With over 25 years of teaching experience and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Music, Dr. Philip Low has developed an instructional system in which students can experience seamless progress tailored to their individual skill levels, allowing them to reach their utmost potential in mastering the instrument. Many of Dr. Low’s students begin studying with him as early as kindergarten and continue through high school. He enjoys teaching the casual learner as much as the competition winner.
Dr. Low’s students have scored with high distinction on every level of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association piano exams from the preparatory level all the way through level 11. His youngest student to pass level 10 with high distinction was in second grade and had just turned eight years old. His students regularly receive honors ratings at recitals through the Minneapolis Music Teacher Forum, earning numerous ribbons and trophies.
Dr. Low’s competition-level students have been top winners at contests throughout the Twin Cities. Their victories include first, second, and third place at Junior Young Artist, third place in Senior Young Artist, first and second place at Thursday Musical, first and second place at the Northwestern Piano Solo Festival several times, first place at the St. Paul Piano Teachers Honors recital, second place at the Piano Fun competition, and first and second place at the Northstar Concerto Competition. The latter resulted in a performance of Haydn’s D major concerto with the Golden Valley Community Orchestra. Numerous students of his have won all levels of the MMTA state contest from primary through senior B, with the youngest senior B winner being in just fifth grade.
Several of Dr. Low’s students have gone on to major in music at college and been awarded piano scholarships of up to $100,000.
Dr. Low also maintains a small but enthusiastic group of adult learners who wish to experience the joy of learning the piano later in life. They gather twice a year for laid back afternoons involving snacks, conversation, and the optional sharing of performances for one another.
A dedicated and active member of both the Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum and the Minnesota Music Teachers Association, Dr. Low has volunteered on numerous committees and judged contests throughout the Twin Cities, including Young Artist, Schubert Club, Piano Fun, and the Bethel Concerto Competition. He has conducted contest workshops for MMTF, judged piano exams, and compiled collections of literature for Hal Leonard publications.
Dr. Low’s education has included a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in piano performance. His teachers include Carolyn Nordquist from Bethel University as well as Anita Pontremoli, Olga Radosavljevic, Virginia Weckstrom, and Daniel Shapiro at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Highlights of his education included a performance of Bach’s D minor concerto with a professional orchestra that aired on Minnesota Public Radio, writing a 185-page dissertation on Berg’s Piano Sonata Op. 1, and his final doctoral recital, in which he was able to perform his all-time favorite piece, Bach’s Goldberg Variations.