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Scott Ryan Johnson - Harpsichord, Piano & Composition - (818) 839-BACH
Juilliard, Columbia University & Paris Conservatory Tradition

 

Artist's Bio

 

Scott studied music performance, theory and composition in New York at The Juilliard School and Columbia University and studied privately on harpsichord, piano, composition and organ with Anthony Newman, Trevor Pinnock and Sophia Rosoff.  Scott peripatetically undertook additional early music studies with Ton Koopman, Christopher Hogwood, and Colin Tilney. In addition to teaching privately, Scott has performed in Los Angeles as a soloist and as a chamber musician at with a variety of local and international early music concert artists.  During LACMA's "Sundays Live" concert series as part of Musica Angelica's Baroque Festival and Worskhop:  Scott has performed with Ilia Korol , concertmaster and founder of Europe's acclaimed Moderntimes 1800 ensemble along with one of the world first baroque violinists Stanley Ritchie joined by international conductor and baroque cellist Balázs Máté at UCLA Popper Auditorium.  Also in recent years, Scott also appeared as guest harpsichordist as with the Brentwood Symphony for a "Bach birthday concert", and performs as director and soloist of his own ensemble Hollywood Baroque, often in collaboration with the Western Lights Chamber Ensemble on modern instruments.  Since his return from NYC, Scott has played often house concerts with former president of the American Recorder Association, Lia Levin, and baroque violinist Sue Feldman.  Producing nearly three-dozen early and "common practice" CD's, Scott is sought after as a world-class producer/coach of both chamber and solo keyboard CDs.

Anthony Newman, international harpsichord, organ virtuoso, composer and scholar fully authorized Scott as a "Master Teacher" for Mr. Newman's book "Bach and The Baroque", and for Mr. Newman's sequence of books Compositional Process, based on the techniques of Arnold Schoenberg, Olivier Messiaen, and Heinrich Schenker, and Newman's lifetime of practical experience as an international virtuoso performer, composer, scholar, and teacher.

About Scott as a teacher and professional coach of over 3 dozen early music recordings, Mr. Newman writes "Sensitive to the artist, yet a servant to the music...Scott brings out the artists best"; and Eugenia Zuckerman, Celebrated Flutist says of Scott, "Scott has a unique sensitivity....and impeccable taste; it is always a pleasure to work with him." Emmy Award winning actor, Leslie Jordan, says of Scott "Scott is one the five people in the world that can play Johnny Bach on the Harpsichord.....and is one of the best piano and keyboard teachers to be found...his students rave about him...if you have ever wanted to study the piano or keyboard of any kind, run, not walk, to work with Scott! He is the kindest and best teacher in LA....and his students rightly adore him! Get him while you can, he's a busy busy guy!"

Scott is Harpsichordist-in-Residence for the Toccata Foundation, established by local renowned area master harpsichord builder and craftsman, Curtis Berak. 

Scott frequently performs with Mr. Berak, a renowned hurdy-gurdy specialist in numerous venues. While Scott is a passionate advocate of historical period instruments, being a creatively practical and flexible musician, he has developed The Virtual Clavier Project:. A project to bring early music to students where there is no means to have an actual harpsichord or fortepiano. And with the rarity of such actual period instruments, and good modern copies, with successful concerts while developing "The Virtual Clavier Project", he has demonstrated convincingly that successful study of the music of the past can be accomplished on any keyboard with the correct practice of technique and performance practice quite effectively....whether you have a harpsichord, piano, or electronic keyboard with gorgeous sampled period instruments.

Having meticulously researched numerous digital keyboards while developing The Virtual Clavier Project, Scott can offer expert advice on the best of the "digital keyboard" options - the Casio Previa for around $499 has the best responsive action (even compared with electronic keyboards three or four times the cost) and the software required to enable you to practice on a Virtual Harpsichord (as well as a Virtual 1802 Graf Fortepiano.

Often approached by students without a current instrument available for daily practice, only regular daily practice will ensure the best results.  Having an instrument where you live is indispensable.  No matter your "instrument of choice", the mechanics of a piano will facilitate the most rapid development of your skill! If a harpsichord is not available for rent through a few local resources, and if you don't have a piano already, Scott will help you to find a great piano rental from LA's best kept "piano store secret" - with rental uprights starting from $35/month and grand pianos also below the larger stores - Crenshaw Piano's in Burbank...ask for Dean!)

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An Overview about study with Scott, from Scott:
as one of the only teachers on the west coast who is trained by masters of both 
the Paris Conservatory and remarkable Abby Whiteside traditions

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, or returning to the piano later in life, my approach is based on supportive encouragement and individual tailoring to the student of any age, always encouraging a living connection to the music and active listening, creativity, and emotional expression. 

With over 20 years of advanced training and teaching experience in New York , I am very fortunate to have received extraordinary musical instruction directly from accomplished international performers who were direct students and teaching protégés of Alfred Cortot, Nadia Boulanger, and Abby Whiteside.

I also studied with major students and protégés of Heinrich Schenker and Arnold Schoenberg, whose understanding and insight into the principles of composition and the "musical logic" of the great composers were without equal - in order to best communicate the deepest experience, understanding, and joy of the music to students and listeners alike. 


Comments by Colleagues, Students, and Parents

"Scott is among a small fraction of musicians who have the uncanny ability to communicate musical structure and content in a meaningful, thoughtful way to an audience. As a producer and recording coach, he has been sought out by the best-known artists precisely because of his sensitivity and comprehension of the composer's intent; he is noted for his ability to bring out the artist's best performances. Scott is also a fine pianist and first-rate teacher."

Peter Brownlee 
Piano Faculty, Central Oregon Community College


"Scott immediately put me at ease. At my very first lesson, he gave me a piece to play that was at once challenging but also at a level that I could enjoy. I can't say enough about his patient, caring attitude. He has a true teacher's gift for inspiring you; he always works with you from where you are, while encouraging you to progress by giving you the tools you need to keep improving. I now play piano daily, after a thirty year gap, thanks to his gentle guidance. I recommend him without reservation, especially for anyone coming back to the piano, as I was. His enthusiasm is contagious. And his patience, unlike my own, always made me feel like there was improvement as long as I was willing to practice what he was teaching me."

Cathy Lind Hayes, Actress



"It is my pleasure to recommend Mr. Scott Johnson as an effective and patient music teacher. Mr. Johnson became my daughter’s music teacher two years ago. When I interviewed Mr. Johnson (Scott), I gave him in depth background on my daughter’s disability, Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD) that is part of the Autistic Spectrum. He cheerfully embraced the challenge of engaging my daughter in piano educational instruction.

"My daughter was eight years old when she began working with Scott learning at first the basic outline of the keyboard. Soon she was able to grasp reading music and learning to understand music theory. Finally, it was an incredible milestone to hear her play the music she was reading at the same time.

"Scott’s perseverance and music ability has translated into her playing songs and trying to sing along. I can’t thank Scott enough for teaching her that through consistently applying herself, the impossible is attainable.

"If you have any questions regarding my recommendation or would like to more know more about my daughter's challenges and success in music, please feel free to contact me at your convenience."

Amy DeBlaise

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