Located in the beautiful and historic Fine Arts Building on the Magnificent Mile, Pianokeys Academy is a gorgeous, resonant space for piano lessons, studio classes, masterclasses, and intimate recitals. The beautiful Weinbach concert grand piano is kept in pristine condition year round. This space is available for rent for rehearsals, teaching, practice, and more, for inquiries click the contact link at the bottom of the page to get in touch.
Technique Seminar and Masterclass
Reinhardt University, Waleska, GA
Injury Prevention Workshop
Twin Lake, MI
Technique Seminar and Masterclass
Chicago, IL
Lecture: "Strategies for Preventing Common Playing Injuries"
Knoxville, TN
Presentation: "Arm Impulses: 3 Approaches"
Eastern Illinois University
Masterclass with Dr. Michael Finlay"
Fulton Hall: University of Chicago, Chicago IL
Lecture: "Avoiding Common Injuries at the Piano"
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Presentation: "Using Arm Impulses to Develop Technique in Intermediate Students"
Ryan Center for the Arts: Northwestern University
Michael Finlay is an acclaimed solo pianist and chamber musician, based in Chicago. Dedicated to mentoring the next generation of emerging pianists, he is well-known for his contributions in the realm of piano technique and injury prevention. He has spent decades studying anatomy and biomechanics and regularly tours the country giving lectures and masterclasses on the art and science of piano technique. Recent lecture topics have included “Forearm Anatomy for pianists,” “Practicing with Arm Impulses: 3 Approaches,” and “Comparing the Taubman, Russian, and Durand approaches to piano technique.” This season, he has been invited to present at Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Chapman University, Northeastern Illinois University, and Elmhurst University.
Current performing projects include a video recording of the complete Beethoven violin sonata cycle with Denver- based violinist Byron Hitchcock and an all-Chopin album featuring the second and third piano sonatas and assorted shorter works, for release in 2023. He maintains an active performing schedule with recent performances in Italy, Austin, San Antonio, Montreal, Toronto, Denver, and Atlanta. His performances have been broadcast on classical radio stations in Chicago, Austin, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Montreal. An avid chamber musician, Finlay has performed with members of the Cleveland, Chicago, and Montreal Symphony orchestras as well as with members of the Catalyst, Kontras, and Koerner quartets. His recent concert on the Dame Myra Hess series with cellist Jean Hatmaker was hailed as “sensitive, commanding” by WFMT, Chicago classical radio station.
Finlay began his piano studies at the age of seven with Kathryn Mishell in Austin, TX. He left home at the age of 15 to study at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy on a full scholarship. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he worked with Paul Schenly, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and Kathryn Brown; a Master’s from the Peabody Conservatory, where he studied with Yong Hi Moon; and a Doctorate from the University of Montreal, where he studied with Marc Durand.