Diana Cobb
As a Piano Performance graduate of the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, New York, Diana had the privilege of studying with the renowned Earl Wild, one of the last great virtuosos of the grand Romantic tradition, and Jose Echaniz, a Cuban-born child prodigy and one of the foremost interpreters of Spanish piano music. While at Eastman, she also had the unique opportunity to study jazz with the legendary Chuck Mangione and accompanying with Brooks Smith, the most sought-after collaborative pianist of his century, perhaps most well known for his work with Jascha Heifetz. After graduating Eastman, Diana was appointed improvisational pianist for a dance troupe at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. After returning to her hometown of Boston, she continued her jazz studies with Jerry Bergonzi, a member of the Dave Brubeck quartet, and a professor at the New England Conservatory of Music.
At the "late" age of 45, Diana was inspired to learn the harp and made it her personal goal to play professionally within 5 years, at which time she became the Principal Harpist for both the Cambridge Symphony and the Newton Symphony, in the Boston area. This experience made her especially sensitive to the needs and challenges of the adult learner.
Diana holds a teaching certificate from Boston University and has had many years of instructing adults and children, designing her own methods and programs of study, tailored always to the individual. She has also taught piano to blind students, learning Braille along the way. Diana believes music should be fun for everyone and that life is too short to worry about wrong notes!
New Horizons Music International, the non-profit parent organization of Piano Fusion, is our mentor and inspiration. Please visit their website to learn all about them.
"PIANO FUSION" is the brainchild of Diana Cobb, her theory being that there are many lonely pianists out there! Piano is the most complete of all the instruments, both intellectually and musically. Therein lies the problem: Pianists don't really need anyone else to enjoy playing. Bands and orchestras are certainly not inviting us to join their happy groups. So ... enter "Piano Fusion". Of course, we can't easily assemble multiple baby grand pianos, but with the vast array of electronic keyboards, we can duplicate the sound. Since there are so many ways to divide up and arrange piano music, it is possible to meld different levels of playing and musicianship (beginner to professional). Also ... we do not have to worry about intonation, since electronic keyboards are always in tune!
