Piano Studio (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Dr. Armstrong is on the Piano Faculty at the University of Toronto, and formerly served as an Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Arkansas (an All-Steinway school), where he taught piano, piano literature, chamber music, and piano masterclass.  Asher also maintains a private studio of advanced piano students at his home in Toronto.  A student of the late Romanian concert pianist Marietta Orlov, Asher has also worked with many leading pedagogues in North America.  Technical development and musical artistry/intelligence are cornerstones of Asher’s teaching philosophy.  This internalization of a time-honored European tradition of technique may be explored in his peer-reviewed publications on piano technique (essays on the principal of grounding in advanced piano repertoire [2019 American Music Teacher], finger independence [2021 AMT], the application of drills in Advanced Repertoire [2022 AMT], among others).  Asher is proud of the achievements of his students, some of whom have begun or completed degree programs at conservatories and universities in North America and Europe (Eastman, NEC, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music), and many of whom are competition prizewinners. 

Student Performance Reel

Testimonials

“Asher was my instructor during the two years I studied piano at the University of Toronto while pursuing my composition degree and working toward a diploma in piano performance with the Royal Conservatory of Music. Under his targeted, nuanced guidance, I found myself able to develop—in a matter of months—technical mastery over pieces I had previously struggled with for years. Asher has a knack for breaking down the challenges of the most intimidating passages into simple, logical, and effective exercises that brought out a level of performance ability in me I didn’t know I was capable of. His incisive and deeply informed observations on style and interpretation helped bring meaning to every step of the journey from the practice room to the recital hall; they have become a part of my art as a musician.” – Benjamin

“Asher is an extremely competent, passionate, and attentive pedagogue who helped me improve my piano performance substantially throughout my university career. His knowledge of both standard and esoteric piano repertoire is extremely extensive, and he is an expert at matching music to a student’s technical needs and tastes while maintaining an emphasis on pushing boundaries. Asher was quick to identify the pitfalls in my playing, and provided me with the tools, techniques, and professional oversight required to take my pianistic skill further than I could have ever imagined. His enthusiasm, compassion, and skill are second to none!” – Maksym

“My experience with Asher has significantly improved my piano technique. Asher’s technical expertise helped me work through many tough and virtuosic pianistic challenges, and I use his methods to this day to get through difficult passages. Any question I had, he had an answer. He was always very knowledgeable about the music at hand, and he was able to show me how to achieve stylistic nuances with any genre. Asher constantly encourages his students to explore new music, and knows a wealth of repertoire to point each individual in the right direction.” -Michael

“I loved working with Asher. He helped me to expand my repertoire and taught me how to listen carefully to my own playing. He also introduced me to a whole range of practice techniques—practical ways of approaching problems of finger-work, voicing, rhythm, memorization, and performance—that made me much more confident about learning new material and playing what I know for others.” -Jeremy

“Asher took over leadership of a Performance Master Class I was in at the University of Toronto in 2019 when our professor fell ill.  I was very impressed with his teaching and with the Brahms recital he played, and asked if I could take private lessons from him, which I did for the rest of his time in Toronto. I found Asher to be a wonderful teacher- encouraging, totally interested in the repertoire I was playing, and knowledgeable about how to help me with the technique and musical problems in challenging works such as Chopin's G Minor Ballade, which I was learning at the time. I am still working on some of the pieces I did with Asher and when I'm practicing I remember valuable suggestions he made. I have studied piano with many teachers and Asher is at the top. I highly recommend him.” – Grant

 “Having studied with Asher through all four years of my undergraduate degree, I can confidently say I am not only a better pianist, but a better all-round musician. Under his tutelage, one receives a strong grounding in technique, a vivid and imaginative approach to musicality, numerous highly intelligent drills that target issues specifically and cleanly, and detailed, step-by-step guides to mastering all forms of repertoire. He has made me think of music and performance in ways I never imagined possible - in particular, I developed a keen ability to problem-solve and use mindful, targeted practicing to take my performance to the next level. Asher’s inspiring approach to music and his warm, empathetic demeanour made my years of piano under him extremely enjoyable and any student would be lucky to learn from him.” – Shreya

“Asher connects people to music and one another with consummate expertise, taste, generosity, respect and joy. His instruction is always engaging, inspiring and comprehensive. Asher’s studio is a lovely space and it is a pleasure to study with him.” -Teresa

“I began my lessons with Asher as a self taught intermediate level pianist. Asher was able to address the weaknesses and bad habits in my technique to move me forward to advanced repertoire. Additionally, he has helped enliven my practice sessions by encouraging me to think creatively which has built momentum in my practice.” – Nicholas

“Asher is a passionate teacher who enthusiastically shares his encyclopedic knowledge with his students. I’m a much more expressive pianist thanks to his straightforward explanations and effective drills. He regularly goes beyond the RCM curriculum to provide me with fun technique exercises, new ways to interpret pieces and entertaining novelties (like that time Beethoven invented ragtime). Studying with Asher is like exploring a musical paradise with an informed, exuberant guide.” – Sarah

“Professor Armstrong's dedicated guidance and instruction in each lesson has helped me immensely in honing my technical and stylistic skills.  His emphasis on drills pertaining to specific musical passages and finger efficiency provides opportunities for the development of effective practice strategies, musicality, and adept hand movement for the advanced student.  Professor Armstrong's insight and attention to detail regarding stylistic features from different periods created interpretive liberties in finding and developing my own voice and style while staying true to the genre's performative elements.  I'm incredibly grateful for his always constructive and instrumental instruction, and for being such a big part of my musical journey.” – Emily

 “Asher Armstrong is a passionate and engaging teacher who shares his knowledge and love of music with great integrity. He encourages his students to explore a wide range of repertoire, inspiring students to develop their unique voice. Asher's great technical prowess makes his demonstrations easy to understand and his sense of humor ensures lessons are enjoyable. Studying with Asher has enabled me to succeed in concerts and competitions.” – Otto

“Dr. Armstrong is an excellent teacher who is very detailed and teaches students how to perfect their technique. He uses many piano exercises to help students improve and work towards their goal. He also teaches students many tips and tricks on how to practise and improve. Overall Dr. Armstrong is a patient and wonderful teacher who cares about his students and strives to help them reach their goals!” – Catherine

 “The drills that Asher came up with specific to the technical challenges of the pieces were really helpful in overcoming them. I also like the way Asher made me approach the pieces with a nuanced interpretation, using legato, attention to detail, and a vocal playing style. He always made the learning process fun, and asked me questions so I could think about the piece more deeply!” – Peter

“Through my two-year-long experience with Dr. Armstrong, my level of piano performance increased greatly as my passion for music grew so much. He was a thoughtful and experienced teacher who can point out my weaknesses and give me specific advice on how to improve them. He did not only fix my wrong notes but also shaped good learning habits. Many of his practice tips have been incredibly useful to me. For advanced students, he was always there to discuss the history behind pieces and the feelings that composers expressed through their music. He taught me how to convey them by illustrating emotions with metaphors related to life and giving visualizations of what the music attempted to paint. I became more capable of performing and practicing under his kind mentorship. It is a truly great journey that I am convinced every piano student would love.” – Tianyu