The tonebase Manhattan Piano Intensive

Where brilliant teaching meets the inspiring pulse of NYC

Just announced: tonebase returns to New York City this March! This immersive, in-person experience brings together legendary artist-faculty and tonebase's unique community of deeply committed pianists for an unforgettable festival of learning, collaboration, and inspiration – right in the heart of a city where musical history is written every day.

We invite pianists of all ages to immerse themselves in music: come learn from inspiring teachers in lessons, workshops, and masterclasses, with personalized instruction and the opportunity to take part in engaging musical offerings all day long. You’ll also have the chance to enjoy the creative energy of New York City, share meals with our artist-faculty, and get access to bespoke, insider events.

Why Attend?

Top-Level Instruction – Learn from acclaimed tonebase artists in lessons and interactive workshops and clinics designed to build your technique and deepen your artistic palette.

An Energizing Setting – Immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of New York City at our main venue, Opera America, where the constant pulse of the city is balanced by serene practice rooms available daily.

Hone Your Musicianship – Expand your skills with special presentations on practice techniques, performance mindset, style and interpretation, and more, all tailored to help pianists of every level discover their full potential.

Warm and Vibrant Community – Connect with fellow pianists and piano lovers, enjoy fun piano 4-hands (and 6-hands, and more!) , and engage in lively discussions (over coffee, superb catered lunches, or late into the night) on music, culture, and artistic identity in a supportive and inspiring community.

An Unforgettable Experience for All

‍The tonebase Manhattan Piano Intensive is an extraordinary opportunity to focus on music and community, challenge yourself to elevate your playing, and gain invaluable mentorship while enjoying the delights of a world-class city. This is the perfect chance to supercharge your playing and by focusing on music and connection.

When and Where?
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When: March 8–17

The Manhattan Piano Intensive is a 10-day event, and we also offer the option to attend for 5 days. Teaching and all activities begin on the morning of the first day, and end in the evening of the final day. We recommend that you arrive the night before and leave the day after:
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Full Session: March 8–17 (arrive March 7, depart March 18)
Session 1: March 8–12 (arrive March 7, depart March 13)
Session 2: March 13–17 (arrive March 12, depart March 18)
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✅ Full Session: Best for full immersion and musical growth.

⏳ Session 1 or Session 2: Best for those with limited time.
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Sign up today for priority placement! Once you register, your place in the intensive is reserved.

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Where: Opera America (29th St and 7th Ave) in New York City

Our event takes place at Opera America, located in Manhattan at 29th Street and 7th Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood. We will also host selected events at additional locations in Manhattan.

Secure Your Spot

Location

New York, NY

Date & time

Full Session:

March 8

17 (sign up now!)

Session 1:

March 8

Session 2:

March 13

Meet Your Instructors

Session 1+2

Sara Davis Buechner

Sara Davis Buechner is one of the most original and accomplished concert pianists of our time. Lauded for her “intelligence, integrity and all-encompassing technical prowess” (New York Times), “Buechner has no superior” (Japan's InTune). Medalist at the Tchaikovsky Competetion and a bouquet of other esteemed contests, Ms. Buechner teaches at Temple University.

Session 2

Marina Lomazov

Praised by critics as “a diva of the piano,” acclaimed Ukrainian-American pianist Marina Lomazov is a professor at the Eastman School of Music and has performed extensively on four continents. Her eminently practical yet inspiring teaching philosophy puts her in high demand worldwide.

Session 1

Ursula Oppens

tonebase artist and acclaimed pianist Ursula Oppens, a leading figure in contemporary music, has premiered countless new works and earned five Grammy nominations. Beyond her performing career, she is a dedicated educator at Brooklyn College, CUNY Graduate Center, and The New School Mannes.

Session 1

Jerome Lowenthal

Once a student of formidable 20th century pianists Alfred Cortot and William Kapell, Juilliard professor Jerome Lowenthal is a living legend of the piano.

