I played piano for much of my childhood, generally finding it to be a stressful and unpleasant experience, and dropped it in high school, deciding to come back to it later in adulthood. I took lessons with Ramona for several years at that point and was overall really happy with the experience.
Ramona is a very patient teacher, but she also requires patience of you – her lessons are demanding, putting you through repeated practice of the tiniest and most challenging parts of the pieces you learn. She has a great deal of insight and attention to detail into how to play each piece well. Regardless of your skill level, she will push you to exceed your limitations and really improve as a pianist.
She is also very keen on developing musicianship outside of just learning individual pieces. She does technical exercises, music theory, and ear training, and encourages improvisation and composition. She is deeply knowledgeable about music and pushes to develop her students as musicians in every aspect.
Despite her lessons being challenging and intense, Ramona is always a kind and warm person. She is very understanding and generous to her students – I don’t remember a single instance where I felt that she was frustrated with me. She also fosters a vibrant and welcoming community – her bi-annual recitals, or ‘salons’, are very friendly and non-judgmental events. I’m generally not a very social person, but I loved interacting with her other students at these salons and sharing our mutual love of music.
In general, if you’re looking for a teacher will push you to grow as a pianist, as well as to meet other students – adults or children, depending on your age group – of all different skill levels and walks of life – you could scarcely look for a better teacher or a sweeter person than Ramona.
ilya SCHEIDWASSER
NeeDHAM, MA
In May of 2018, I took another risky chance to make a change in my life and opened the door to the world of pain and pleasure that is Piano Jazz. As the child of a Julliard-trained pianist, I studied classical piano from age 5. I considered myself an intermediate-level student when I finished high school. Though I continued to play for personal enjoyment, I lost much of my training during the following decades while studying medicine and raising a family. When I returned to piano lessons in 2016, I picked up where I left off by falling in love with Brahms.
But secretly, I wanted more. I wanted to be free of being wed to sheet music and other people’s ideas. I wanted to play Jazz.
The journey to becoming a Jazz musician has been full of joy and frustration. It has felt like I was learning piano as a beginner! Without Ramona, I think I would have given up that first year. Instead, her patience, kindness, and fantastic ability to explain things from multiple different angles have been the reasons I rally every week. She inspires me to practice more, learn something new at my lesson (even when I don’t have time to practice), and just generally enjoy listening to music in a completely new way. Ramona keeps me challenged by focusing on gaps in my classical education while still giving me achievable goals for biannual salon performances that allow me to capitalize on my previous training. This teaching style keeps me stretched and growing but not overwhelmed.
I have a long, long way to go to achieve what I set out to gain back in 2018. But each time I find myself independently working out a chord progression, finally getting into the groove of a new rhythm, or reanalyzing an Intermezzo with fresh eyes, I can see that goal within my reach thanks to my amazing musical guide, Ramona.
THANK YOU!!!
Kerry Russell, MD, PhD
Waltham, MA
“My studies with Ramona started when I moved to Belmont in 2015. I have been studying piano since second grade, but was barely exposed to jazz at the time, and wanted to deepen my knowledge of jazz with a new teacher in the area. After one extremely successful and worthwhile year with Ramona, it was obvious to me I should continue studying with Ramona via Skype, after I return to Tel Aviv. Despite the distance, the lessons with Ramona have not changed in their effectiveness. I doubt my level of jazz performance would have been reached, hadn’t I continued studying with Ramona.
In each of these 4 years studying with Ramona, my tremendous improvement was reflected not only in my technique and my playing (alone and in a group), but also in my sharpening musical hearing and sense, in my knowledge of jazz theory and in my experience of playing pieces by many important jazz musicians from different eras and styles.
