Jonathan Faiman, piano D.M.A., Manhattan School of Music M.M., Manhattan School of Music B.A./B.M., Rice University "I give my students the skills she or he needs to be able to learn and perform music in a stylistically accurate, physically relaxed, and energetically compelling manner." External links: www.jonathanfaiman.com Past concerts with interview Songs and Such by 125-Year-Olds Jonathan Faiman was already studying the violin when he became intrigued by the piano after watching his older sister take lessons. He continued taking lessons in Urbana, Illinois through high school, eventually moving to New York to study at Manhattan School of Music. A faculty member at Bloomingdale School of Music for over six years, Jonathan works with his students to build the skills “she or he needs to be able to learn and perform music in a stylistically accurate, physically relaxed, and energetically compelling manner.” Jonathan enjoys working with students ages 6 and older. He gives extra encouragement to adult beginners saying “I never believe that old dogs can’t learn new tricks!” One of Jonathan’s most memorable experiences as a teacher at Bloomingdale came when Yao Wang, a student in the MAP program, “explained to me what narrative matched the A minor arpeggio and descending chromatic scale passage in Beethoven’s Für Elise.” Jonathan also enjoys watching his students perform in a Sharing Hour, especially when it is their first time on stage. Committed to promoting the music of living composers, Jonathan also continues to perform the works of his favorite past composers including Mozart, Chopin, Debussy and Stravinsky. He explores all types of performances finding “chamber music as natural as breathing, orchestral performances the most exciting, and solo performances the most intense.” Jonathan frequently collaborates with his wife, soprano Amy Goldstein, of whom he says “I am continually inspired by her compassion and dedication.” In addition to being a performer, Jonathan is also a composer whose works have been performed throughout the United States. His compositions can be heard on the cds Play On: Music for the Actors Company Theatre and Hie Up the Mountain (samples available for listening on www.jonathanfaiman.com).