"The entire recital was magical ... I was captivated by his artistry." —Sam Hsu
As a performer, John desires to convey the warmth and beauty of the piano to his listeners. His affection for tonal colours is apparent in his pianism and in his own compositions—his music is enchanting, taking his listeners to another place.
"John ... drew the audience inward, toward the music, with a rare kind of aural magnetism ... the musical sounds themselves took an unadulterated preeminence." —Erikson Rojas
John began playing and improvising on the piano at the age of three. He has studied with pianists Abbey Simon, Douglas Finch and Robert Marler, and has participated in masterclasses by Martino Tirimo. He studied composition and theory with Dr. Daniel Barta and Dr. William Pursell. John has performed as a soloist internationally and was a finalist in the Alfred Kichen Chopin Competition. He is a Fellow of the Royal Schools of Music and received the Master of Music degree as a scholarship student at the Trinity College of Music in London, UK.
"John’s artistry has been an inspiration to me ... He is a composer whose works exhibit craft, wit, charm, and beauty of sound. He is his own piano technician ... and he also happens to be an extraordinarily fine pianist." —David Curtin, Steinway Artist
Audio
1) J. Silva, Piece
An original composition, in sonata form. This piece demonstrates John’s colourful use of harmony. Recorded Dec 2011, ©2001, for Becki
2) L. Beethoven, Piano Sonata Op. 110, movement 3 (excerpt)
A profoundly beautiful sonata with a powerful ending. Recorded May 2009, LHU
Video
1) L. Beethoven, Piano Sonata Op. 57, “Appassionata”, movement 1
A popular and exciting Beethoven sonata, full of passion! Recorded live May 2008, Holley Hall
All recordings are © J. Silva and are for private use only!
John believes that a casual and encouraging, but challenging, environment is the most productive for his piano students. His approach to teaching is personal and individual, and he intuitively teaches for the needs of each student.
John teaches students of all levels for classical piano, ear training or composition. He is able to meet the needs of:
- Students preparing for auditions.
- The casual pianist looking to further their enjoyment.
- A new student wanting to get started playing the piano.
- Advanced musicians looking to further their own studies.
“John goes above and beyond other teachers, instructing with practical wisdom and a desire to draw out the music hidden within you.”
Bethany Howarth, B.A., BH Piano Studio
“John guided me to find the nuances of the music as they related to the composer’s intent and my own style of playing. He helped me merge the two in countless creative and exciting ways, giving equal attention to style and technique.”
Emily Andrews
“...the way John teaches is amazing ... I would have never been able to picture myself where I am now.”
Caitlin Osborn