Ramona is a jazz master and is very skillful with teaching jazz to both beginners and advanced players. I started with studying the basics of swing, jazz harmony and voicings, and a lot of improvisation over standards in various styles from the bebop era. Ramona has worked with me a lot on understanding jazz harmony and modes for the purpose of improvising, and these, alongside feeling the swing/Latin rhythms and using them in soloing and accompanying. Later, Ramona has kept me advancing in other directions, such as adjusting to more challenging chord changes in Hard bop and fusion tunes, modal playing and improvising, use of pentatonic scales, and studying many more rhythmic patterns and styles. Ramona had me involved in the choice of tunes, and directed me to listen to many pianists from all jazz eras: Starting from Errol Garner and Wynton Kelly, along with Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarret, and many others such as Ahmad Jamal, Cedar Walton, Michel Camilo, Kenny Werner etc. During my years of studying with Ramona, she never ceased to give me more complex practice drills and new tunes that would require more from me. An example for that would be many transcription tasks I got from Ramona; they only got more challenging and demanding as time went by.
Besides Ramona’s proficiency in jazz, she really has what it takes to be a teacher. She has continuous interest in my personal progress in her tasks, she has interest in what interests me, to understand my direction and what I need to become a better musician. Examples would be the classical tunes Ramona has given me in purpose of experiencing something else and understanding the value of the piano touch, the composition and harmonization tasks that were really difficult but brought me to new places. One of a teacher’s jobs is to pull the student out from their comfort zone, and Ramona does this elegantly and with great skill.
I would note that from a perspective of a musician looking for playing with others and performing, Ramona’s tools and tasks have an evident outcome on my playing. This was strongly reflected when I learned to play changes and voicings in a Big Band context, when I knew what to do when leading a small combo or trio, when I was playing solo, when I wrote my own arrangements or compositions, when I was transcribing a solo or a harmony, and even when I was passing my knowledge onward to others”.
Matar Maoz
Tel Aviv, Israel
“I had played piano since about the age of 5 and had gotten pretty good as a kid. I was studying classical music, and I had reached the point where practicing one hour a day would not be sufficient to improve. Rather, I would have to practice something like 3 hours a day. At that point, I had no desire to become a concert pianist, and so I quit taking lessons around the age of 15 or so. I continued to play the piano often, however, learning how to plink out pop tunes from sheet music or by ear.
I have always listened to all kinds of music, but really discovered jazz in my late 20’s, including the Great American Songbook. Finally, around the age of 53 (!) , I started taking lessons with a jazz guy in Philadelphia, who introduced me to fake books and how to voice chords. I thought then that I could get pretty good within the next 10 years.
We moved back up to Arlington in 2015. I noticed that one of our kids’ friend was really starting to swing on the piano in the Arlington High School jazz band. I had known this kid for several years, but his skills were becoming noticeably better. His teacher? Ramona.
This is how I came to find Ramona. It has been a revelation. My playing had gotten a lot better, and my understanding of what I’m doing has similarly improved. Ramona is remarkable: she meets you where you are, regardless of your background, and develops from there. Whatever you can do easily, she ignores and focuses on what need improvement. Weekly lessons are demanding, and I leave feeling like I’ve been stretched, which is an exhilarating feeling. I convinced a work colleague of mine with a similar background (classically trained, yearning to swing), and she now takes lessons with Ramona as well.
The twice yearly ‘salons’ are not merely recitals, but more of a large support group. For me, it’s a little strange being in the room with real beginners, as I have been playing for over 50 years. But we all have our challenges, and it is inspiring to hear the novices as well as the several truly accomplished musicians play their pieces. We are each working on different skills, and seeing your fellow students noticeably improve every 6 months is a wonderful experience. I also find it inspiring to view the videos of the youth salons; some of these kids swing hard!
As a player, Ramona is off the hook. She swings viciously, and her tonal choices are thrilling. She is encouraging, but no pushover. She knows what you are capable of, even before you know. I would recommend taking lessons with Ramona in a heartbeat. Just do it already.”
Jang-Ho Cha, MD
Arlington, MA
“I am a violinist by trade and a professor in the String Department at Berklee. I’ve always gravitated towards the piano because it is such a powerful instrument that is used in so many genres of music and because it is easy to ‘see’ harmony on the keyboard. I often accompany my students on the piano as I usher them into improvisation from their classical training even though I have only had a few piano lessons. When I was awarded a sabbatical, I used the time to get some further instruction in jazz piano with Ramona.
