Conference Presenters
Stephanie Archer – Injury Prevention: Strategies for Every Stage of Piano Study
Physical barriers are a common occurrence among pianists of all ages and levels. With the increasing knowledge and experiences of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, it is of the utmost importance for pedagogues to develop strategies for dealing with such issues. In this presentation, proactive strategies will be discussed for teachers to use in preventing physical issues in students. The importance of teaching arm weight and proper hand positions will be examined as well as fun ways to incorporate these into beginning lessons. In addition to proactive strategies, reactive strategies will be discussed as well. Recommendations for helping students who have suffered from injuries will be addressed in order to aid them in recovery. Attendees will learn about warm-up, practicing, performing, and cool-down strategies that they can use with their own students. At the conclusion of this presentation, pianists will be equipped with tools to prevent and overcome playing-related injuries.
Physical barriers are a common occurrence among pianists of all ages and levels. With the increasing knowledge and experiences of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, it is of the utmost importance for pedagogues to develop strategies for dealing with such issues. In this presentation, proactive strategies will be discussed for teachers to use in preventing physical issues in students. The importance of teaching arm weight and proper hand positions will be examined as well as fun ways to incorporate these into beginning lessons. In addition to proactive strategies, reactive strategies will be discussed as well. Recommendations for helping students who have suffered from injuries will be addressed in order to aid them in recovery. Attendees will learn about warm-up, practicing, performing, and cool-down strategies that they can use with their own students. At the conclusion of this presentation, pianists will be equipped with tools to prevent and overcome playing-related injuries.
Kevin Chance – Shattering the Studio Ceiling: Teaching Gems by Under-Represented Composers
We have a wealth of wonderful repertoire to teach, but we often overlook or are not aware of repertoire by composers who are not white, dead men. There is much pedagogically valuable material by women composers and composers of color, which opens the door to more culturally relevant and diverse teaching to represent our diverse communities. This presentation exhibits works from the early elementary to the early advanced levels that represents the diversity we strive to see in our studios. During the lecture, each work will be discussed and performed, and excerpts of the scores will be projected to allow teachers to see the material as well. The handout includes detailed publisher information in an effort to make the works as easy as possible to source.
We have a wealth of wonderful repertoire to teach, but we often overlook or are not aware of repertoire by composers who are not white, dead men. There is much pedagogically valuable material by women composers and composers of color, which opens the door to more culturally relevant and diverse teaching to represent our diverse communities. This presentation exhibits works from the early elementary to the early advanced levels that represents the diversity we strive to see in our studios. During the lecture, each work will be discussed and performed, and excerpts of the scores will be projected to allow teachers to see the material as well. The handout includes detailed publisher information in an effort to make the works as easy as possible to source.
Diana Dumlavwalla – A Kaleidoscope of Colours: The Globalization of Canadian Music as Led by Female Composers
As the fourth largest city in North America and the most populated metropolis in Canada, Toronto has garnered a reputation for being one of the most culturally diverse centres in the world. Thousands of people from across the globe immigrate to Canada every year and decide to make Toronto their home. This results in a social tapestry that weaves a multitude of languages, customs and beliefs creating a heritage that is distinctly Canadian. The traditions of each person’s ethnicity inevitably influence their work and daily life in their new country. This lecture recital will focus on the solo piano works of Alice Ho, Kotoka Suzuki and Afarin Mansouri. These individuals are Toronto-based composers who have made their own mark on the Western art music scene. The presentation will highlight how these composers fuse musical inspiration from their cultural backgrounds with the compositional techniques and instruments of Western society.
As the fourth largest city in North America and the most populated metropolis in Canada, Toronto has garnered a reputation for being one of the most culturally diverse centres in the world. Thousands of people from across the globe immigrate to Canada every year and decide to make Toronto their home. This results in a social tapestry that weaves a multitude of languages, customs and beliefs creating a heritage that is distinctly Canadian. The traditions of each person’s ethnicity inevitably influence their work and daily life in their new country. This lecture recital will focus on the solo piano works of Alice Ho, Kotoka Suzuki and Afarin Mansouri. These individuals are Toronto-based composers who have made their own mark on the Western art music scene. The presentation will highlight how these composers fuse musical inspiration from their cultural backgrounds with the compositional techniques and instruments of Western society.
Noel Engebretson – Pedaling: Taking it to the Next Level, Even Beyond the Score
The pedal has been called the soul of the piano, but it is often misunderstood, and its potential is rarely unlocked by all but concert artists. I will present new strategies and offer unique insight into this remarkable tool which is capable of communicating a richness of sound that is all too often lacking in student performances, and I will offer solutions for frequent situations that arise in teaching studios.
