Dr Judith Jain recognizes the need for high-quality music education at the piano from the very beginning stages; an education that applies principles of piano performance, psychology, learning styles, and human development. “High-quality instruction should not be reserved for college level. We have a responsibility to teach music in a way that is joyful, contributes to the development of the whole human being, and instils high standards in our students,” Dr. Jain asserts. Most believe that good-quality education should be reserved for those who are called 'talented.' Dr. Jain believes that the talented one should be the instructor: “If you (the instructor) are really that good, then you should be able to teach anyone how to play the piano proficiently.”
New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy promotes an environment of growth, for both students and faculty members. All private piano lessons take place on grand pianos. For group class activities, we have a Digital Piano Laboratory, typically only available for group classes at colleges and universities.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
We believe that all students may learn how to play the piano well, given the right instruction. Our job is to tap into the student’s potential. What we require from our students is the desire to learn and reserve regular time to practice at home. We believe in cultivating a positive relationship with our students while creating an environment that encourages and challenges our students, as well as facilitates learning, discipline, and happiness.
The best teachers are those who have received the appropriate training and are qualified teachers. In addition to being highly knowledgeable in the fields of piano performance and piano teaching, great teachers are highly empathic.
We believe that the lessons of music correspond with the lessons of life. That is why we strive to teach each student the way they learn, and watch them grow both personally and musically. We design our curriculum to give an education that touches on each element of musicianship: Music Theory, Ear Training, Technique, Sight Reading Creativity and Ensemble playing. Our goal is not to teach the redundant reproduction of music but to develop our students’ musical knowledge and appreciation.
Faculty
Dr. Judith Jain
Founder and Executive Director of New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy, Dr. Judith Jain balances a career as performer and pedagogue. Judith’s Carnegie Hall debut took place in October of 2010. Her solo, chamber music and orchestral performances have been heard in the US, Mexico, C....
Alexandra Taggart Olawuni
Ms. Alexandra Taggart is a pianist and pedagogue originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Ohio University where she studied with Dr. Christopher Fisher. As a graduate student, she taught collegiate group piano courses and accompan....
Mega Hong
Ms. Megasari Honggokusuma (Mega Hong) was born in Indonesia where she studied at the Yamaha Music School. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatory of Music in Indonesia, and Master of Music degree, with a concentration in Piano Pedagogy, from the University of South Florida.&n....
Dr. Elena Zamolodchikova
Dr. Elena Zamolodchikova holds degrees from the Juilliard School and the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. As a performer, she specializes in historical keyboards and received her doctorate in harpsichord at Stony Brook University. Dr. Zamolodchikova has performed in Russia, the U.S., Italy, German....
Dr. Yanet Bermudez
Dr. Yanet Bermudez holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Arts in Havana, Cuba, a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature from the James....
Oldet Ibo
Mr. Oldet Ibo completed his Bachelors Degree in Piano Performance in his native country of Albania, and he holds a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Syracuse University. During that time, Mr. Ibo held the position of Teaching Assistant, contributing to the University as a piano instructor ....
Dr. Ricardo Pozenatto
Ricardo Pozenatto, PhD, is a pianist and teacher originally from São Paulo (Brazil) who completed his doctoral studies in Music Education with focus in Piano Pedagogy from Florida State University, in 2021.
Dr. Pozenatto was a late beginner, who started playing the piano at....
Campbell Cona
Campbell Cona, hailing from Athens, Georgia, is a devoted pianist and educator. He earned a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Florida and holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Piano Performance and Music Education from the University of Georgia.
With a deep-seated lo....
Yi Lu
Yi Lu, a committed musician and educator in the Tampa Bay area, is celebrated for her proficiency in piano performance and music education. Boasting more than ten years of experience, she has become a venerable member of the local music scene.
Yi Lu embarked on her musical journey ....
Miguel Castro
Miguel Castro is a multi-faceted pianist known for his deep passion for teaching and performing both as a soloist and in chamber ensembles, as well as arranging liturgical music.
He has delivered performances in various countries including Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, and the United States. Notab....