Johnny Shaw

Johnny Shaw is a pianist, teacher, and doctoral student originally from rural Western New York. He began his musical journey in jazz and rock, but a childhood encounter with Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in multiple cartoons sparked a lifelong passion for classical music. This early inspiration continues to fuel both his performance and his teaching.

Johnny holds a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from SUNY Fredonia and a Master's degree from Florida State University. He is currently completing his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Maryland, where he also taught undergraduate group and applied piano for four years. He has taught students of all ages and experience levels both privately and through music academies.

His teaching is grounded in the belief that music is both a refuge and a source of deep joy. He aims to help students build a personal connection to the piano while developing technical skill, musicianship, and expressive confidence. His students are encouraged to explore their own artistry while developing a strong foundation in classical repertoire and musicianship.

His current projects include an album titled Water in the Piano, a lecture-recital series, and a dissertation examining the evolving perception of the piano through repertoire depicting water from the late 17th century to present.