Mary Moran graduated cum laude from the Crane School of Music. In her early career, she taught for the Yamaha Music School and was on the adjunct faculties of Russell Sage College and Hudson Valley Community College teaching applied piano, music appreciation, and arranging.
Mary initially encountered the Taubman Approach when attending the first Taubman Institute in 1976. Immediately intrigued by what she learned, she began private studies in the Taubman Approach, working with Robert Mumper and Dorothy Taubman. Since 1980, she has worked primarily with Edna Golandsky.
Mary was a faculty member of the former Taubman Institute of Piano until 2002. In 2003, she co-founded the Golandsky Institute with Edna Golandsky, John Bloomfield, and Robert Durso, where she continues to serve as a senior director and master teacher.
Children’s Pedagogy
Mary has been recognized for her application of the Taubman Approach to children’s pedagogy. When studying with Dorothy Taubman, Mary gained insight into Taubman’s work with young students. Many of these insights, combined with knowledge gained through her work with Edna Golandsky, were then captured in Mary’s book, Basic Alignment and Rotation. Written in 2008,this book has brought the Taubman Approach to teachers and students worldwide.
In her pedagogy work, Mary has recorded videos that discuss how to incorporate the Taubman Approach into a curriculum for children. These videos offer practical advice for teachers and cover concepts that include structuring lesson time, working with parents, and teaching technical and musical concepts.
Teacher Training
Mary regularly speaks at teacher training sessions sponsored by the Golandsky Institute. She also mentors teachers throughout the US, Canada, and in Hong Kong, many of whom are participating in the Golandsky Institute’s Professional Training Program.
She has released videos explaining the technical requirements of many popular and beloved pieces in the piano repertoire. Accompanied by musical scores with fingerings and other technical indications, these videos are available through the Streaming Service of the Golandsky Institute. Popular titles include Fantasie-Impromptu by Chopin, Sonata No.8 in C minor, “Pathetique” by Beethoven, Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin, Invention No.6 in E Major by JS Bach, and Rhapsodie in G Minor by Brahms.
Private Studio
Mary maintains a flourishing private studio in her home, working with students of all ages and levels, from young beginners to professional pianists, pedagogues, and professors. She teaches both in person and online, and currently works with students from all over the US, Canada, Asia, and Europe.
One of her biggest thrills is helping her students of any age and level grow as pianists and reach their musical and technical goals. Many of her young students, trained in the Taubman Approach from their first lesson, have progressed to become prize winners in local Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky competitions.
Lectures and Masterclasses
Presently, Mary frequently lectures and gives master classes (in person and online) about the Taubman Approach at conferences in Australia, Canada, and throughout the US.
She teaches and presents at the annual Golandsky Institute Summer Symposium and at workshops sponsored by the Institute.
In 2014 the Montreal Workshop on the Taubman Approach was established by Mariko Sato. Mary has been the primary teacher and lecturer at this annual event.
She also presents lectures and masterclasses each November at the Berkeley Seminar on the Taubman Approach in California, where her Pedagogy Workshops are highly attended.
Mary performs frequently as a piano soloist and as a collaborative pianist.