Testimonials
"Teacher Marjorie has a natural gift for teaching piano. She is kind, compassionate, encouraging, and patient. Andy loves going to his piano lessons, and looks forward to seeing Teacher Marjorie each week. She has such a knack for establishing personal rapport with her students.
Her enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring. Not only is Teacher Marjorie an extremely accomplished musician and a great teacher, she is also a genuinely wonderful and fun person to be around. We highly recommend Teacher Marjorie!" - Melanie Platosh
Her enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring. Not only is Teacher Marjorie an extremely accomplished musician and a great teacher, she is also a genuinely wonderful and fun person to be around. We highly recommend Teacher Marjorie!" - Melanie Platosh
"When I was 7, I played the piano for about a year and a half. Quitting the piano was something I always regretted. At 50, I decided to stop regretting that and was incredibly fortunate to find Marjorie - a teacher who truly inspires, encourages, and finds wonderful music to keep me going.
"After only a few months of lessons with Marjorie, I discovered I was able to play music I have loved all my life. Marjorie has taught me so many skills and techniques and I love seeing my progress week after week. The piano has become one of the great passions in my life." - Greg Borders
"After only a few months of lessons with Marjorie, I discovered I was able to play music I have loved all my life. Marjorie has taught me so many skills and techniques and I love seeing my progress week after week. The piano has become one of the great passions in my life." - Greg Borders
“Marjorie's 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.” - Dr. Susan Chan, Pianist, Associate Professor of Music and Piano Area Co-Coordinator at PSU
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.” - Dr. Susan Chan, Pianist, Associate Professor of Music and Piano Area Co-Coordinator at PSU
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“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. - Asya Gulua, student
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. - Asya Gulua, student
“I worked with Marjorie between university studies after having relocated to Portland from the Midwest. My time with her was very valuable. Dr. Janove started our work together by examining physical approaches to playing the piano—from posture and bench height to arm and wrist movement and flexibility—and offered several technical insights that have helped me to relax and play effectively with minimal strain. We continued by incorporating these techniques directly into repertoire I had prepared, resulting in interpretations that were both more convincing and easier to play.
Her suggestions regarding phrasing, timing, and how to achieve contrast and nuance added needed sophistication to my playing of early and modern repertoire alike. I highly recommend Dr. Janove as a piano instructor not only for younger students beginning their musical journeys (with whom she has truly amazing success) but also for more experienced musicians in search of innovative guidance.” - John Scoville, student
Her suggestions regarding phrasing, timing, and how to achieve contrast and nuance added needed sophistication to my playing of early and modern repertoire alike. I highly recommend Dr. Janove as a piano instructor not only for younger students beginning their musical journeys (with whom she has truly amazing success) but also for more experienced musicians in search of innovative guidance.” - John Scoville, student
“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, my son 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 piano teacher for my son.” - Randie Bemis, parent of Cole Bemis
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 piano teacher for my son.” - Randie Bemis, parent of Cole Bemis
“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 innumerable 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 Alias, author of Dances with Death: Devil's Trill & Danse Macabre
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 Alias, author of Dances with Death: Devil's Trill & Danse Macabre
"Marjorie has been one of the most influential people in my life. We met over 30 years ago when I began taking piano lessons in her home. As child I did not know how important she would be to me. Marjorie gave me a love of classical music and she helped me to develop a talent for piano that continues to provide me with happiness. Today I live across the country in North Carolina and I still speak with Marjorie. I still play the piano and now I have the chance to pass my love of music to my children.
Marjorie is a masterful piano teacher. No matter how old or young you are, I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to study with Marjorie to do so. It will be a blessing in your life to study with her." - Benjamin Joffs
Marjorie is a masterful piano teacher. No matter how old or young you are, I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to study with Marjorie to do so. It will be a blessing in your life to study with her." - Benjamin Joffs
“The impact that [Marjorie] had on my playing endures to this day. I have remained active as an accompanist for vocal soloists and ensembles, as well as performing with several jazz bands (I currently perform with the Phoenix Jazz and Swing Ban, CityJazz Big Band, and Easy Street Entertainers). So many of the principles that Marjorie taught me continue to exert a huge influence on my practicing and performing ("Slower makes faster," study away from the piano to focus on details, focus on playing in a relaxed manner, telegraph musical expressiveness to your audience through gestures/facial expressions, etc.).
Marjorie provided many opportunities for me to not only assist her in preparing for performances by playing the orchestral score for concertos she was learning, but also to perform on stage with her on several occasions. All of this boosted not only my confidence as a player, but my overall self-esteem as well. I will forever be grateful o Marjorie for the impact she has had on so many aspects of my life." -Norman Emerson, student
Marjorie provided many opportunities for me to not only assist her in preparing for performances by playing the orchestral score for concertos she was learning, but also to perform on stage with her on several occasions. All of this boosted not only my confidence as a player, but my overall self-esteem as well. I will forever be grateful o Marjorie for the impact she has had on so many aspects of my life." -Norman Emerson, student
"My son Kai absolutely adores Marjorie. Her incredible talent as an accomplished musician has translated into a phenomenal gift for teaching. She has inspired and supported Kai throughout his entire music career. She makes learning fun. Her teaching techniques and ability to transform complex and challenging pieces into straightforward exercises has allowed Kai to cover a remarkable breadth and depth of material. Not many 12yr olds can claim their current repertoire includes pieces from Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, Kabalevsky, Mendelssohn, Schubert, and Bach. This is all thanks to Marjorie. The confidence and joy she has gifted my son is something that I know he will treasure for a lifetime. Our whole family is forever grateful to the time she has invested in Kai and the talent she has helped nurture. We couldn't have asked for a more thoughtful, kind, creative, and gifted teacher. She is simply the best!" - Kai's mother
"Marjorie is an amazing teacher. I'm so lucky to be her student. I like that I am able to learn lots of different pieces with her. My Grandpa especially loves to listen to me play. Marjorie helps me challenge my abilities and keep growing. One of my favorite parts about our lessons is when we get to play pieces together, like my Kabalevsky concerto. Marjorie's pianos are also amazing. They sound so much better than my piano at home! Her finger puppets make me laugh but remind me to curve my fingers. I'm proud of everything I have accomplished and that I'll be able to continue playing for the rest of my life. Thank you Marjorie, I appreciate everything you've done for me!" - Kai himself
"Marjorie is an amazing teacher. I'm so lucky to be her student. I like that I am able to learn lots of different pieces with her. My Grandpa especially loves to listen to me play. Marjorie helps me challenge my abilities and keep growing. One of my favorite parts about our lessons is when we get to play pieces together, like my Kabalevsky concerto. Marjorie's pianos are also amazing. They sound so much better than my piano at home! Her finger puppets make me laugh but remind me to curve my fingers. I'm proud of everything I have accomplished and that I'll be able to continue playing for the rest of my life. Thank you Marjorie, I appreciate everything you've done for me!" - Kai himself