Josef Proksch


Josef Proksch or Joseph Proksch was a Bohemian-German pianist and composer. His daughter, Marie Proksch, was also a well-known pianist and composer.

Biography

Proksch, who became blind at the age of 13, was a pupil of Jan Antonín Koželuh. In 1830, Proksch opened the Musikbildungsanstalt in Prague. His teaching method of having several students play simultaneously during piano lessons was continued for over a hundred years. His most famous student was Bedřich Smetana, whom Prosch taught piano and music theory from 1843 to 1847.

Selected works

Besides pedagogical works for piano, Proksch wrote a concerto for three pianos, piano sonatas, masses, and cantatas, and adapted numerous orchestral works to four to eight pianos for use in his lessons.