Ramona was recommended to me by one of my son’s friends. I count myself very lucky to have found such an insightful, sensitive and inspiring teacher. Every lesson was full of fantastic revelations. She crafted lessons and assignments to fit my interests and weaknesses as a player. She got me to do things I didn’t think I ever could. She led me into new material with just the right combination of support and expectation.
The technical exercises Ramona assigned helped immensely with my dexterity. She showed me rhythms and voicings that will open up my accompanying skills when I get back to my own teaching and add richness to my compositions. She showed me how to put all these details together into improvisation. Ramona opened the door and showed me the secrets to creating so much beauty.
Studying with Ramona was a luxurious experience. The harmonic material I learned from her has changed my violin playing, too. I look forward to absorbing all of the information she gave me. I will certainly share the insights she laid out for me with my own students. I hope to be able to check in with her on occasion to keep the momentum going.”
Mimi Rabson
Professor, String Department, Berklee College of Music
www.mimirabson.com
Arlington, MA
“I am an adult piano learner and musical theater composer. I came to Boston looking to shore up my sight reading, performance ability and jazz/chord voicings. I chose to work with Ramona after carefully considering several teachers in the Cambridge-Watertown area because after my initial interview I felt that she brought the best balance of flexibility and rigor.
Ramona was extraordinarily adaptable – she let me make my own schedule for lessons and tried to listen carefully to my needs for each session, which ranged from reviewing drafts of sheet music to performing my own work to drilling on rhythm and sight reading. Not only did I reach many of my goals with Ramona, my work was chosen for a musical theater festival about a year after we began working together. I really appreciate her guidance and advice and would gladly recommend her to other adult students.”
Ben
Metuchen, NJ
“Ramona Borthwick connects people to music and one another with consummate expertise, eclecticism, taste, generosity, respect and joy. Four years ago, our son Graham came to Ramona on the verge of abandoning piano, but within months would take to playing several times a day. She woke up the musician we knew was inside him and he is now thoroughly immersed in well-balanced, mutually enhancing study of classical piano, jazz, and music theory. The relationship Ramona has fostered with Graham has become what it will always be one of the most profound of his lifetime, central to the ‘quality’ of his daily life, cultivating not just a better player (in more than a musical sense), but a better person, more curious, more compassionate, more adventurous, more confident. Ramona’s are the most fortunate piano students imaginable”
Nelina and Clifford Backman
Belmont, MA
“Our son, 15, started studying with Ramona about a year ago. In this year, he has made tremendous progress, in his listening and practicing habits, in his interest and love of Jazz music, in his technique as a pianist, and in his ability to perform and improvise, both solo and in a combo.
Ramona is very sensitive and very dedicated, both as a professional musician and artist, and as a person and teacher. Her love of music and teaching are evident in everything she says and does. She spent hours in helping our son prepare for auditions for a prestigious Jazz summer school, in choosing the repertoire, in working on all the details, in encouraging him, and in conducting the actual recordings in her studio. Needless to say, he got accepted!
As we recently moved abroad, they now continue with lessons over Skype. While we initially had doubts about how effective would remote Skype lessons be, we now see that they are as effective and enjoyable. Hard work and progress continue in full steam, despite the physical distance and time differences.”
SM
Tel Aviv, Israel (via Skype)
“Ramona taught me more things in a year than I’ve learned in any other year taking lessons. She showed me that there were many ways to think of harmony, and that just because the music calls for one chord, doesn’t mean you can’t think of it as a different chord. She showed me voicings that sound great in solo settings, and when comping in an ensemble. Some of the greatest things I learned from Ramona pertained to improvising. While most teachers have a classic American approach to jazz, Ramona’s style is influenced more by European players such as John Taylor. She taught me how to use many different pentatonic and hexatonic scales as well as upper structures to create different colors and textures in a solo. Overall, I became more comfortable using the chords as more of a guide instead of as symbols telling me what I could and couldn’t play.
One of the greatest things about having Ramona as a teacher is that she understands the too-often forgotten connection between music and spirituality. A lot of musicians out there have a dispassionate and unconnected approach to the piano, but Ramona isn’t one of them.”
