Testimonials
“Since starting yoga with Anna, in conjunction with my piano lessons, I have felt a greater connection between the physical actions and gestures in my playing and the sounds I create on the piano. Anna has taught me ways of tackling difficult passages by incorporating the breath and experimenting with coordinating movements that complement and enhance the phrase shape. Anna's piano and yoga lessons, with their emphasis on technique and body awareness, have taught me to take notice of what my body is doing while I play the piano, and how to respond to feelings of tension and strain. In performance, Anna has taught me to be more aware of my physical actions, rather than getting carried away with emotional thoughts. We have been working on using the breathing we learn in yoga as a strategy to calm the body and mind before and during performance.” "I like piano because it is an awesome instrument which has a beautiful tone so you can express your feelings freely when you are playing it. For me, I am grateful having Anna as my piano teacher. Anna teaches me different types of pieces but all interesting and pleasant. She also teaches me many very important hand skills that make my hands flexible enough to play more beautifully. I enjoy going to her classes to learn piano every time." "Learning with Anna is a great experience because she goes through our pieces together with us slowly and carefully. Anna is never pushing us forward if we are not ready. For sight-reading, she helps us bit by bit and goes through anything we are not sure of. In each lesson if we are doing well, we get a little treat and that is yoga. We get to have bit of a rest and fun." "I like learning with Anna because each day after my piano lesson I get better! Since I don’t point my pinky she finds exercises to help me fix it up. Sometimes she tells me more about composers so I know more than before. Anna is a fun teacher to be with while I learn with her. I LOVE PLAYING PIANO!" |
"I have studied the piano with Anna Carson since 2009. She is a very generous, kind and happy person. She has taught me many important things about playing technique and useful hints about playing chamber music and accompanying others. Anna is very good at helping students to find their own voice in music. She also shares her great ideas on piano teaching with me. I really enjoy her piano lessons!! Anna is very passionate about her piano and yoga teaching. From her yoga classes, I become more aware of the connection between my body and mind. This has had a positive influence on my playing technique and performances. Like Anna said “A healthier body means a healthier mind, when your mind is healthier, your life is happier!" I am truly grateful for everything Anna has taught me." "Since starting yoga with Anna I have had less performance anxiety, been able to connect my breath with my playing and have less muscle tightness and pain in my lower back. The classes leave me feeling relaxed and I’ve noticed that I always sleep well after each session. I would especially recommend yoga classes at AYAMA to musicians. The individual focus is hard to find at other classes and ensures that we are doing postures safely. The focus on music and Anna’s knowledge of our instruments helps her to understand what specific postural issues we might have. The small class size adds something that I haven't had in a yoga class before and means that the sessions feel more personal and can be tailored to suit everyone." "Anna brings a beautiful energy and a serene presence to her classes. The space that she creates is conducive to 'letting go'... and she is able to maintain a meditative flow , whilst keeping a close eye on the class to ensure that we are all holding the postures well. I leave her classes feeling that my body, mind and spirit have been both strengthened and replenished." "Anna is a phenomenal yoga instructor. Her approach, technique and sound teaching methods have changed my attitude completely! I am stronger, happier and calmer since beginning yoga 3 short months ago. I have never been so grateful to have found such an amazing yoga class and instructor. It has definitely become the highlight of my week!" |