Lyric DuoGail Berenson

Gail Berenson, Ohio University Professor Emerita of Piano, is a dedicated teacher, performer, author and noted expert on musician wellness issues. She is the recipient of Ohio University’s 2002 School of Music’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the School of Music’s 2016 Distinguished Service Award.

A powerful advocate on musicians’ health issues, she has served as a pioneer, initiating many musicians’ health committees. A bit of personal information relating how this all began:

“I was out on a daily run when I tripped and injured my knee. I had the benefit of a skilled physical therapist to help in my recovery, and by coincidence, we started discussing the similarities between musicians preparing to perform and athletes preparing for competitions.  We even began giving presentations together around the state, beginning of my direct involvement in musicians’ health.

Wanting to expand my knowledge, I attended the first Medical Problems of the Performing Artist gathering held at the Cleveland Clinic in 1988. It was there that I met Linda Cockey and we became good friends. I also attended “An Ounce of Prevention” in Cincinnati, a pioneering workshop in 1990 hosted by MTNA. The renowned guest presenters included: Dr. Richard Lederman, Dr. Robert Sataloff and Dr. Alice Brandfonbrener.  In 1991 I returned to Northwestern University to take a summer music medicine course taught by Dr. Brandfonbrener.

Asked by Richard Chronister in 1988 to establish a “wellness committee” within the National Conference on Piano Pedagogy, the “Committee on the Prevention of Medical Problems” convened for the first time in 1989.  I was thrilled to take on the challenge of putting together a group of musicians’ health pioneers at a time when essentially no other such groups existed.  It evolved into the NCKP Piano Pedagogy Wellness Committee.“

Recognizing the importance of making musicians’ health a part of every student’s curriculum, she initiated a wellness class: “Performance Preparation” which became a part of the Ohio University curriculum in 1990.

She also established and chaired:

After becoming MTNA President in 2007, a national association of 22,000 members, with MTNA’s encouragement, she and Brenda Wristen initiated a series of wellness articles in the American Music Teacher’s journal and in 2014, she began chairing an ongoing MTNA Wellness Track that is part of MTNA’s Pedagogy Saturday.

After moving to Florida in 2016, she her friend and colleague, Charles Turon, became co-chairs of the Florida Music Teachers Association’s Wellness Committee in 2017.

Gail has been fortunate to have her work recognized by several associations:

Gail Berenson continues to be an active and passionate collaborative pianist and has performed and lectured in over thirty states and in eleven countries. Her students are performing and teaching in independent studios and on college faculties throughout the world.

Ms. Berenson is one of the co-authors of “A Symposium for Pianists and Teachers: Strategies to Develop Mind and Body for Optimal Performance” (2002) and has authored three chapters for the fourth edition of the Lyke, Haydon, Rollin book, “Creative Piano Teaching”.

Most recently, she and Linda Cockey and Charles Turon co-authored “Health, Wellness, and Wholeness in the Music Studio”, the first book to be published by Music Teachers National Association. Now, the three of us, all pioneers in musicians’ health, are traveling the world giving presentations about the important topics included in this book. We hope it is beneficial to our readers and to your students. It is a book that encompasses information for all on a wide range of wellness-related topics, regardless of age or instrument. It is available through amazon.com.

MTNA 2025 National Conference in Minneapolis

The above photo was taken at the MTNA 2025 National Conference in Minneapolis, MN at the book release. Present were the three authors (Linda, Charles and me) and the President of MTNA, Dr. Gary Ingle (currently the former MTNA President).

In 2016, newly retired from Ohio University, Gail moved to Sarasota, Florida, a true “cultural mecca”. She was warmly welcomed and invited to join the Board of the Sarasota Concert Association, a position she has held for ten years. SCA is a non-profit association that has been bringing in major artists and orchestras from all over the world to Sarasota, now in its 83rd season. Since her arrival, Gail has also co-chaired the SCA’s Music Matinee programs, putting together an annual series of programs available to the public at no cost.

She became active in the Florida Music Teachers Association and was appointed to the position of co-chair of the FSMTA Musicians’ Health Committee with Charles Turon.
She and Charles also co-chaired the 2021 state conference, which was postponed to a 2022 online conference due to the Covid epidemic. She has presented at several state conferences, the most recent being in 2025.

Brown Sincoff frequently performed with Professor Emerita, Gail Berenson (piano), as founding members of the Lyric Duo.

on the road again

She remains an active performer and lecturer. Recent presentations include:


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