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BlueRidgeNow.com, NC
June 17 2007
Music and art combine at new studio
By Lindsay Lancaster
Times-News Staff Writer
FLAT ROCK -- A world-class piano teacher and player offers piano
lessons, art and culture right here in Flat Rock.
Zaven's Music and Fine Art Gallery, located at the Singleton Centre
in Flat Rock, has a teacher with a long list of credentials.
Listed as a world-renowned artist by the Academy of Muse, which the
Daily Princetonian describes as a think tank non-profit organization
for advancing art and philanthropy, Zaven Parsamyan has also been a
judge at the International Music Tournament.
He has students come from as far away as Europe to take lessons from
him.
A native of Armenia, Parsamyan earned his bachelor's degree in piano
performance from the Tchaikovsky Special Music School in Armenia and
his master of arts in music from Komitas State Conservatory in
Armenia, with his first major in piano concert performance and his
second major in piano music education.
His experience includes a series of recitals, both solo and with
orchestras, while teaching expansively in Armenia, Russia, Europe and
the United States. Parsamyan can't name a favorite piece of music, or
even a favorite composer because he likes so many of both.
In mid-May, the studio featured a piano concert with two of
Parsamyan's students at Zaven's Music and Fine Art Gallery. Although
he doesn't have any recitals set right now, plans to schedule the
next is in the works.
The studio opened at the end of March. Parsamyan, who also teaches in
his Asheville home studio, is now accepting students as young as 6 to
adults.
"I'm teaching all levels," Parsamyan says. However, he stresses that,
"Students have to be dedicated."
Typically students have a lesson once or twice per week.
Discussing Sergei Rachmaninoff's ideas, he says it's important for
students to have a good foundation with playing piano. Parsamyan
stresses it's the wrong way to look at it to think starting children
off with a lower-level piano teacher is a good idea because they can
take lessons from someone better when they get older.
"In the beginning, it's very important to have high-level teachers,"
Parsamyan says. "Education in general... is the foundation of human
culture -- the most important thing for future development of
humanity," Parsamyan says. The culture of education raises the
quality of life.
Parsamyan consults with each protégé and his or her parents to
discuss their goals and expectations. Several of his students have
received awards at the state, national and international competition
levels, and one of his students debuted at 16 years old at Carnegie
Hall.
Classical music is of the utmost value, in Parsamyan's opinion, and
these days pop music is taking over. Classical music is still
inspiring and still being played so many years after the composers'
deaths, whereas that isn't so much the case with popular music. There
is just no comparison, to Parsamyan. His interest in the arts is not
limited to the piano.
Parsamyan's gallery features about 10 to 12 different artists' works
on display that ranges from traditional landscapes to modern
abstracts, some created by American artists and others imported.
"I have everything for different tastes," Parsamyan says.
He has been fond of art his whole life, and all of the art in the
gallery suits what he likes.
June 17 2007
Music and art combine at new studio
By Lindsay Lancaster
Times-News Staff Writer
FLAT ROCK -- A world-class piano teacher and player offers piano
lessons, art and culture right here in Flat Rock.
Zaven's Music and Fine Art Gallery, located at the Singleton Centre
in Flat Rock, has a teacher with a long list of credentials.
Listed as a world-renowned artist by the Academy of Muse, which the
Daily Princetonian describes as a think tank non-profit organization
for advancing art and philanthropy, Zaven Parsamyan has also been a
judge at the International Music Tournament.
He has students come from as far away as Europe to take lessons from
him.
A native of Armenia, Parsamyan earned his bachelor's degree in piano
performance from the Tchaikovsky Special Music School in Armenia and
his master of arts in music from Komitas State Conservatory in
Armenia, with his first major in piano concert performance and his
second major in piano music education.
His experience includes a series of recitals, both solo and with
orchestras, while teaching expansively in Armenia, Russia, Europe and
the United States. Parsamyan can't name a favorite piece of music, or
even a favorite composer because he likes so many of both.
In mid-May, the studio featured a piano concert with two of
Parsamyan's students at Zaven's Music and Fine Art Gallery. Although
he doesn't have any recitals set right now, plans to schedule the
next is in the works.
The studio opened at the end of March. Parsamyan, who also teaches in
his Asheville home studio, is now accepting students as young as 6 to
adults.
"I'm teaching all levels," Parsamyan says. However, he stresses that,
"Students have to be dedicated."
Typically students have a lesson once or twice per week.
Discussing Sergei Rachmaninoff's ideas, he says it's important for
students to have a good foundation with playing piano. Parsamyan
stresses it's the wrong way to look at it to think starting children
off with a lower-level piano teacher is a good idea because they can
take lessons from someone better when they get older.
"In the beginning, it's very important to have high-level teachers,"
Parsamyan says. "Education in general... is the foundation of human
culture -- the most important thing for future development of
humanity," Parsamyan says. The culture of education raises the
quality of life.
Parsamyan consults with each protégé and his or her parents to
discuss their goals and expectations. Several of his students have
received awards at the state, national and international competition
levels, and one of his students debuted at 16 years old at Carnegie
Hall.
Classical music is of the utmost value, in Parsamyan's opinion, and
these days pop music is taking over. Classical music is still
inspiring and still being played so many years after the composers'
deaths, whereas that isn't so much the case with popular music. There
is just no comparison, to Parsamyan. His interest in the arts is not
limited to the piano.
Parsamyan's gallery features about 10 to 12 different artists' works
on display that ranges from traditional landscapes to modern
abstracts, some created by American artists and others imported.
"I have everything for different tastes," Parsamyan says.
He has been fond of art his whole life, and all of the art in the
gallery suits what he likes.