Danny
Newton, MA
“What a difference a year makes! My son Danny has played the piano since he was in Kindergarten. He had been taking lessons with an instructor who had given him a consistently challenging array of music in a variety of genres, based on Danny’s interests. Once he discovered “real” jazz in his junior year in high school, all bets were off, he couldn’t get enough of it. Ramona Borthwick took Danny on as a student that summer on a trial basis, and we haven’t looked back.
Ramona’s obvious passion is jazz, but it’s also teaching. It’s rare to find such a perfect balance of a gifted musician who is also an academic and teacher in the same person. Her undeniable positive energy is equally contagious. She listened, not only to what Danny was playing but to what his ultimate goal was and after just six months of lessons, helped him successfully audition for elite college music programs.
Ramona has a huge amount of personal talent, vast musical knowledge and an unparalleled capacity for coaching. She is as talented a musician as she is a compassionate, insightful and beautiful person. My son has benefited from Ramona’s guidance personally as well as musically. It is my honor to recommend her as an inspiration to anyone trying to understand and play beautiful music.”
Roberta
Newton, MA
“I came to Ramona as an atypical student – a semi-pro trumpet player of 40 years who wanted to buckle down and learn piano. After realizing that I didn’t really want to work the piano, I asked Ramona about working with me on a broader set of musical skills based around ear training and dictation studies.
Ramona has been wonderful at devising an interesting, logical and productive approach to our work together. As well as being prepared and having some specific work and goals in mind, she has remained flexible and open to my opinions and needs. After several weeks my ears started to really ‘open up’ and I feel like we’re on to something. Soon I’ll be applying our work to the trumpet directly, and then perhaps I”ll learn to play the piano! I can’t thank Ramona enough for her attention, patience, and excellent advice during our time working together.”
Keith Hedger
Cambridge, MA
“I restarted my piano lessons last year (after a 25+ year break) with Ramona and she has already helped me enormously. I wanted to improve my abilities in classical, blues and jazz piano, including improvisation, composition and performance skills, and Ramona fit the bill. Her specialty is jazz composition and performance but she also has an impressive musical pedigree and a strong background in classical music. Her teaching style is flexible and responsive – for example, during a lesson we can spend time discussing jazz chord voicings, move on to technique practice, then on to performance practice for a classical piece.
I also enjoy the periodic “salons” that Ramona holds with her adult students where we practice our performing skills in a relaxed atmosphere while also enjoying good food, drink and conversation. Because of her musical abilities and knowledge, her teaching techniques, her enthusiasm for music and her upbeat energy, I think Ramona is an excellent teacher and I recommend her highly.”
Richard
Lexington, MA
“I can’t recommend Ramona Borthwick enough as a teacher. I could go on and on about her attributes (and I *do*, to friends), but here are just a few, in my view: her prodigious musical, technical and pedagogical abilities, her fantastic positive spirit and sense of fun (and great sense of humor!), her persistence and insistence that things be learned and done the right way, her incredible knowledge of a host of classical and jazz styles, her flexibility, and ability & willingness to listen, her ability to find a workable solution to technical/learning issues, and yes, her stubbornness in insisting that things not be dropped, but pursued and become polished over time.
Ramona also is a great teacher of theory and rhythm. I am just with her for a year at this point, and I feel that I’ve learned so much (and suddenly I’m getting compliments on my playing from friends and neighbors and family) but I’m even more excited about what I can do in the next few years with Ramona. If you are serious about becoming a much better pianist *and* musician, she can be an awesome resource.”
Tom
Brighton, MA
I began piano lessons with Ramona a couple of years ago, as an adult student with only a few years of lessons completed, and no previous musical instruction. During our first meeting, Ramona gave me some immediate feedback on areas of improvement and some goals we could set to begin our journey. I was impressed by her flexibility, both for our lessons and for my practice, since I worked a demanding job that required some travel.
