Testimonial from noted teacher Seymour Bernstein

 

Raj Bhimani has had an impressive education in the US and abroad and has emerged as a formidable pianist and teacher. However, it is commonly agreed that good teachers are born. Enter Raj Bhimani. His intellectual expertise notwithstanding, he is imbued with a deeply sensitive nature capable of devotion and caring for pupils who are fortunate enough to study with him. As a friend and colleague, I consider it a privilege to write this brief note of recommendation for such an outstanding musician and teacher.

Seymour Bernstein

 

 

Testimonials from Students and Parents

 

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Raj for 10 years. Not only is he a virtuoso pianist himself, but he is a brilliant teacher. Under Raj's tutelage, I not only learned "how to play," but also music theory and history and ultimately how to understand and express a piece. I also learned good habits and how to perform, which are skills that carried over into other areas of my life. Truly anyone can learn from him -- he works with 8-year-olds as adeptly as he teaches 50-year-olds. I can't say enough good things about him!

Catha M.

 

Raj is an excellent teacher. He's patient, enthusiastic, energetic, and really focuses on what you need in your lesson. He's great with kids and adults.

Marianne A.

 

I was Raj's first student at the Concordia College music conservancy (at the age of 7) and have known him for 20+ years. My sisters, my father, and my brother all took lessons from him for many years because of the positive experience that I had learning from Raj. After graduating from high school, I continued to study the piano at Princeton, and then again with him in NYC when I graduated. With music as his vehicle, Raj taught me the importance of disciplined practice, sensitive expression, and to perform regularly in front of large audiences. He continues to be a friend, mentor, and musical guru for me. To say that he is life-changing, would be an understatement. Because of the positive experience I had learning the piano with Raj, I continue to play today and maintain music as an important part of my life. I could not recommend Raj more highly as both an outstanding musician and piano teacher.

Elizabeth M.

 

I have adjudicated Raj's students at least four times during the last fifteen years for the National Guild of Piano Teachers. His students are beautifully prepared: polished, sensitive, accurate, poised, and most of all express a love of the music they're playing through their playing. They take pride in the honor of playing their instrument and in studying with Raj. He's a deeply fine, experienced teacher of students of all levels of ability, and has an extensive repertoire of music that he teaches and certainly that he plays. I have attended many of his solo recitals: he's a commanding, expressive performer who serves as a role model for his students and their families.

Elizabeth B

 

As a conservatory-trained pianist myself, my standards are high, and it was important to me that my children have an excellent teacher. Raj IS that teacher. He has been the sole piano teacher for all four of my children (that means, at any given time, at least one of my children has been under his tutelage for the past 26 years!), and we couldn’t be more pleased with our choice. Raj has both a superlative command of piano pedagogy -- imparting solid fundamentals to carry students through increasingly difficult repertoire -- and a wonderful ability to connect with his students. My children all like and respect him and value the lessons he taught them about the piano, musicianship, diligence, preparation, and so much more. They are all fine musicians and enjoy making music thanks to his wonderful guidance. He has truly given my kids a life-long gift (and, me as well, since I get to listen to and play duets with them!). Raj is fully dedicated to and proud of each and every student, giving them the opportunity to share what they have accomplished with regular playing classes for each other and several recitals throughout the year for family and friends. One can clearly see at these performances how well prepared his students are and how he fosters musicality in each of them, whether they are working on a beginner piece or a difficult Beethoven sonata. I have recommended Raj to many families over the years, and it is my pleasure to continue to recommend him without reservation.

Meg A.

 

Raj taught all four of my daughters to play piano from the time they were in kindergarten through high school. Raj is amazingly patient, conscientious, and talented. He encouraged my daughters to do their best through weekly lessons, performance classes, recitals, and auditions. Raj has been an invaluable asset to my girls' knowledge and appreciation of music.

Linda D.

 

Raj is the unique blend of a virtuoso and a teacher in one. He has taught me and my sisters classical piano and turned us as stubborn children to find our own inner artists. We all grew up to become nationally ranked "Guild" members and continued to work with him from elementary age to after college and grad school. He is a dear member of our family. I hope my children can one day (soon!) take lessons from him. What a find on Thumbtack...

Caroline M.

 

I am both a student and a parent of a student of Raj. He is, in a word, excellent. Other words like outstanding and amazing also apply. As an instructor, he is patient, supportive, and clear. He holds high expectations without being needlessly critical. As an administrator (setting up lessons and recitals, communicating with parents, etc.) he is organized and communicative but concise and reliable. I can't recommend him enough.

Kevin D.

 

Raj has been the piano teacher for my two children since they were 5 or 6 years old and he has been an amazing teacher and presence in their lives. Raj is eternally patient and attentive to each child. He expertly prepares each child for their recitals and his regularly scheduled performance classes in front of other fellow students help the children feel comfortable performing in front of an audience before actually having to do so in the recital. He clearly has an idea of what pieces his students should do in the course of their development and yet, he still gives them the freedom to choose some pieces so that each child can find their own identify and show some ownership and pride over their repertoire. He has brought out talents and abilities in my children that constantly delights and surprises me. He values each child and their specific strengths and talents and hones them so that they will shine. Even after eight years of lessons, my children still enjoy their time with Raj. After every recital, I am struck by the continuing growth and musical development of all of Raj's students. The quiet sense of pride and confidence his students develop with each recital is a joy to witness over the years.

Michelle G.

 

My family has known Raj for many years. My daughter who is now 8, has been taking lessons with Raj for over 3 years now. She absolutely loves him! He is most patient with his students and makes learning so enjoyable. Recently I started taking lessons with him(I'm in my thirties!!) and I have to say I am having so much fun!!! We are very lucky to have Raj as our teacher.

Monika A.

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One of the best thing my parents did for me was sign me up at a young age for piano lessons with Raj. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I attended regular lessons that gave me an appreciation and love for music that I have carried with me ever since. Raj's philosophy focuses heavily on building lifelong skills, so while I knew other children my age with different piano teachers raced through learning pieces, never really enjoying the process or playing pieces purposefully and artfully, I grew to appreciate Raj's thorough teaching methods that allow me to enjoy playing piano to this day. 

 

Part of the joy of taking lessons with Raj, is that he is one of the most patient, encouraging, and thoughtful teachers I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. He meets each student at their level, and he always guided my selection of which piece to learn next, so each project I ended up taking on was both realistic and doable, and ultimately extremely satisfying. What I have learned from Raj over the 14+ years of lessons is not limited to music; from him, I learned to apply myself, how to practice a skill, how to approach a new project - breaking it down into components, understanding the arc of the piece, identifying the challenging spots - and these skills have served me well in all my endeavors from my chemistry studies to my writing work and beyond. 

Shoshana A.

 

"Raj Bhimani is a superb pianist and unparalleled teacher. He is an inspiration to students of all ages and levels, conveying a love of music with boundless patience and sensitivity." 

Michael W.