors. Yesterday I was invited to his birthday recital at a NYC art gallery, via Zoom. Bach, Mozart, and Haydn joined us, their works introduced by Paul’s delightful comments from the keyboard.

He is a treasure, and this was obvious to me from the first day we met long ago in his Manhattan home, when I as a 25yo tenderfoot stranger was welcomed like a long-lost relative into the bosom of his family.

Paul is a leader in keyboard studies and has performed, lectured, and conducted workshops in nearly every state. His published materials and software are widely used throughout the USA, as well as in Europe and Asia. A pioneer in the creation of instructional materials using MIDI technology, he has....

12/02/2022

I recently finished this oral history of Prof James Lyke, one of the deans of American piano pedagogy (University of Illinois for 33 years), textbook author and composer/arranger. Jim was mentored by and assistant to distinguished Robert Pace at Teachers College, Columbia U long ago (before either Facebook or JFK).

10/23/2020

Worthy autumnal interview with a Vietnam-era bard...

The rollicking song about the souring of the 60s has now spawned a film, a musical and a children’s book. Its creator talks about its meaning – and reveals the family deaths underlying it

09/03/2020

Toronto piano technician Verne Edquist passed away last week, at the age of 89. A fine man and fine piano man, who gained wider fame by being able put up with the odd and obsessive pianist Glenn Gould for many years.

This public interview of ours preceded an oral history we did on YouTube.

Interview with esteemed piano technician Verne Edquist for ORMTA - Brampton chapter. Verne worked closely with odd keyboard genius Glenn Gould for many years, and did Massey Hall and National Arts Centre concert tuning for many other distinguished pianists.
Photo taken in 19th C. Brampton farmhouse, studio and home of piano teacher Jen Smele.

08/21/2020

A simple, contemplative song about art and artists, by a bard who will be missed.

Legendary folk performer Michael Smith performs live.