As we began our lessons, I soon found out that Ramona’s teaching style was also very flexible depending upon the student – their abilities, the types of music they enjoy learning and playing, the ability to pair singing with playing, and where they wanted this experience to take them musically. She taught me new ways to practice to speed up my improvement, and offered a variety of tunes, both classical and popular, exposing me to different styles and developing my repertoire. Ramona weaved music theory and transcription into our lessons and used tunes I wanted to pursue as vehicles for learning.
Over these past two years, Ramona has become much more to me than a piano teacher! Her warmth and compassion shine through to our discussions about music and everything else. During her ‘salons’ in which her adult students perform their work, we enjoy an evening of socializing, music and fun. I’ve witnessed the love and support of the entire group, regardless of ability. Because Ramona fosters a strong work ethic, we all push ourselves to do our best. The variety of music is amazing, proving Ramona’s love of many types of music and her ability to teach across different genres.
Ramona is warm and thoughtful, upbeat, bright, certainly talented, and a wonderful teacher. She is focused, very patient, and sets short and long-term goals for her students. Her vast experience as a musician, performer, composer, and teacher combine beautifully in a rewarding learning experience. I wholeheartedly recommend studying piano with Ramona Borthwick!
Kathy
Newton, MA
“I returned to piano as an adult and I have taken lessons with Ramona for two years. I cannot recommend her enough. Her instruction is engaging, comprehensive, and generous. She makes me excited that there is a lifetime’s worth of things to learn about music. And she encourages me to work towards more musical skills than I thought were possible. I also admire her as a pianist and composer. So I have total trust in her expertise and musical aesthetic. Her studio is a lovely space and it is a pleasure to be in her company every lesson!”
AK
Watertown, MA
“Ramona obviously loves playing jazz piano and loves teaching it as well. A highly competent and instinctive player herself, she has nonetheless an unusual ability to see the music and the musical challenge from the perspective of the student. In my case, I had already done quite a lot of classical piano. She quickly understood where I was coming from and where I wanted to go, and she had an arsenal of strategies to help me get there. She was generous both with her time and her ideas, obviously committed to her students and taking personal satisfaction in their progress. Her explanations were thoughtful and clearly articulated. I was surprised that the Skype arrangement turned out so well. I suppose sound quality is inevitably inferior to real life but frankly it was hardly noticeable. While that issue may be a drawback of Skype, I found it to be more than offset by the fact that we were both seated at our own pianos at all times, greatly facilitating demonstrations and even quasi-jamming.”
David (via Skype)
Canada
“As adults, how many times have we said “I used to play the piano”? I used to say that. I took lessons in my youth and had wanted to play piano again for years. I had not been able to find an experienced teacher who met my needs as an adult learner. Last winter I googled “Piano teacher in Watertown, MA” and Ramona Borthwick was at the top of the list. She answered my inquiry in a timely manner and we set up a lesson. The lesson was both challenging and inspiring. I was impressed with her expertise and enthusiastic teaching style. I now look forward to my piano lessons and am more invested in playing than ever. Surprised by my progress, I am even thinking of performing in public one day down the road!”
Lis
Watertown, MA
“We spent the academic year of 2013-14 in the Boston area, with our two daughters (7 and 12 years old). The children arrived with previous piano experience. We found Ramona while looking for piano teachers online. The first thing that called our attention was the information that Ramona not only teaches piano but is also a composer. Listening to some of her pieces we all had confidence to have found someone special. This feeling was confirmed in our first meeting with her and grew stronger and stronger every class the children had. Ramona is such a wonderful teacher that makes the students do their best with love.
The children were always motivated and dedicated answering to Ramona’s instruction. Their level increased remarkably during the year and their love for music got stronger than ever. We should mention that we found in Ramona, not only a special teacher but also a wonderful friend. Now we are back to our home country, and we miss every single moment we had together. The children are very proud to play with independence and always remember her lovely lessons and advice.”
Eliane & Vitorio
Minas Gerais, Brazil
I played piano as a child for seven years, and then again as an adult for seven years. I started with Ramona a year and a half ago. Since then, my understanding of the music, my interpretation of it, and my application of technique have all improved a great deal!
