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Andreas Hartmann, Pianist
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REFERENCES

Letter of Recommendation for Andreas Hartmann                                                                          July 30, 2002

As someone who has taken piano lessons for about fifteen years and who plays at an advanced level, I can testify to the excellent teaching ability of Andreas Hartamnn.  I found Mr. Hartmann through the piano department of Indiana University's School of Music.  The department's recommendation, coming as it does from so well-respected a music program, is a recommendation in and of itself.

Although my desire to take piano lessons at this stage in my life is largely self-motivated, I am positive that Mr. Hartmann's enthusiasm for music will both excite and inspire younger and less advanced students.  He made me much more interested in music theory and history and even lent me some theory books and a Beethoven biography.  Even more valuable than this, however, was the fact that he took the time to explain how this material would both improve my understanding of music and my playing ability.

Mr. Hartmann helped me to learn how to recognize the different characteristics of several types of music.  For example, using Mozart's F Major Sonata and Chopin's Etude in C Minor, he explained how Classical and Romantic composers use chords and harmonies in distinctive ways.  With the third movement of the Mozart sonata in particular, he taught me how to deconstruct a piece in order to understand its fundamental underlying structure, not lecturing me but helping me to discover it on my own.

Moreover, Mr. Hartmann has a clear understanding that not everyone learns in the same way and that a teacher must have different approaches for different students.  For example, when I was learning a difficult run in Liszt's Liebestraum, he provided me with several different practicing techniques which enabled me to successfully learn the passage.  Often he broke down difficult passages into smaller sections, so that I could both see the structure and more easily tackle the material.

During my lessons Mr. Hartmann was always focused on me and was not distracted.  He was always patient with me, especially when I was frustrated with myself.  In fact, he was able to calm me down and slowly explain what I needed to do.  He had realistic expectations of what I could accomplish (even if I did not!) and urged me not towards perfection but rather towards the realization of particular goals for each piece.  He always acted professionally and was on time and prepared.

I can, without reservation, recommend Andreas Hartmann as a piano instructor.

Adrianne Wadewitz

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