Félix Le Couppey

Félix Le Couppey was a French music teacher, pianist and composer, among others, of a series of elementary études for piano students. One of his most famous pieces was called ‘Melody in C’.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article on Félix Le Couppey.

From the period sources

Félix Le Couppey, a Parisian pianist and didactic writer, was a significant figure at the Paris Conservatoire throughout much of the 19th century. A pupil of Dourlen, Le Couppey began his teaching career at the Conservatoire at the remarkably young age of seventeen, when Cherubini entrusted him with a preparatory harmony class in 1828, according to the Biographie universelle des musiciens (1883). He later became a full teacher in 1837, and in 1843, succeeded his own master, Dourlen, as professor of harmony. His influence extended to piano instruction as well; in 1848, he served as a substitute piano teacher for Henri Herz during the latter’s American tour, and a special piano class for ladies was eventually organized for him (A Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, 1900). Le Couppey’s pedagogical success was notable, with his students achieving fourteen nominations in competitions, including five first prizes, as recorded in the Biographie universelle des musiciens (1883). He taught several prominent musicians, including the celebrated dramatic composer Léo Delibes and the pianist Caroline Montigny-Rémaury, who gained the first piano prize under his tutelage in 1858 (Grove’s Dictionary, 1904). His published works include “École du mécanisme du piano” and “12 études expressives,” which were even issued by Breitkopf & Hœrtel in Leipzig (Biographie universelle des musiciens, 1883).