Name: Jayne Kelly
Pianist and piano instructor
Who taught you how to play piano?
My first teacher was a woman called Sonia Stein, an immigrant from Russia. She had a very strong accent, and her idea of a compliment would be to tell you, “Darling, you play disgusting.” She was just from that school where you would be afraid of teachers. But she felt like I had ability, and in my own crazy way, I loved her. If we had a good lesson, she’d give me a candy. I was in second grade when I first started studying, 8 years old. She passed away, and then my second teacher was Walt Multer. Just think of the Addams Family, that was them. His wife had long hair, they had black cats, he was 9 feet tall – he was just a character. I worked with him through high school, until I went to college.
Describe the moment you knew you had a future as a piano instructor.
I went to college for music education, so I was supposed to teach in the school system, but I also realized I wanted to be more of a performer, so think when I was 22 years old and graduated college I started to realize I wanted to do more playing, and teaching privately gave me the free time to do it.
What is the most difficult part about teaching piano?
I would say anything that is not teaching-piano related, like scheduling. A lot of times it’s just trying to find the right kind of music for the right person. I am also one of the only teachers around here that specializes in teaching almost all adults, and that requires a special knack, because adults all learn differently. You have to really get them to want to come back, and they don’t come once a week, they come whenever they can.
Who are some of your piano idols?
First I would say Arthur Rubinstein. He was first concert pianist that I heard as a kid. My first teacher, Sonia Stein, gave me a record of him playing Chopin, and that’s what made me want to play classical piano. And another one might be (Sviatoslav) Richter.
What is the ultimate piano to play?
A Steinway Model B. It’s like an almost 7-foot Steinway. It’s great to play because it’s big enough to have the big sound but not super big where it overpowers the room. Almost all music that you play sounds its best on that size piano.
What is the hardest song you can play?
The most difficult piano work that I can play is probably Chopin ballade No. 4.
What is your favorite piece to play?
My favorite composer is Beethoven, and one of my favorite things to play are Beethoven sonatas.
What advice do you have for aspiring pianists?
One of the things I would say is, be disciplined. Do daily work, never stop trying to perfect your own craft. Just because you are getting older, always try to strive to become a better musician, no matter what’s going on in your life or how much things get in the way. I would say a lifelong commitment is important. Once you are a teacher, it’s very easy to give up the performing, so to perform, often times I might have to at night start at 11 o’clock and go until 3 a.m. in order to put that extra time in. And another thing I would say is, know your students and know how to be flexible in teaching everybody differently in order to reach how they learn.
Do you play any other instruments?
I did, and I do – sort of. I played flute through high school and actually got quite advanced with it, but I don’t really play it anymore on a regular basis. I could probably pick one up and play a little bit. I do sing a lot. I’ve discovered and now have been pursuing jazz vocals, and I have two to three different accompanists that work with me.
What is your favorite performance that you’ve been part of?
When I performed at Steiner Hall in Boston. That’s because it’s where the Steinways are, concert Steinways size D, and they will prep them in Boston for you. I’ve played there three times. That’s my highlight.
What is your favorite performance that you’ve seen?
Probably when I was a junior in high school. I saw this guy from Vermont, Rudolf Serkin; he is a very big deal, a world class pianist, and I remember after he finished playing I was frozen to my seat. I remember thinking, how are all these people getting up? It was pretty astonishing. I was blown away.
Can you spot a fake pianist on television or in the movies?
Oh, God – yeah, absolutely. Whenever they have people that try to mimic playing but don’t actually play, it’s really obvious. It’s kind of fun to see how they are trying to do it. The average person may not pick up on it. One thing is you won’t see their hands, and they’ll be playing up high but their hands will be at the other end of the keys. And there’s certain upper body movements you can immediately tell. If you see people’s wrists real high or elbows out, certain things you couldn’t get away with and play real classical piano.
If you were going to open your own piano bar, what would you call it?
How about Social Lubricants in the Key of B.
If you weren’t in the music business, what would you be doing?
Maybe an elementary school teacher. Or another one I would probably have done . . . when piano students come for lessons sometimes, I’m big into makeovers. That’s something I would have probably done, become a stylist. Something like that. Either stylist or elementary teacher.
Hidden talent?
Swimming. I used to swim the whole length of Millen Pond (in Washington) with five pound weights on my arms. I was on swim teams when I was a kid and all that.
Guilty pleasure?
I watch Jerseylicious, and I love it. Don’t tell anyone. Because I’m from Long Island, and they have my accent, and the gawdy, all the overdone clothes I grew up with. Absolutely, I won’t miss it. I also do watch the Food Network. I definitely like the show, Chopped. I’m addicted to that.
