Louis Plaidy

• Name — Louis Plaidy • Born — 28 November 1810 • Birthplace — Hubertusburg, Saxony • Died — 3 March 1874 • Place of death — Grimma, Saxony • Occupation — Piano pedagogue • Notable Works — Technische Studien: für das Pianofortespiel

Born in Hubertusburg, Saxony, Plaidy initially focused on the violin, and toured as a concert violinist, but he later studied the piano, particularly the technical aspects of playing. Plaidy was renowned for his ability to impart technical skills to his students. In 1843, Felix Mendelssohn invited Plaidy to join the faculty of the Leipzig Conservatory to teach the piano. The Conservatory attracted many international students, including the original directors of the Oberlin Conservatory (founded in 1867 in Ohio, US), who went on to use Plaidy's piano methods. Plaidy was Edvard Grieg's first piano teacher at the Conservatory, although Grieg found Plaidy's style of teaching uninspiring. Plaidy remained at the Conservatory until 1865, when he went on to teach piano students privately. Plaidy published a book on piano pedagogy, Technische Studien für das Pianofortespiel, which was highly thought of and is still used today, and a pamphlet, Der Klavierlehrer, said to be of little worth. He died in Grimma, Saxony, aged 63.

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