Abstract:
Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler’s life is remarkable as few American women established themselves during the late 1800s and early 1900s as world-renowned concert pianists or artist-teachers. She was extraordinarily successful as both. As the first American student of the famous European pedagogue Theodore Leschetizky, Zeisler was the fundamental transmitter of his ideas to the United States. Like Leschetizky’s students, her students had to undergo rigorous technical training for months to develop strong fingers and relaxed wrists. Once the training was complete, students worked on repertoire during which Zeisler meticulously studied their unique abilities and worked to develop the highest level of musicality, discipline, self-reliance, individuality, and integrity. Additionally, Zeisler taught her students the importance of intellectual study and effective practice habits. Modeled after Leschetizky, Zeisler taught exclusively in a group class setting. She wrote much about her teaching ideas, which were equivalent to her master teacher’s, and she worked to promote the highest level of music study in the United States. Due to Zeisler’s exceptional talent, magnetic personality, and relentless devotion to music, she became a cultural ambassador for women in music. Although initially compared to male performers, her level of performance broke through early barriers separating men and women. This was an important step in helping American women virtuosos to become recognized as unique individuals worthy of the concert stage. Additionally, Zeisler became an advocate for women composers in the American public, writing about and performing their works on her concerts.
