Saul Davis Zlatkovski
Lesson Feesfrom $65.00 / 30 Minutes
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About
My two main teachers are now legends, Lucile Lawrence, who was Mrs. Carlos Salzedo and his collaborator in all things musical, and Alice Chalifoux, one of his foremost pupils. Lawrence was the top harpist and teacher in New York City and Boston for many years. Chalifoux was the top harpist and teacher in Cleveland.
I studied previously with Lynne Aspnes, who is well-known as being Professor of Harp at University of Michigan and other schools.
I am an expert in harp repertoire, and am known as an expert on the music of Carlos Salzedo. I am also a composer and editor of harp music, with an extensive catalog in preparation for publication. I have been on hiatus from performing solo recitals and producing HarpMusicFest: The International Harp Festival of Philadelphia, to concentrate on my creative work and teaching. The festival featured such illustrious performers as Mariko Anraku, Joan Holland, Erica Goodman, Helen Gerhold and many others. I performed the opening recital and conducted a master class each year.
I studied harp at Macalester College, one of the top ten Liberal Arts colleges in the U.S., at Boston University's Tanglewood Institute Harp Seminar, the Salzedo Summer Harp Colony, and at Manhattan School of Music, where I received my master's degree. I continued private study with Miss Lawrence for several years afterward.
I have premiered works by major composers such as Alexander Tcherepnin, Robert Moran, Deniz Ulben, Joseph Hannon, and, Carlos Salzedo.
I performed on two radio programs, on Minnesota Public Radio, and New York Public Radio. My first three professional engagements in New York were at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. I have performed as orchestra soloist several times, in recital many times, and worked as a free-lance harpist in the tough market of New York City, and in Philadelphia. My music has been performed at national conferences of the American Harp Society, and at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where I also coached the harp students. I was a substitute teacher for Lucile Lawrence.
My students praise me as being "incredibly supportive." Another student said, "you saved me." Two of my recent students both received full scholarships at major conservatories on the East Coast.
My aim is to give you the tools you need to become a superb harpist and musician, and the knowledge of how to use the tools. My technical approach is one of ease of playing, consistency and economy of motion. Beyond that, we delve into the ways the fingers may be used expressively, and how to interpret the deep mysteries of music. The result is facility, speed, control, and beautiful tone quality. I am sensitive to injuries, and have developed my teaching to prevent and avoid them. I teach practice methods and performance skills. I teach interpretation and expression, creative programming, and careful program construction.
Harp Studies, MacPhail School of Music
B.A., Music, Macalester College
Harp Seminar, Boston University Tanglewood Institute
M.M., Harp, Manhattan School of Music
American Harp Society member
ASCAP member
Dramatists Guild member
Musical Fund Society member
I like to use Betty Paret's Harp Book I, the ABC of Harp Playing, the Method for the Harp, and the Art of Modulating by Lucile Lawrence and Carlos Salzedo. I also use Salzedo's Conditioning Exercises, and many of my own exercises. For those students who desire it, I teach the complete Salzedo Method. I also recommend reading the Harvard Dictionary of Music, as well as memorizing musical terms. I use a wide range of musical literature for my students, from many countries, from all periods of music.
I teach all levels of students, from beginners to advanced, to professional harpists and beyond.