HEIDIPIC

Heidi Cowan, an MMTA certified teacher of piano, maintains an independent piano studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She performs with her husband Bruce Cowan as a Clarinet/Piano Duo, and is also an active accompanist for MSBOA’s Solo and Ensemble competitions and many other events. A longtime member of the AAAPTG’s Performers Group, she has participated in many recitals that the group has presented playing solo and 2-piano repertoire at venues such as the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor and area retirement homes. Heidi has made a habit of performing solo repertoire in each of her students’ recitals.

As a member of the Ann Arbor Area Piano Teachers Guild, she has held the offices of President and Vice-President, Chairman of the Performers’ Group, and has worked on the newsletter, website and yearbook. She was also the area Chairman of the National Guild of Piano Teachers for 15 years.

Heidi’s piano studies began in Battle Creek, MI in the second grade with Isabelle Wagner and continued in middle school with Olive Steele in Alpena, MI, who was instrumental in helping Heidi to audition for a local music scholarship to Interlochen for the Allstate program. On winning the scholarship, Heidi spent 2 glorious weeks at Interlochen and didn’t want to come home, so an application was made and she was accepted to the Interlochen Arts Academy that fall. She spent the next three years of high school at IAA, studying piano with instructor, Donald Moore. After graduating from Interlochen, Heidi returned to the National Music Camp as an accompanist to the voice instructor, Waldie Anderson. She also performed with him, both at Interlochen and at the Oberlin Conservatory. Piano studies at Interlochen included lessons with Fernando Laires and harpsichord lessons with George Lucktenburg. A Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance was earned at the University of Michigan School of Music, studying piano with Benning Dexter, Karen Keys, and Louis Nagel. During her tenure at the university, she also did much accompanying and participated in an independent study group performing Baroque Trio music for flute, oboe and continuo, under the supervision of Penelope Crawford. Heidi built her own harpsichord during this time, and later built an English virginal with her husband Bruce.

Heidi is currently a student of Katherine Teves Mizruchi, learning about Dorothy Taubman’s approach to piano playing. A tendinitis injury many years ago necessitated the beginning of this journey and it has been a total rejuvenation of technique and musical knowledge. Heidi was awarded the first Piano Teacher’s grant from the AAAPTG Foundation and  used it for private piano studies.