“Piano Lessons” is a feature-length documentary which tells the story of the “underground hero”, German Diez Nieto, pianist and pedagogue, an under-discussed cultural hero of Western society, whose teaching touched and informed generations of musicians. The documentary tells the story of his compelling life, and in doing so, bears witness to the importance of Diez’s legacy: a tradition of music making passed down from Beethoven, through Czerny, Liszt and Arrau, directly to German.


German Diez Nieto dedicated his life to serve art and elevate the human spirit, as had Beethoven and Liszt before him. Following in his teacher’s footprints, he created a vast community of artists who surrounded him throughout their lives.

The story told in this documentary will be a journey exploring the relationship that exists between an artist and their mentor, and the value this personal relationship has in the process of artistic development, and life lessons.

Interviewed in the movie, among others, will be Erika Nickrenz, pianist and founder of the Eroica Trio, a multi Grammy-award nominated ensemble and winner of the prestigious Naumburg Award; Bennett Lerner, pianist and Steinway artist; Joan Tower, pianist, composer, conductor and multi Grammy-award winner; Victoria von Arx, pianist and musicologist, author of the Piano lessons with Claudio Arrau: a guide to his philosophy and techniques (Oxford Press); Jeni Slotchiver, pianist and writer.

Piano Lesson is directed and produced by Antogiulio Panizzi and produced by pianist Francesca Khalifa. The film has received an official endorsement by the American Liszt Society and Steinway & Sons New York City.