“What a great pleasure and experience to observe our daughter’s advancement in learning piano and music from the very beginning at kindergartener ages, because their teacher is Dr. Marjorie Janove, a true musician passionate of music and teaching. She is patient and analytical, allowing students to blossom in their own appropriate paces, experimenting new approaches to deliver optimum teaching effects, and nurturing their passions for the beauty in piano performance as well as of music in general. Her vivid teaching tailored to different kids is full of enthusiasm and energy, every time, which can only be sustained by ones who are able to fuse enjoyment and profession together. Now, when our older daughter gets bored, she plays piano!”

Jane and Qiao Wu, Parents of Nova Wu

“It’s been a wonderful experience for my daughter to have piano lessons with Dr. Janove. The teacher offers a comfortable environment for music study. She is nice and friendly. My daughter always feels relax and fun to be with her. She is also very careful and patient to explain theories, demonstrate movements, and correct errors. It helps my daughter to improve not only her performing technique, but also musical expressiveness. The teacher is able to select age and technical appropriate music for students to study, and at the same time, provide enough challenges.

My 5th grade daughter is working on OMTA syllabus level VII theory, and plays college level piano solo pieces from memory. She attends OMTA period music festivals and received winner or honorable mention awards. We also thankful for the teacher to be willing to have recitals in nursing homes, and my daughter enjoys the opportunities to serve the community.”

Jing Xu, Parent of Cynthia Xu

“Since Rishi and Gokul started piano lessons with Marjorie their playing has improved by leaps and bounds. They took group piano lessons before and I really wish they had started with Marjorie much earlier! I think the main difference is that Marjorie teaches them to play with so much expressiveness which is a quality I’ve noticed in all her students. Her passion for music really comes across whenever she teaches them a piece. Whenever the boys have trouble playing something she patiently observes why that is and always comes up with a practice technique that invariably helps! Her enthusiasm is infectious and we’re so happy to have found a piano teacher like her. Thank you so much, Marjorie, for bringing out the inner pianist in the boys!”

Janaki Kolady, Parent of Rishi and Gokul Kolady

“Our two young daughters have been studying with Marjorie for a year and we could not be happier. She knows how to teach and relate to young students while making the lessons fun and engaging. We have had other teachers and Marjorie uses unique and appropriate teaching tools to make it easy for kids to understand. She is so very warm and encouraging to our daughters, providing a positive learning experience that engenders confidence in challenging technique. Marjorie does not simply teach but imparts her passion for piano to her students.”

Michelle Song, Parent of Elise and Emma Song

“Marjorie is an amazing piano teacher. Not only does she really know her stuff, but just as importantly, she really knows how to teach it. In only two and a half years, Cole went from never having played the piano to playing pieces the likes of Beethoven’s Sonata Op.49 No.2 and Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# minor! She teaches not just the mechanics of playing the piano, but also how to interpret, feel and express music. Her energy, enthusiasm and passion for both her students and her music is evident and infectious. She demands a lot of her students, but gives even more of herself to them. She teaches, encourages and inspires them. She is completely invested in and dedicated to the success of her students. Consequently, her students adore her and want to do their very best for her, which in my book, is the true sign of a great teacher. I can’t imagine a better teacher for my son.”

Randie Bemis, Parent of Cole Bemis

“Jack has been taking piano lessons with Marjorie since he was four years old. The experience with Marjorie has been simply wonderful. She has taught him, at each developmental stage, in age-appropriate ways, which has enabled him to grasp advanced concepts of music and rhythm from a young age. I have observed amazing improvements in his fingering techniques and his musical expressiveness. Marjorie’s approach to teaching children is marked by encouragement, patience, and positive reinforcement. This has helped Jack develop a true love for music to the extent that, at this point, he cannot walk past a piano without playing at least a short piece on it. The warm and trusting student-teacher relationship has made Jack’s learning experience an outstanding one. His piano lessons have become a special treat rather than a chore. His lessons and his piano practice at home fill him with a form of enthusiasm that is a pleasure to observe. Thank you, Marjorie!”

Claudia Porter, Parent of Jack Porter

“I have studied piano with Marjorie Janove for the past three years. She has taught me techniques that made it simple to play even the hardest pieces that I have learned. She taught me how to understand the emotions in classical music and how to bring them out on the piano. My studies with Marjorie have always been fascinating as she is always able to help me achieve a deeper understanding of the music.”

Ian Alevy, Student

“I’ve been studying piano with Marjorie for 1 year. Marjorie is a very nice and knowledgeable teacher. She has taught me many great skills for improving technique and interpreting music. I have learned how to control the sound effortlessly and play difficult passages with ease. I have improved a lot during the past year.”

Fred Chen, Student

“I met Marjorie soon after emigration from Russia to the United Stated with my family. We began lessons right away and even though my English was very poor at the time, it never seemed to stand in the way of musical understanding. Marjorie worked with me very patiently, enthusiastically and always passionately. She was always full of wonderful ideas and gave off an energy that was both motivating and inspiring. She had a solution to any predicament I would encounter with the repertoire I studied. Whether it was a technical problem, such as a difficult passage or a question of fingering, or a musical one Marjorie always had an answer and usually more than just one. Continue reading →

Asya Gulua, Student

“I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Marjorie Janove for more than twenty years. Over that time we have performed the widest variety of repertoire for violin and piano in innumberable recitals. Marjorie’s skill as a pianist is matched by her passionate musicality and deep understanding of the traditions and history of classical music. Far from being the standard “accompanist,” Marjorie brings an independent and creative perspective to our work together, from which I have been a grateful beneficiary.”

Gerald Elias, Musician and Author

“Marjorie played beautifully at Pioneer Square the other day in 90+ degree weather! Her love of life is reflected in her deeply expressive playing. Her stories about the composers and their music were very informative and inspiring! She is a warm person and a caring and dedicated teacher. She is interested in the lives of her students and enjoys hearing stories from them about the countries they came from. She laughs with them. She loves teaching. She has deep insight into music and has ingenious ways to make music accessible – both musically and technically.”

Susan Chan, Pianist

“Marjorie provides a caring and friendly learning environment. Her teaching is simply brilliant! I can’t imagine what a better piano lesson would be. She sure inspired my child. We love to go to piano lessons.”

Lichung Ku, Parent of Clair Ku