# 094 - The Curious Mind of Pianist Josef Hofmann

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/field-notes-on-music-teaching-learning-265376/094-the-curious-mind-of-pianist-josef-hofmann
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/field-notes-on-music-teaching-learning-265376/094-the-curious-mind-of-pianist-josef-hofmann.md
Podcast: [Field Notes on Music Teaching & Learning](https://stenobird.com/podcast/field-notes-on-music-teaching-learning-265376)
Published: 2026-04-15T11:00:34+00:00
Episode link: https://www.ashleydanyew.com/episodes/094
Audio file: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/585c710603596e2c47dad93e/t/69de908c88a8f410745508d1/1778510406475/Ep.+094+-+The+Curious+Mind+of+Pianist+Josef+Hofmann.mp3
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Duration seconds: 799

## Resource

What does it look like to be a musician who is also an inventor—someone whose curiosity about how things work shapes the way he approaches his instrument? Pianist Josef Hofmann spent his entire career exploring that, and his story is worth knowing. This year marks the 150th anniversary of Hofmann's birth. He was a Polish-American pianist, born in 1876, and considered by many—including Sergei Rachmaninoff—to be the greatest pianist of the 20th century. And yet, despite his many musical achievements, including a fifty-year performing career, 100 compositions, commercial recordings, a signature tone, and enviable technical precision, he doesn't have the same name recognition as his contemporaries. What do we know about him? What set him apart? And what can we learn from him as musicians and teachers today, over a century later? In this episode, I’m sharing some of my research into Hofmann’s life, career, and contributions to our field. For show notes + a full transcript, click here . Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: Some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Piano Playing, with Piano Questions Answered (Josef Hofmann) Originals (Adam Grant) Learn Faster, Perform Better (Molly Gebrian) Ep. 089 - The Science of Practicing: What I’m Learning From Molly Gebrian’s Book Josef Hofmann (Mahler Foundation) Josef Hofmann, the Pianist Inventor (Piano Street) Josef Hofmann (Steinway & Sons) Twice The Genius: The Music & Inventions of Józef Hofmann (Culture.pl) Hofmann plays Berceuse (Chopin), 1938 Hofmann plays Waldstein Sonata (Beethoven), 1938 If you enjoyed thi…

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