Piano
Welcome to the Piano Area at Whitman College’s Department of Music. We offer one-on-one piano studio lessons with Professor Rodolfo Faistauer, Carissa Pitkin Cox, Stephanie Steele and Matt Cooper (Jazz).
In addition to studio lessons, students benefit from regular studio classes, master classes, internal and external performance opportunities, and faculty and guest artist recitals. We cater to all students with an interest and a passion for music and welcome students with no musical background at all, those that had lessons a long time ago, and those that are wishing to continue their piano studies with a view of applying to graduate musical schools.
Professor Rodolfo Faistauer also teaches which is the ensemble class for our area. Through this class, students are given the opportunity to work with other musicians in the department on string, wind, vocal, and piano duet/duo repertoire. Collaborative pianists receive coaching from Professor Rodolfo Faistauer and other studio teachers in the department. Contact Professor Rodolfo Faistauer for more information.
Anyone wishing to discuss getting involved in the Piano Area is invited to reach out to Professor Rodolfo Faistauer for more information.
Rodolfo Faistauer
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and Director of the Piano Area
Biography
Rodolfo Faistauer regularly performs as a recitalist and chamber musician across Europe, Brazil, and the United States. He earned his D.M.A. from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music after completing graduate studies in Strasbourg and Munich. Faistauer recently recorded the previously unknown works of Lucília Villa-Lobos for the Brazilian Piano Institute and "Meeresstille" by Hugues Dufourt for Coviello Classics. His recordings have been broadcast on Brazilian and French radio. His research interests include the parallels between music and language, particularly in the compositions of Beethoven and Schubert. His teaching activity embraces students from diverse backgrounds, ranging from non-majors passionate about music to accomplished performers preparing for a career in music.
Rodolfo Faistauer is Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and Director of the Piano Area at Whitman College, where he teaches Applied Piano, Collaborative Piano, and Music in Society.
Teaching Statement
My goal as an educator is to cultivate my students' artistic identities by encouraging them to find their own answers and become confident musicians. As a piano teacher, I strive for an approach where healthy technique and thoughtful study of the score complement each other, establishing a direct link between physical movements and musical ideas. My teaching is deeply informed by historical and stylistic knowledge, providing the foundation for students to develop individual and genuine musical ideas that lead to compelling performances. Ultimately, I aim to create a supportive environment where students feel free to experiment and build their own connection to music.
Carissa Pitkin Cox
Biography
Carissa Pitkin Cox has been recognized for her ‘expressive conviction’ and ‘commanding precision’ as both a soloist and collaborative pianist. Focused on connecting her music with community groups, she has appeared in outreach and fundraising concerts supporting the Alzheimer’s Association, Mélange International Music Foundation, and for TedxRichland. As a collaborative pianist, Cox has performed with groups including the Juventas New Music Ensemble, Washington National Chorus, Mid-Columbia Symphony, and ³Ô¹ÏÍø Chorale. She has presented, adjudicated, and held leadership roles in the Maryland Music Teachers Association and the Washington State Music Teachers Association. Cox previously taught at The Boston Conservatory and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, earning advanced degrees in Piano Performance and Musicology. She attended ³Ô¹ÏÍø, majoring in Piano and Education and is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) in Piano through the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Her primary teachers include Leonard Richter, Lee Thompson, and Max Levinson.
Teaching Statement
As a teacher, my mission is helping students better understand themselves and their learning through creative work. When students understand how they learn and practice effectively, they become more resilient, building mental habits that can be applied to both music and beyond. In lessons, I work with students to expand their creativity, think critically, and be inspired by new ideas and solutions. My studio is a place where students can be curious, courageous, and energized.
The most rewarding part of my teaching is seeing a student express themselves more completely, confidently, and with greater understanding–seeing them overcome their own internal obstacles, grow as a result of their efforts, becoming empowered in their own learning, and enriched through these transformations. They are more personally connected to their music and have a greater sense of possibility. Ultimately, I want my students to explore the world through music, and learn about themselves in the process.