The pedal has been called the soul of the piano, but it is often misunderstood, and its potential is rarely unlocked by all but concert artists. I will present new strategies and offer unique insight into this remarkable tool which is capable of communicating a richness of sound that is all too often lacking in student performances, and I will offer solutions for frequent situations that arise in teaching studios.
Rose Grace and Terrance Lane - Centuries of Voices Denied: Classical Music as a Forum for Social Justice
The core issues in the fight for social justice addressing religion, gender, ethnicity, race, and political regimes are as old as mankind. Exploring the experiences of marginalized composers throughout the ages offers a way to contextualize social injustices still plaguing today’s modern societies. From its inception, music, as a multidisciplinary field, has served as a form of expression and communication, preserving a cultural record keeping of societal structure and function. The presentation addresses social activism by exploring important, published literary and musical works through textual and compositional analysis. The presentation demonstrates how societies viewed these marginalized individuals, and in turn, how the composers responded through their musical voice. The social injustices experienced in societies, past and present, represented through musical arts, may elicit social conscience among the modern world to build more inclusive and equitable societies.
The core issues in the fight for social justice addressing religion, gender, ethnicity, race, and political regimes are as old as mankind. Exploring the experiences of marginalized composers throughout the ages offers a way to contextualize social injustices still plaguing today’s modern societies. From its inception, music, as a multidisciplinary field, has served as a form of expression and communication, preserving a cultural record keeping of societal structure and function. The presentation addresses social activism by exploring important, published literary and musical works through textual and compositional analysis. The presentation demonstrates how societies viewed these marginalized individuals, and in turn, how the composers responded through their musical voice. The social injustices experienced in societies, past and present, represented through musical arts, may elicit social conscience among the modern world to build more inclusive and equitable societies.
Judith Jain - Teaching the Inattentive Child
We all have ‘inattentive students.’ We have seen that they don’t seem to focus, retain information, and consistently underperform what we are convinced we taught them well. This subject grabbed my full attention as my own daughter was labeled ‘uninterested in learning’ by her first-grade teacher. Then, the Coronavirus home-bound experience happened’ and I became her second-grade teacher at home. Her evolution has taken her to finish second grade in the ‘Principal’s Honor Roll’ at her Virtual School. But more importantly, we learned and developed love for learning, accountability and responsibility while fostering our relationship and retaining joy.
What if the piano instructor is the one who breaks the 'inattentive' barrier for the ADD and ADHD labeled students? The following presentation is based on my research of the psychological and neurological information available on the subject of inattentiveness, often times labeled as ADD or ADHD, with examples on how to apply it in the piano lesson.
We all have ‘inattentive students.’ We have seen that they don’t seem to focus, retain information, and consistently underperform what we are convinced we taught them well. This subject grabbed my full attention as my own daughter was labeled ‘uninterested in learning’ by her first-grade teacher. Then, the Coronavirus home-bound experience happened’ and I became her second-grade teacher at home. Her evolution has taken her to finish second grade in the ‘Principal’s Honor Roll’ at her Virtual School. But more importantly, we learned and developed love for learning, accountability and responsibility while fostering our relationship and retaining joy.
What if the piano instructor is the one who breaks the 'inattentive' barrier for the ADD and ADHD labeled students? The following presentation is based on my research of the psychological and neurological information available on the subject of inattentiveness, often times labeled as ADD or ADHD, with examples on how to apply it in the piano lesson.
Bridget O’Leary - Bringing the Pop to Popular Music
For many students, popular music may be the most important style they learn in piano lessons -- the one that they return to again and again later in life. As educators and performers, we seek to teach and perform pop, rock, R&B, and electronic music with the same authentic performance practice as repertoire from previous eras. But how do we convey a pop musician’s style and communicate this to our students, as we do with the classical piano repertoire? Similar to classical composers, many popular musicians have distinguishing stylistic elements and musical idioms. Using live performance and analysis from songs by Alicia Keys, Sara Bareilles, Elton John, and Adele, Bridget O'Leary and Nicolas Lira will demonstrate appropriate stylistic playing and detail suitable performance practices within these popular genres.
For many students, popular music may be the most important style they learn in piano lessons -- the one that they return to again and again later in life. As educators and performers, we seek to teach and perform pop, rock, R&B, and electronic music with the same authentic performance practice as repertoire from previous eras. But how do we convey a pop musician’s style and communicate this to our students, as we do with the classical piano repertoire? Similar to classical composers, many popular musicians have distinguishing stylistic elements and musical idioms. Using live performance and analysis from songs by Alicia Keys, Sara Bareilles, Elton John, and Adele, Bridget O'Leary and Nicolas Lira will demonstrate appropriate stylistic playing and detail suitable performance practices within these popular genres.
