Taking the Scenic Route

I'm sure you've taken detours while traveling. Some required, like when a main road is closed, and others purely by choice, simply to enjoy the scenic route. Regardless of the reason, each detour changes your journey in some way. Sometimes, the detour even becomes the main road.

My own journey has been much like that. When I started piano lessons, I had no idea it would become my life’s work. I initially pursued computer science in college, thinking it would be my career path. But my low final grades made it clear that plan wouldn’t work out. What I believed to be my main road became a short-lived detour; and what began as a hobby (playing piano) became my true path.

Along the way, I’ve taken many other enriching detours: exploring harpsichord, pipe organ, piano tuning, and conducting. While pursuing my doctoral degree at Indiana University, my professor Evelyne Brancart inspired me to write my dissertation on piano technique. Later, my research on Brazilian music led to the release of my solo CD, Alma Brasileira [Brazilian Soul], and a year-long recital tour across 10 countries. More recently, I’ve taken up learning the harp.

Another significant detour began during my first sabbatical (2017), when I added a concert stop in Latvia—a country I had never visited before. That brief visit sparked a deep personal and artistic curiosity. Seven years later, it led to a second sabbatical during which I lived in Latvia for three months, immersing myself in the culture, music, and language of my ancestors.

Each of these detours has shaped me into the musician and teacher I am today, giving me the tools to adapt, connect, and respond to the needs of my students.

Each of my students is also on a path: sometimes straight, often winding. I feel honored to walk alongside them, helping them discover their passions, explore new directions, and engage with the piano from multiple perspectives. Whether we’re diving deep into piano technique, exploring Brazilian and Latvian repertoire, or working on artistic interpretation, my goal is to equip every student with the tools to grow into a well-rounded musician, wherever their path may lead.

Dr. Paulo Steinberg has enjoyed an active career as a soloist and collaborative pianist across the United States, Canada, South America, and Europe. He has performed in prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Theatro Municipal de São Paulo. A frequent adjudicator, master class clinician, and guest lecturer, Dr. Steinberg is deeply engaged in artistic and educational projects around the world. His summer work includes teaching at the Saarburg Chamber Music Summer Festival and pursuing performance and research projects in Europe, Brazil, and Canada.

Dr. Steinberg holds degrees in Piano Performance from Conservatório "Carlos Gomes" and Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil, as well as graduate degrees from Arizona State University (M.M.) and Indiana University (D.M.). His principal teachers include Carlos Yansen, Paulo Gori, Gilberto Tinetti, and Evelyne Brancart.

He currently serves as President of the Harrisonburg Music Teachers Association and Chair of Music in Every Home, a program that provides scholarships for underrepresented piano and guitar students. He has also held past leadership positions, including President of the Virginia Music Teachers Association.

Dr. Steinberg’s discography includes The Recital Clarinetist (with Dr. Janice Minor), Duos (with Dr. Šarūnas Jankauskas), Time, Place, Spirit (with Dr. Beth Chandler Cahill), and Alma Brasileira, which was featured in the Brazilian film As Cadeiras.