Piano Lessons
Dr. Tatiana Benbalit (piano)
Tatiana Benbalit is a native of Russia. She earned her MA in Piano Performance, Pedagogy, and Chamber Music from the Moscow Conservatory in 1989. She moved to the United States in 1991.
In 1992, Dr. Benbalit took 5th Place in the Dorothy Anderson International Piano Competition in Seattle. From 1994 to 2005, Dr. Benbalit worked at the Seattle Opera as rehearsal accompanist, vocal coach, and assistant chorus master. After studies with Patricia Michaelian, Dr. Benbalit earned her Ph.D of Musical Arts from the University of Washington.
Dr. Benbalit has enjoyed teaching piano at Northwest University since 2008, as well as the University of Puget Sound since 1991.
When asked about her teaching philosophy, Tatiana says her motto is “obtaining harmony and balance through classical music.” She finds this approach works very well, especially for teaching adult students.
Prof. Mizue Fells (piano)
From an early age, I was exposed to piano and ear training. Music has always been a part of who I am. I have been blessed to enjoy a balanced musical environment and to receive good music education from two countries. After early piano training in Japan, which heavily emphasizes displays of technique, I was blessed to meet the great teachers in the U.S. who taught greater emphasis on “listening”—subtle tone colors, historical and stylistic interpretation, and flexibility of musical understanding.
I have performed in numerous concerts and recitals as a soloist and an accompanist in various styles of music, which helped me to broaden my musical taste and understanding.
I came to Northwest University as a student in 1977, became an adjunct faculty in 1985, and a full-time faculty in the fall of 2000.
Dr. Jeong-ah Ryu (piano)
In demand for her exceptional talents in both performance and instruction, pianist Dr. Jeong-ah Ryu has been recognized as a vital soloist, chamber musician, and teaching professional. She has performed and won numerous prizes on three continents, including the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, Concours International De Piano Lagny-sur-Marne in Paris, and Bromsgrove Young International Competition in London.
Dr. Ryu is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London with a Bachelor of Music degree. As she expanded her academic path to the United States, she completed her Master of Music program at Yale University and obtained an Artist Diploma degree at the Colburn School Conservatory of Music. She successfully completed her Doctor of Musical Arts program at Northwestern University. Dr. Ryu has the distinction of enrolling in each graduate school and program on a full scholarship. Her professors and mentors include James Giles, Ory Shihor, Claude Frank, Pascal Nemirovski, and Christopher Elton.
Additionally, Dr. Ryu was formerly an Artist-in-Residence faculty at Westmont College as well as adjunct professor at California Lutheran University and Moorpark College in California.
More information can be found at Dr. Ryu’s website, www.jeongahryu.com.
Prof. Seth Ahnert (jazz piano)
**Jazz piano is for intermediate or higher level piano students**
Seth Ahnert teaches drums and jazz piano. He has helped piano students learn the music of Oscar Peterson, Brad Mehldau, Ray Bryant, Jacob Collier, Count Basie, Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and others.
He has helped drum students study Max Roach, Roy Haynes, John Bonham, Philly Joe Jones, Dave Grohl, Chad Smith, Thomas Pridgen, Phil Collins, and Bernard Purdie.
Whether you want to study jazz language and history at the piano or the language and lineage of drumming, sign up for lessons with Seth.
Dr. Dave Pedde (piano) – with permission only
**Students must have previous permission from Dr. Pedde to schedule piano lessons with him.**
