Testimonials

"The work of Golden Key Music institute has changed my life as a musician. After earning a master's degree in piano performance from a major conservatory, I struggled for years with debilitating performance anxiety and frustration. This work has enabled me to recapture my earlier love and enthusiasm for music and performing, and to raise the level of my playing to an astonishing degree. It has provided an oasis for my musical struggles."

Timothy Mueller, pianist, graduate of Eastman School of Music

"Working with the approach of Golden Key Music Institute has been a remarkable process of restoring wholeness to my musicianship, technically and humanly. This approach, while deeply rooted in generosity and an open heart, is informed by Madeline Bruser's uncompromising research into the physical demands placed on musicians in general and pianists in particular. This work provides specific solutions to problems of technique, yet never loses sight of the precious goal of connecting to the truth of music. I have finally learned how to practice, how to relax, how to listen. I believe that what Golden Key has to offer is crucial for our time."

Susan Buffington, pianist and teacher

"The educational approach of Golden Key Music Institute has triggered a profound transformation in my musical career. The training that the institute provides has helped me to see clearly the physical, mental, and emotional landscape of being a musician in my practicing, performing, and teaching. This allows me to make intelligent decisions on how to progress in a healthy and fulfilling way, and how to cultivate the same path with my students. crucial for our time."

Tal Varon, saxophonist, graduate of the New School University

Faculty, Israel Conservatory

"This work is magical. I have better tone and a kind of clarity that is beyond anything I'd ever imagined. I didn't realize that I could still make this kind of transformation and progress."

Tang-Mei Shieh, pianist, graduate of Manhattan School of Music

"This work has been a career - and life - changing experience. After playing for years successfully in Broadway shows and having just completed a Masters in woodwinds, I felt that I had come to a professional and personal impasse. This approach helped to unlock physical, mental, and emotional barriers and has brought joy back to my performing."

Michel Gohler, Masters in Multiple Woodwinds, New Jersey City University

"I began working with the approach of Golden Key Music Institute after a performance-related injury. Almost immediately, my whole physical approach to the piano became lighter and freer, and I could play again without aggravating the injury. Even more importantly, my mental and emotional attitudes have improved—I have been enjoying practicing again."

Catherine Lionello, accompanist

"This work has been incredible in helping me reconnect to music in a healthy way. I feel light and free in performance again, the way I did as a child before fear of failure and desperate, excessive ambition drove my daily practice, causing physical injury as well as mental and spiritual pain. Through this work I have rediscovered music's natural ability to heal and my role as a performer to communicate and give. Thank you, Golden Key Institute, for reminding me of my own strength, and for giving me the joy of extending myself to others through music."

Marina Back, violinist and singer

“Doing the seven-minute technique before each performance quite honestly transformed my experience of performing. I actually found myself enjoying the moment, and feeling like I could lose my ego to some extent and just 'give' the music to the audience. It's just turned my way of thinking around about what performance is actually about. I'm also enjoying practicing as we did during the Skype session. It's quite addictive actually! It helped me to feel the music more and not just worry about technical issues.”

Felicity Corrie, cellist, London

“Practicing this way cuts to the core rather than working on the surface. I have much more ease in playing; tension is falling away."

Cathy Baerg, flutist, Faculty, Carleton University, Ottawa

“My confidence has soared."

Martha Brandt, pianist, Florida

“I played tremendously while practicing, with more energy and way less physical tension. . . The world needs this."

Roger Farwell, classical guitarist, Master of Music Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore