Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Tobin.
Hi Tony, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I played the piano since I was 8, I always wanted to be a performer and teacher. I pursued three degrees in piano, at the Eastman School, the University of Southern California, and a Doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin. I have taught since I was a teenager, I worked as a teaching assistant while at USC and UT and started a private studio in Austin back in 1996. In the meantime I have traveled around the world as a pianist, to most parts of Europe and also Brazil and Japan. I am a Steinway Artist and consider teaching and performing to be equally important. My active performances make me a better teacher because I live the process of learning a piece, perfecting it, and performing it before an audience.
After being Music Director at Adam’s Music House for 8 years, I shifted to my private studio in Manor. Previously I had taught piano at Kirby Hall School, Regents School of Austin, and at Laredo Community College. My studio in Manor is growing, I have people from Austin and Manor of all ages, from 4 year olds to people in their 50’s. I really enjoy meeting the needs of each individual student, I tailor my approach to each one. Creativity and imagination are paramount.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A life in music is always a challenge. I needed to work as a teacher and performer while I finished my Doctorate, lengthening the process. But I gained valuable experience in the process. Studio teaching always has ups and downs. Performing groups I thought would continue did not always, so I have always been looking for new opportunities. Likewise, one is always looking for new students as some graduate and move on with their lives.
The hardest challenge was when the founder of Adam’s Music House died and did not provide. for a continuation of my work as he had promised. Since then I have had to pave a new path, which is now becoming very successful. But there were many dark months as I worked, waited, and hoped things would fall into place.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Claude Debussy specialist. I have done papers, a thesis, and two documentary movies about his life and work. I traveled to Paris and around Europe many times to complete this, often when I was already on tour. I bring more to teaching than the average teacher due to my education, but in large part because I am an active performer. I understand and value the process of learning a piece and taking it to the final step of performance. My advanced and beginning students benefit from my knowledge and experience.
Not many teachers are Steinway Artists, and not all have Doctorate degrees.Even fewer have my performance experience around the world. I also teach the expression, the music. It is not only about technique. All we do at the piano should be in the service of the music. Ego and fame should not enter into the equation. We are all in the service of the music
How do you define success?
Success is being fully committed to the joy, art, meaning of what you do, communicating that to students and in my case audiences, and being asked to return and continue. Success is a continual process of growth, personal and professional. If one enjoys and engages in learning throughout life, life is very rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anthonytobinpianolessons.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tobinpianolessons/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnthonyTobinPianoLessons/featured
- Other: https://www.steinway.com/artists/anthony-tobin