Ricardo Pozenatto - “Copy me!” Developing reading, artistry, and technique through meaningful rote teaching
Rote teaching is a highly motivating but often overlooked pedagogical tool. When rote teaching occurs side by side with a strong reading program, beginner students are engaged in meaningful musical experiences. Since beginner students can play music more challenging than they can read, artistry and technique can be the focus elements during the playing. Rote teaching enables elementary students to explore diverse piano sounds from the very first lessons, and the freedom provided by this teaching approach sparks students’ imagination, favoring the communication of meaningful ideas. This session will discuss the importance of rote teaching in the development of reading, artistry, and technique during the early stages of piano studies. Teaching ideas, materials, and resources will be shared, hoping to “break the barriers” of rote teaching in your piano studio!
Rote teaching is a highly motivating but often overlooked pedagogical tool. When rote teaching occurs side by side with a strong reading program, beginner students are engaged in meaningful musical experiences. Since beginner students can play music more challenging than they can read, artistry and technique can be the focus elements during the playing. Rote teaching enables elementary students to explore diverse piano sounds from the very first lessons, and the freedom provided by this teaching approach sparks students’ imagination, favoring the communication of meaningful ideas. This session will discuss the importance of rote teaching in the development of reading, artistry, and technique during the early stages of piano studies. Teaching ideas, materials, and resources will be shared, hoping to “break the barriers” of rote teaching in your piano studio!
Jason Terry - Cultural Diplomacy Through Music
Music is an incredible cross-cultural engagement. One example finds that non-American musicians are often intrigued by and open to American genres of music such as country/western, jazz, hip-hop, and Broadway. However, sharing Western training methods often reveals fresh pedagogical ideas for both parties. Thus, interactions between cross-cultural musicians serve to form a symbiotic relationship.
This session will share how the NGO American Voices has used music successfully as a diplomacy tool in many transitioning countries around the world. Discussions will explore how the exchange of musical ideas often fosters a fusion of cultures via instruments, melodies/harmonies, and lyrics. Additionally, a former AV student, Benhur Ghezehey, a musician from Eritrea currently studying at Oberlin Conservatory, will join the conversation and give a live performance.
Music is an incredible cross-cultural engagement. One example finds that non-American musicians are often intrigued by and open to American genres of music such as country/western, jazz, hip-hop, and Broadway. However, sharing Western training methods often reveals fresh pedagogical ideas for both parties. Thus, interactions between cross-cultural musicians serve to form a symbiotic relationship.
This session will share how the NGO American Voices has used music successfully as a diplomacy tool in many transitioning countries around the world. Discussions will explore how the exchange of musical ideas often fosters a fusion of cultures via instruments, melodies/harmonies, and lyrics. Additionally, a former AV student, Benhur Ghezehey, a musician from Eritrea currently studying at Oberlin Conservatory, will join the conversation and give a live performance.
Sheila Vail - The Heat of a Spotlight can Melt Barriers!
The focus of a spotlight provides the opportunity for more complete understanding and appreciation of any activity. Celebrating accomplishments in music study and performance with public recognition can increase a student's self-esteem and personal confidence and help them develop their own unique identity as a musician.
Creating a formal music achievement celebration that mirrors similar conventional award events brings music study more into the mainstream, provides greater understanding of music study, and reflects the work done by professional teachers. An opportunity to highlight the many benefits gained through learning to play an instrument illustrates the value of music study and helps break down the perceived barrier that music is just a hobby.
Included will be footage from Sheila Vail’s Spring GALA and Awards Ceremony held earlier this year. She will review the event, the unique content, and some inspiring results. She will also present potential plans, formats, and different ways to honor student success in your studio or music school this year.
The focus of a spotlight provides the opportunity for more complete understanding and appreciation of any activity. Celebrating accomplishments in music study and performance with public recognition can increase a student's self-esteem and personal confidence and help them develop their own unique identity as a musician.
Creating a formal music achievement celebration that mirrors similar conventional award events brings music study more into the mainstream, provides greater understanding of music study, and reflects the work done by professional teachers. An opportunity to highlight the many benefits gained through learning to play an instrument illustrates the value of music study and helps break down the perceived barrier that music is just a hobby.
Included will be footage from Sheila Vail’s Spring GALA and Awards Ceremony held earlier this year. She will review the event, the unique content, and some inspiring results. She will also present potential plans, formats, and different ways to honor student success in your studio or music school this year.