"The secret for success is in the system."

Dr. Tolosa has created a clear and easy-to-follow system that produces results and that can be easily followed and duplicated by all students regardless of age or previous musical experience. "The system is not a shortcut or a substitute for committed and dedicated study and practice. Discipline and perseverance are absolutely necessary to achieve success in anything one undertakes in life."

Dr. Tolosa has taught private piano, group piano, piano ensemble, piano pedagogy, piano literature, music theory, music history and many other music courses for over 25 years and he continues to teach and perform in a variety of venues in Dallas and across the nation. (Click here to read his biography)

Each lesson with Dr. Tolosa is a rich experience, a compilation of those 25 years of teaching and performing experience. Only the strategies for accelerated and accurate learning that have been proven to work are carefully passed on to each student. In each lesson, Dr. Tolosa shares with the student the inspiring teachings that he received throughout his life and especially, the knowledge and experience that he gathered while he studied at the Eastman School of Music.* Dr. Tolosa holds a Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music.

World-renowned pianists and teachers such as Seymour Bernstein, Barry Snyder, Nelita True, Paul Pollei, Natalya Antonova, Malcolm Bilson, Alexandra Pierce, Emilio Alessio and many others have been Dr. Tolosa’s major influences in his musical life.

*Internationally ranked number one school for professional musicians.



Teaching Philosophy

I consider myself a teacher and not just an instructor. An instructor imparts information but a teacher also cares about relationships. In order to give each student individual guidance, I strive to build a relationship between the student and the music. Since no two people are ever the same, every lesson is a new adventure!

When students ask me how long they need to practice I answer, "Until it’s done." I prefer to stay away from giving specific durations for practice times. This allows the student to shift the attention from the clock to the tasks to be accomplished during the practice session.

My students have a "Piano Journal" in which I write specific directions as to what to practice and how to practice. I emphasize efficiency and I teach my students how to use their time, how to practice, and how to teach themselves. During lessons I often practice alongside the student so that he or she learns how to develop good practicing habits and use time efficiently. The student leaves the lesson knowing exactly what and how to prepare for the next lesson.

I pride myself in offering a customized plan of learning for each student and together working toward common goals. I emphasize music reading and I have a proven method for teaching how to read music very fast and efficiently. I also emphasize sight-reading and correct technique because these ingredients allow students to sit down and read just about anything they want to play. I find that most students really want to develop the skill that will allow them to open a piano book and just play and enjoy. Through a system of reading and pattern recognition I help students achieve this important goal and together we have fun learning music from a highly diverse number of composers.

Last but not least, I encourage students to attend live performances. A life-long commitment to concert going is vital for an artist's ongoing development.

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