Ramona pushes you to that next level. She’ll see your capabilities and do whatever it takes to reach past your comfort zone. She takes her time when you venture into a new piece and carefully talks to you about the nuances of the piece, when it was written, what music was like at the time. All that context gives you ideas on how to interpret the piece. When you get a compliment from Ramona, you know you did something well. She won’t say ‘bravo’ just for the sake of saying it. That means that when she does, you feel as though you’ve mastered something new. Each lesson will be different. She expects a lot, but makes you want to deliver. Studying with Ramona makes making each note and each rest mean something. Each phrase becomes alive. It doesn’t come easily at times. But when it does, it’s so rewarding.
The other great thing about Ramona is her versatility. She will teach you classical and jazz at the same time! Ramona is truly a gifted teacher!
RL
Belmont, MA
“I came to Ramona a little bit more than one year ago with rusty piano playing techniques. I learned piano when I was a child for about four years with a teacher in my home country. I like to play piano but I stopped learning after I became extremely busy with school work for entering high school and college exams. After I moved to US (first for school; now my life is here), I always want to start playing piano again. I was frustrated by my rusty fingers and thought I will never improve because of my age. Finally, I found Ramona (from Google search ^_^).
After just a little bit more than one year, my piano playing has much improved. Most importantly, I had found my love for piano back. The truth is that I have not learned how to play piano correctly. I had many great teachers in my life and she is now one of them. I believe when you meet a good teacher you would know immediately. A good teacher must be passionate about what she/he teaches. Ramona is a musician herself so no doubt that she loves music. I believe it is what makes her an excellent teacher. What she has taught me will stay with me forever. I would recommend her to anyone, irrespective of the levels of piano playing.”
Mei Chung
Allston-Brighton, MA
“I first began learning piano with Ramona at the age of 6 in Bombay, India. After a break (graduation, moving continents) I have re-started lessons with her. There is a Ruskin quote that describes her perfectly – “When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece”, and so it is with Ramona.
When you’re learning music with Ramona, don’t expect the usual, expect the extraordinary, for that is what you will get. One day, you’ll think back and be thankful not only for the strong musical foundation you have developed, but for everything she has helped you develop in addition to the music – self-love, self-belief and most importantly self-discipline. No parent can ask for a better musical guide for their children. No adult can ask for a more fulfilling experience than the one they will have with her. We all have our own destiny and to share her passion for music through teaching is Ramona’s. One very rarely has serendipitous moments in their life, meeting her in the 90’s, was mine. Thank you Ramona!.”
Danielle Saldhana
Toronto, Canada
“I’ve had several piano teachers over the years, beginning in childhood and later in adulthood, but none of them were able to explain things in ways I could always fully understand as I am very serious student and looking to acheive my musical goals as soon as possible.
I ultimately found the right teacher who could understand my needs and help me develop my skills in playing and composition. I have learnt a lot with Ramona within a very short period of time because the knowledge she shares is incredible & useful. The amount of homework I get is a lot and at the same time its so much fun & challenging. It has taken my playing to another level. The way she makes you understand the concepts in a very simple manner which at one point for me used to be difficult to understand and now nothing seems to be difficult.
Thanks a lot for helping me in achieving my musical goals & creating a new hope in me. And not to forget the internet era, thanks to internet for breaking all the barriers and making the world small. Without that there would have been no access to your teaching and my growth as an artist.”
Abraham (via Skype)
Mumbai, India
“Ramona is an insightful and inspiring teacher whose enthusiasm and humor make lessons a joy. My nine-year-old daughter has studied piano with her for the past year and a half, and has made great progress both in practice and in music theory. She has even learned some historical context for the music she’s playing. It’s a great educational experience for her, but we’d drop it if she weren’t having fun as well. After her weekly hour-long lesson, my daughter routinely says, “Is it over already?””
Mordena Babich
Belmont, MA
Ramona is an inspiring, patient and very caring teacher. Being an adult beginner, I really admire her patience and persistent nature of making sure I not only master every piece I play on the piano but also understand and learn the music theory. She makes my lesson not only enjoyable, but makes me believe that with continuous practice and determination I will master the song. She is not only my teacher but also a good friend who’s taken me step closer to my belief that very soon I will play the piano well. Thank you for your patience and motivation!