Session 1+2

Nicolas Namoradze

An internationally acclaimed pianist and composer, Namoradze rose to fame after the 2018 Honens Competition and has since earned major awards, critical praise worldwide, and chart-topping recordings. Equally active as a scholar and innovator, he teaches at Juilliard and the CUNY Graduate Center, reimagining concert experiences through interdisciplinary research linking music, cognition, and performance.

Session 1

Robert Durso

A leading light in the field of piano technique pedagogy, Robert Durso worked extensively with Dorothy Taubman and Edna Golandsky. He developed the teacher training program at the Golandsky Institute that professionally trains teachers in the Taubman Approach.

Session 2

Edna Golandsky

Piano technique guru Edna Golandsky is the foremost exponent of the Taubman Approach, a revolutionary way to play without tension or injury. Her work at the Golandsky Institute and through numerous video productions has spread these life-changing techniques worldwide.

Session 2

Ben Laude

Former Head of Piano at tonebase, Ben Laude is a concert pianist, music educator, and viral classical music video creator whose piano playing has been praised by the New York Times as “superb in pace, tone, and eloquence.”

Session 1+2

Dominic Cheli

Dominic Cheli, an “inspired keyboardist” (ArtsFuse), has performed at Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and major festivals. Head of Tonebase Piano, he champions accessible music education and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Session 1+2

Dr. Noah Hardaway

“A technically gifted young virtuoso” (Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia), prizewinning pianist Noah Alden Hardaway has forged a path as a concert artist, inspiring teacher, and artistic director. His passion for curating inclusive, unconventional projects drives his work as Piano Events Director at tonebase and other dynamic festivals.

Session 1+2

Piotr Koszłowski

Trained in Warsaw, Vienna, and Miami, Piotr is in demand as a teacher in New York and on tonebase, and active in solo, chamber, and contemporary music in Europe and America.

Event Activities

Learn what the Manhattan Piano Intensive has to offer!

Elevate Your Playing

The tonebase Manhattan Piano Intensive is centered around private lessons, workshops, and clinics designed to hone your technique, artistry, and performance skills.

Active Pass participants work closely with renowned tonebase artists, receiving personalized guidance. They also have the unique opportunity to observe all lessons, creating an inclusive and collaborative learning environment.

Faculty

Session 1 and 2: Sara Davis Buechner, Edna Golandsky, Nicolas Namoradze, Dominic Cheli, Noah Hardaway
Session 1 only: Jerome Lowenthal, Ursula Oppens, Robert Durso
Session 2 only: Marina Lomazov, Ben Laude

Workshops and Clinics with Acclaimed Artists

Active Pass participants have the opportunity to sign up for interactive workshops and specialized clinics led by exceptional faculty artists:

Session 1

Jerome Lowenthal and Ursula Oppens – Masterclass
Get personal feedback on your repertoire from living legends of the piano –– a direct link to the greatest musical figures of the 20th and 19th centuries!

‍Sara Davis Buechner – The Trifecta of Expression: Voicing + Orchestration + Phrasing
Reach new expressive horizons through specific techniques to that bring depth and richness to your playing. Illustrated with example from Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Debussy.

Nicolas Namoradze – Mind Over Music: 10 Exercises for Mental Ease and Mastery
Master essential techniques to reduce stress and stage fright, building healthy performance psychology through mindfulness and pre-performance routines

Robert Durso – Revealing the Taubman Technique
Avoid injury and create technical ease with profound physical insights from technique guru Dorothy Taubman.

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📅 Session 1 Recital: March 12

Session 2

Marina Lomazov – Practice Methods Bootcamp
Unlock surefire tools to make learning new pieces easier and more satisfying!

Edna Golandsky – Technique and Ergonomics Clinic
Resolve tension and get targeted, hands-on advice and solutions for technical problems from one of the premiere technique clinicians in the world.

Dominic Cheli – Insights from the Russian School
Build your technique with key concepts and exercises from the traditional Russian School.

