Liza Hingerty
Waltons New School of Music Faculty
Liza studied both piano and music theory at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama (now the TU Dublin Conservatoire), obtaining her ALCM and GNEIM diplomas. She went on to teach at the Rathdown School for seven years, as well as continuing her musical studies with voice lessons, before coming to the New School. She has performed widely both as a jazz singer (with her own Trio and Quartet as well as numerous other musicians) and pianist (specialising in music of the 1930s and 40s, from George Gershwin to Cole Porter) at numerous Irish and Italian venues, including The Button Factory, The Bleu Note and Le Basement Jazz Club, among others. She has been teaching piano and keyboard with the New School, to students of all ages and skill levels, since 1998. ‘Piano is for everyone. No one is too old to learn to play. People come to me saying, “This is something I’ve always wanted to do.” For many reasons – perhaps work, children, grandchildren, time looking after elderly parents, emigrating or returning – it was never easy. Some of my students arrive in their sixties, seventies or even eighties as beginners. Some return to music a little afraid that they’ve collected too many bad habits playing without guidance. All enjoy the experience.
Likewise, in a world where parents try to encourage their children to take part in activities that don’t involve screens, piano playing is an ideal pursuit. The child has an instrument, a book and a teacher, and learns to focus in a calm environment. To be able to produce a beautiful melody provides confidence and a real sense of achievement.
And for teenagers experiencing confusing moodiness, playing music they already know, or the exciting prospect of figuring out a contemporary song, can soothe troubled thoughts.
Playing music can calm anxiety, delay the effects of dementia, lighten dark hours and lift moods, because in music there is no conflict.’
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