Ritu Kaushik
Waltham, MA
“As an adult who is new to the piano, I find Ramona to be both patient and knowledgeable about about the strengths and challenges of the adult learner. She seeks to really meet my goals for piano rather than following a preconceived one-size-fits-all pedagogy. She has worked hard to improve my technique with an eye always towards my continual progress. Her cheerful enthusiasm makes each lesson a looked forward to pleasure. I’d strongly recommend Ramona to any adult pursuing their dream on the piano.”
Rob Flynn
Watertown, MA
“I have been taking online lessons with Ramona for the last three months. Its been a great way to learn Jazz Piano (my first instrument was the saxophone, which I continue to play). I love the Skype lessons for the ease of being in my home. We are presently learning ii-V-I’s with bass lines through all the keys, standards with bass lines, melody and comping. She has hand outs that explain and reinforce the concepts of the lessons. Ramona is a great teacher and a wonderful person. You won’t go wrong taking lessons with her.”
Steve (student via Skype)
Virginia, USA
“I have known Ramona for several years, initially starting out as being one of her piano students for a period of three years. Some of the many things that lead me to say today, without hesitation, is that she has been the most mature and influential teacher I have ever studied with. (I have had three years of serious jazz education at the Humber College in Toronto, Canada).
Ramona’s approach is to inspire her students, get them very involved in what they are learning. She made sure to cover all aspects of jazz and classical piano training with me, including theory, technique, repertoire, improvisation, harmony, history, listening skills and composition. She communicated her thoughts and ideas with a natural enthusiasm that was such a great motivational factor for me.
I believe that in order to be a truly successful teacher, one needs to possess an extraordinary love for the subject being taught and a keen desire to impress the same on others. I can sincerely say that Ramona fits the description.”
Laura Tarumian
Toronto, Canada
“As an aspiring jazz piano/keyboard player, the experience of studying with Ramona Borthwick proved to be the turning point in my musical journey. She brings about a quick rate of progress toward proficiency on the instrument in the shortest time, and is able to discern where the students’ weaknesses and shortcomings lie. Her teaching enabled impediments and stumbling blocks (technical, theoretical and creative), to be quickly overcome, and obstacles along the way, to be surmounted. She seeks to equip the student with a solid well-rounded foundation- to strengthen the ‘basics’ so to speak (for example: concentrating on the development of technical ability, music theory, the study of western classical music etc.) – thereby aiding the student to develop into a ‘complete’ musician – over and above the ultimate direction the student wishes to take – whether classical or jazz music, being a keyboard professional, or a hobby pianist …
I deeply treasure the time that I spent learning music with her, and have gained much – both musically and personally in my life.”
Harmeet Manseta
Bombay, India
“Ramona teaches piano with artistry, energy, enthusiasm, and extreme focus on technical skills, theory and rhythm. She is friendly, encouraging, committed, serious and is able to be challenging and strict, while maintaining kindness and good sense of humor. Ramona’s ability to bring out the best in her students shone during our first Summer Salon at her studio: her students performed classical, jazz and pop music, some of them even offered their own improvisations and compositions! Ramona is an immensely talented pianist and musician, dedicated to sharing her love of music with her students and we feel so fortunate to have ‘found’ her.”
Nonna & Peter
Belmont, MA
“I really enjoy taking lessons from Ramona. Combining her preexisting aptitude for music, and her creativity and boundless energy, she is able to make learning, refining, and practicing my piano skills fun!”
Ben
Belmont, MA
“Ramona is an inspiring, professional teacher who has not only taught me piano, but music. I had always felt a oneness with music, but studying with her has brought out the music in me. I enjoy learning theory, history and form with her. She makes every lesson that I attend immensely enjoyable.”
C. Kate
Waltham, MA
“I am continually amazed at the technical and theoretical progress I have achieved while studying with Ramona. As a forty-something with no prior musical training and an occasional aversion to hard work, I was apprehensive about the wisdom of pursuing my childhood dream of playing the piano. Now, three years later, it seems it was a wise decision since I had the great fortune of finding a wonderful teacher.