Ben Laude – How to Listen
Learn how to listen more deeply (to recordings, performances, and yourself) from one of today's premier cultural commentators.

📅 Session 2 Recital: March 17
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The One-on-One Lesson Experience

Three Private Lessons Per Session - Each Active Pass participant receives three personalized private lessons in each session, all tailored to support their artistic and technical growth.

Faculty Selection - Participants can request their preferred faculty for private lessons.

Open-Door Policy: Learn from Every Lesson

All private lessons follow an open-door policy, allowing participants to observe any session (with the student's permission, of course!). This immersive approach fosters a collaborative and inspiring learning environment, where pianists gain valuable insights from different teaching styles, techniques, and interpretations from our diverse faculty. Watching a variety of lessons helps deepen musical understanding, offering thought-provoking perspectives on phrasing, technique, and artistry.

Community and Performance

the tonebase Manhattan Piano Intensive offers more than just lessons and workshops—it's an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and explore the piano and its repertoire in new ways.

Communal Meals in a Convivial Setting - Enjoy delicious catered lunches while mingling with faculty and fellow participants, sharing stories and learning from the wide range of experiences represented here.
Piano Ensemble Playing - Join forces with new friends to play 4-hand, 6-hand, and more-hand music! We coordinate opportunities to form groups in advance and collaborate beyond solo playing.
Performance Opportunities - Take the stage at the Session 1 and Final Recitals! Guaranteed performance opportunity in a beautiful NYC venue. Whether you prefer to play solo or collaborate with new friends, participation is optional but encouraged (memorization not required!). Participants will have the chance to connect in advance of the camp to arrange 4-hand and ensemble pieces. This is a great opportunity to share your progress and the music you love with everyone! Feel the welcoming energy and genuine acceptance of fellow participants, regardless of your experience level.

Testimonials

See what participants are saying about our previous Manhattan Piano Intensive

Faculty

All the teachers are fantastic! Thank you for getting a world-class lineup!!! What a great experience! THANK YOU!
Just loved it – great teachers! And it was really interesting and helpful to observe others' lessons, I learned a lot!

Organization

Really well organized and communicated. Not an easy task!
Noah & Dominic made it look and feel so effortless. You guys have gone above and beyond!
It was an absolutely fantastic program. I look forward to the next one!
It was really terrific!! Please do hold another one in NYC soooooon!!

Schedule of Events

What does a day at the event look like?

8 AM – 12 PM: Coffee, lessons and practice

Mornings are dedicated to private lessons and individual practice, allowing participants to refine their repertoire and receive guidance from faculty. Enjoy a cup of coffee and get started with your first practice session of the day in one of Opera America's beautiful practice rooms.

12 PM – 2 PM | Lunch (group meal with faculty, provided by tonebase at the Opera America)

We provide an excellent catered lunch on the Opera America campus, offering a chance to connect with faculty and fellow participants in a relaxed setting. Let musical conversation turn into motivation. Practice time is also available during lunch.

2 PM – 4 PM (varies) | Spotlight Event (masterclasses, presentations, discussions)

A rotating afternoon session featuring workshops, faculty presentations, and engaging discussions on interpretation, technique, and performance insights. End-of-session participants recitals are typically held during this slot, which varies slightly from day to day.

4 PM – 6 PM | Lessons, practice, and studio classes

Additional lessons and practice time, alongside small-group sessions where participants can share performances and give peer feedback in a supportive group setting.

6 PM – 8 PM | Evening Spotlight Events or outings (select nights)

Enjoy another faculty workshop or outing at one of our partner venues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my lessons be guaranteed?

All Active Pass participants will get 3 lessons per 5-day session! You can indicate your faculty preferences on the intake form, and we will do our very best to accommodate your requests.

How much music should I prepare?

