elsner taught the composers ignacy feliks dobrzyński and frédéric chopin. there are also indications that he privately tutored piano composer and virtuoso maria szymanowska. chopin dedicated to elsner his piano sonata no. 1 in c minor, op. 4 (1828), composed while he was studying with elsner. as chopin's only piano teacher in 1823-29, elsner taught him music theory and composition; elsner diaried of chopin: "chopin, fryderyk, third-year student, amazing capabilities, musical genius."