Ramona’s remarkable musical gifts combined with her boundless enthusiasm for teaching have given that childhood dream wings and enough sky to last a lifetime.”
Judy
Ottawa, Canada
“Ramona taught piano to two of my children; Billy who is eight and Katie who is nine. Not only did she inspire and motivate my children to play their best but she was also very personable and was flexible in her approach. My children miss her very much. In fact it was very difficult to find a replacement for her. Every potential music teacher was scrutinized in light of her. Although I found this somewhat frustrating, it indicates how greatly Katie & Billy appreciated Ramona’s efforts.
I would like to say that in my view what is most important to me in terms of my children taking piano lessons is that it is a positive learning experience. This was indeed the case with Ramona. I would highly recommend her.”
Kathleen
Ottawa, Canada
“I had not touched a piano for over 10 years when I started taking lessons with Ramona. What I remembered from my childhood piano lessons was very rusty. Under Ramona’s guidance and with her encouragement, it did not take me long to get my confidence back and to start to love playing the piano again. Her enthusiasm, her dedication and her impressive knowledge and love of music are inspiring. She is an exceptional person and a first-rate music teacher.”
Roxanne
Ottawa, Canada
“At the age of thirteen, my daughter decided that she wanted piano lessons. I agreed on the condition that she practice as required, and that this endeavour had to be something that she wanted for herself alone. I do not have fond memories of my own childhood piano lessons. I felt that any love of music and piano playing would have to be developed on her own with her teacher. I stayed out of it. I thought the more important relationship should be between the student and teacher.
We were very fortunate to have found Ramona. She has been a great teacher, role model and mentor. My now fifteen year old daughter enjoys playing for relaxation. Her development and improvement over the past two years under Ramona’s skill, care, guidance and direction has been a joy to watch and to listen. Ramona instilled in her what I expect to be a lifelong love of music and piano playing”.
Marcia
Ottawa, Canada
“The piano learning experience with Ramona is wonderful. I thought I am going to learn piano only, but I end up learning music instead. She make everything so full of life and spirit. She is good in explaining every details and particulars. She make things simple and easy. And most wonderful thing is she treat me as a friend more than a student.
And I really miss her as both an excellent piano teacher and also as a friend.”
Vincent
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Even with my very erratic practicing habits, I have made more progress over the past months with Ramona, than I ever imagined would be possible. Her enthusiasm and love for the piano, has impacted on my relationship with the instrument. I feel that I now approach my piano playing in much more of a “relational” way; meaning that I am much more aware of how my body and mind (and indeed spirit) are all important in making a full and true connection with the music. All these facets are inextricably important in uniting the student with his/her instrument and the beautiful creations of the composers whose gifts of music we bring to life.
Ramona is a teacher who challenges me. Growing up, I took many years of unstructured piano lessons from an aunt of mine, who although a very good teacher, never truly challenged me to excel and grow. Ramona opens up a piece of music as to its musical form, phraseology, and interpretive exploration that challenges me and excites me to “connect” with my homework. This has made a great difference in my relation to the music I play, and indeed all the music I hear around me.
I find it very hard NOT to want to prepare well for my piano lessons; since Ramona’s love of music is infectious and “rubs off” on me in a way that I really WANT to get to know my music well. I always leave my lesson with some new and exciting understanding of the piano, even when my practicing has been absent in between classes. Its a testimonial to Ramona’s excellent teaching that I’m still sticking with the piano these past six months, considering all the stressful happenings in my life (including divorce, two big moves, restructuring of my job, and giving birth to five kittens!).
I’ll end by saying that I am very lucky to have recently inherited a beautiful grand piano from my aunt who used this piano to teach hundreds of students during a career spanning 50 years. Whenever I sit down to practice, I’m conscious of the wonderful gift of music that all these students have enjoyed over these years; and I’m excited that I too am enjoying the gift of music on this instrument.
My present relation with my piano is absolutely due to the inspiration and excitement of the instruction I am receiving from Ramona. I am convinced that the dust would be gathering on my piano if it were not for the excellent teaching I am currently receiving. Needless to say I want this to continue!”