You’re welcome to bring as much or as little as you like! The more pieces you bring, the more variety of insights you'll get, but you'll still come away with amazing new tools and knowledge even if you bring one or two short pieces. We encourage to bring pieces in varying stages of readiness, such as:

a polished or semi-polished piece to play in the recital

a work in progress to play in lessons (for advice on fingerings, style, or next steps)

These remarks apply to Active Pass participants; Observer Pass holders do not receive performance or instruction opportunities.

Which pass is right for me, Active or Observer?

The Active Pass is your ticket to full participation in the event: private lessons, masterclasses, workshops, clinics, the participant recitals, and more. The Observer Pass does not include any personalized instruction, only permission to attend group events. All passes include lunch.

Where will I stay?

Our Active Pass includes all musical programming, catered lunches, and refreshments. For accommodations, we recommend the following budget-friendly hotel options just a few blocks away from Opera America (our primary location at the intersection of 29th Street and 7th Avenue):

- Holiday Inn Express NYC Chelsea – NoMad Area by IHG (2 minute walk)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel or Hilton Garden Inn (3 minute walk)
- Hotel Cambria (3 minute walk)
- Hotel Sanford (10 minute walk)
- Best Western Premier Empire State (10 minute walk)

What are the dining possibilities? Will you have vegetarian options?

Our Active Pass includes daily catered lunches shared between all participants and faculty, sourced from excellent restaurants in NYC and New Jersey, meticulously researched to choose nourishing and varied cuisine for the duration of the festival. Cuisines include Indian, Chinese, Mediterranean, New American, as well as “The Best Pizza in NYC” — which lives up to its name.

We are proud to accommodate all dietary restrictions in our dining offerings – simply let us know on the intake form.

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What happens to my payment if I can no longer attend?

Payments are nonrefundable. For those of you interested in greater flexibility, we recommend a travel insurance plan (including a 75% refund for any reason*) through TravelSafe:

https://travelsafe.com/travel-safe/lodging

Their LodgingSafe plan covers all tonebase costs as well other travel expenses such as airfare or hotel. It costs:

Session 1 or 2: $130 or $235 (cancel for any reason)*

Full Session: $260 or $470 (cancel for any reason)*
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Please review all TravelSafe documentation for final confirmation of their policies or costs, and feel free to feel free to contact them or noah@tonebase.co if you have questions.

*Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) not available for NY residents or to non-US citizens.

I have more questions – who should I contact?

If you have any further questions or concerns, please reach out to noah@tonebase.co

tonebase Manhattan Piano Intensive 2026

The tonebase Manhattan Piano Intensive

Where brilliant teaching meets the inspiring pulse of NYC

Why Attend?

An Unforgettable Experience for All

When and Where?‍

When: March 8–17

Where: Opera America (29th St and 7th Ave) in New York City

Meet Your Instructors

Sara Davis Buechner

Marina Lomazov

Ursula Oppens

Jerome Lowenthal

Nicolas Namoradze

Robert Durso

Edna Golandsky

Ben Laude

Dominic Cheli

Dr. Noah Hardaway

Piotr Koszłowski

Event Activities

Elevate Your Playing

Faculty

Workshops and Clinics with Acclaimed Artists

Session 1

Session 2

The One-on-One Lesson Experience

Open-Door Policy: Learn from Every Lesson

Community and Performance

Testimonials

Faculty

Organization

Schedule of Events

8 AM – 12 PM: Coffee, lessons and practice

12 PM – 2 PM | Lunch (group meal with faculty, provided by tonebase at the Opera America)

2 PM – 4 PM (varies) | Spotlight Event (masterclasses, presentations, discussions)

4 PM – 6 PM | Lessons, practice, and studio classes

6 PM – 8 PM | Evening Spotlight Events or outings (select nights)

Ready to invest in your passion?

Got Questions? Let's Chat!

Join us for a week of learning and enrichment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will my lessons be guaranteed?

How much music should I prepare?

Which pass is right for me, Active or Observer?

Where will I stay?

What are the dining possibilities? Will you have vegetarian options?

What happens to my payment if I can no longer attend?

I have more questions – who should I contact?

When and Where?
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