The Prima Vista Lab Training Program

A 14-week online training program, grounded in sight-reading research and delivered through personalized instruction and the Piano Marvel platform. Two tracks: Foundation (beginner to intermediate) and Advanced (teachers, advanced students, working professionals).

Directed by pianist and educator David Córdoba-Hernández, DMA, Visiting Assistant Professor at Millsaps College, with research oversight from Dr. Ricardo Fuentes-Saavedra, MD, Performing Arts Medicine Specialist.

$500 for the full 14-week program 
Applications close on August 19
Course begins the week of August 31, 2026.

[Apply→] https://forms.gle/Vaka5AJ4BLtAaUX76
Details on the application process are below.

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What's included

• Live online coaching — biweekly sessions alternating between individual coaching and group work, beginning with a one-on-one interview and a personalized plan built around your assessment. 
• Four expert sessions, open to both tracks: the science of sight-reading with Dr. Córdoba-Hernández, emotional regulation under pressure with psychologist Francisca Fernández, injury prevention for pianists with Dr. Ricardo Fuentes, MD, and a live conversation with Dr. Bryan Chuan, holder of the highest SASR score on record (recorded in 2023, score 1877).
• Piano Marvel premium subscription for the full 14 weeks, included in the price.
• Study materials  — a handout for each stage of the program (The Plunge, The Dive, The Swim) translating sight-reading science into practical terms, plus practice sheets that guide what you actually do at the piano.
• One-on-one technical onboarding — a setup session to configure your instrument, your platforms, and your devices.

Both tracks share the same workshops. The difference is how your coaching is structured. 

Program Calendar

Which track you're in: Your placement is based on your SASR score, Piano Marvel's Standard Assesment of Sight Reading.

• Foundation — SASR up to 600
• Advanced — SASR 600 and above

Not sure of your score? Get an estimate, or take the full assessment at Piano Marvel (login required, free test). 

Rescheduling: You may reschedule an individual session up to two times per semester (subject to teacher availability). If you need to reschedule a lesson, you will need to give at least 24 hours of advanced notice. Specific session times are arranged after you apply and before payment. 

What you'll need

• Equipment
  • An 88-key MIDI-capable piano with weighted keys and a sustain pedal
  • A laptop or iPad to run Piano Marvel
  • A second device (phone, tablet, computer, or webcam) positioned to show your hands and posture at the instrument
  • A stable internet connection for live sessions
• Age. Participants must be 18 or older.
• Language. Expert sessions, group sessions and study materials are in English. Individual coaching in the Advanced Track is also available in Spanish.

Expert Sessions

All four sessions are open to both tracks, at 7pm US Central Time. Calendar invitations with your local time will be sent to all participants.

No. 1 — Sight-Reading Fundamentals: The Science and the Practice (1.5h) 
August 31
Led by Dr. David Córdoba-Hernández, pianist and educator
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music, Millsaps College · Founder, Prima Vista Lab®
What decades of research reveal about how expert readers actually work. The mindset, attention, and habits that turn those findings into real practice.
 

No. 2 — Emotional Regulation as a Sight-Reading Tool (1.5h)
September 28
Guest: Francisca Fernández, psychologist and flutist
Founder, unanuevaflauta®
How anxiety and hyperfixation disrupt sight-reading, and the emotional regulation tools that protect focus and chunking under pressure.
 

No. 3 — The Pianist's Body: and Injury Prevention (1.5h) 
October 12
Guest: Dr. Ricardo Fuentes, MD, Performing Arts Medicine
Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
How the body responds to the demands of playing, and what pianists can do to prevent injury and sustain a healthy practice.
 

No. 4 — The Sight-Reading World Record: In Conversation with Dr. Bryan Chuan (1h)
November 9
Guest: Dr. Bryan Chuan, collaborative artist, performer, and pedagogue
A live demonstration from the holder of the highest SASR score on record (Score: 1877, year 2023), followed by an interview and open Q&A.

Sessions are recorded and available to all participants for the duration of the program. Dates are subject to change based on guest availability; any changes will be announced in advance.