Workshop Presenters
Dr. Peter Mack
The Art of the Phrase
It's easy to teach our students to play more musically, once we understand the basic principles of phrasing. In this entertaining and illuminating talk, Peter Mack teaches us how to recognize the basic phrase types, and how best to interpret them. Everyone can sound better, once they understand the art of the phrase! This talk is especially appropriate for all musicians, not just pianists.
Irish pianist Peter Mack is a performer, clinician, convention artist, adjudicator, and teacher. Celebrated for his moving playing, and his easy rapport with audiences, he has performed throughout the USA and Europe, as well as in Australia, India, China, and the former Soviet Union. He is the winner of the New Orleans, Young Keyboard Artists, and Pacific International Piano Competitions. His prize in the Sherman-Clay competition included a Steinway grand piano. Naturally, he is a Steinway artist.
Peter Mack is well known for his extensive repertoire, having performed twenty-six concertos with orchestras. A choral scholar at Trinity College Dublin, and a fellow of Trinity College London, he has a doctorate from the University of Washington. His principal teachers were Frank Heneghan, and Bela Siki.
Dr, Mack is the proud teacher of twenty-four MTNA national finalists, and five MTNA national first-place winners. He was president of MTNA from 2023-2025.
The Art of the Phrase
It's easy to teach our students to play more musically, once we understand the basic principles of phrasing. In this entertaining and illuminating talk, Peter Mack teaches us how to recognize the basic phrase types, and how best to interpret them. Everyone can sound better, once they understand the art of the phrase! This talk is especially appropriate for all musicians, not just pianists.
Irish pianist Peter Mack is a performer, clinician, convention artist, adjudicator, and teacher. Celebrated for his moving playing, and his easy rapport with audiences, he has performed throughout the USA and Europe, as well as in Australia, India, China, and the former Soviet Union. He is the winner of the New Orleans, Young Keyboard Artists, and Pacific International Piano Competitions. His prize in the Sherman-Clay competition included a Steinway grand piano. Naturally, he is a Steinway artist.
Peter Mack is well known for his extensive repertoire, having performed twenty-six concertos with orchestras. A choral scholar at Trinity College Dublin, and a fellow of Trinity College London, he has a doctorate from the University of Washington. His principal teachers were Frank Heneghan, and Bela Siki.
Dr, Mack is the proud teacher of twenty-four MTNA national finalists, and five MTNA national first-place winners. He was president of MTNA from 2023-2025.
Linda Cockey, Gail Berenson, and Charles Turon:
Health, Wellness and Wholeness in the Music Studio
Health, Wellness and Wholeness in the Music Studio
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This workshop introduces a resource recently published by MTNA, co-authored by today’s presenters. Health, Wellness, and Wholeness in the Music Studio is intended for studio teachers of all instruments, teaching students of any age or level.
This session approaches wholeness from two perspectives: the teacher viewing each student as a whole person and the student fully accessing all the resources connected with studying and making music. Focusing on five interrelated topics—social, psychological, physiological, lifestyle, and musical wholeness—we address the role teachers play in helping students develop fully integrated musicianship, advising them if they need expert help from health care professionals, and ultimately leading them toward independence. Musicians’ health and wellness can be an overwhelming topic; our focus is on the basics that every teacher should know. Throughout the session we introduce practical tools and strategies to implement in everyday teaching life. |
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Linda Cockey, DMA is Professor Emerita at Salisbury University where she taught a course in wellness in performance, focusing on the physiological, psychological and practicing aspects for all musicians and other performing artists. During her career at Salisbury University, she served as department chair and under her leadership, the program received NASM accreditation. For many years she was a team visitor for NASM and then became a team leader. She presented at many conferences including MTNA, ISME, CMS and NCKP. Her research in musicians’ health led to coauthoring the book Health, Wellness and Wholeness in the Music Studio with colleagues Gail Berenson and Charles Turon.
Gail Berenson, Ohio University Professor Emerita of Piano, is a dedicated teacher, performer, author and noted expert on musicians’ health issues. She is the recipient of the 2002 School of Music’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the School of Music’s 2016 Distinguished Service Award. She continues to be an active and passionate collaborative pianist. A long-time and tireless advocate on musicians’ health, she is privileged to have co-authored “Health, Wellness and Wholeness in the Music Studio” with her colleagues: Charles Turon and Linda Cockey. She has performed and lectured in over thirty states and eleven countries. A Past President of Music Teachers National Association, she is an MTNA Foundation Fellow and was the recipient of the 2015 MTNA Distinguished Service Award. In 2019 she was awarded the Frances Clark Center's Outstanding Service Recognition Award, and in 2021 was awarded the Frances Clark Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Charles Turon received degrees from the Universities of North Texas and Oklahoma, where he studied piano with Joseph Banowetz and Jane Magrath. Turon has served as president at the local and state levels of MTNA and as a member of the editorial board for the American Music Teacher; he currently serves as Co-chair of the FSMTA Wellness Committee. In 2021 he was named an MTNA Foundation Fellow. After a lengthy career teaching piano and music theory at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, Dr. Turon maintains an independent teaching studio and frequently presents workshops on musicians’ health and wellness at the local, state, national, and international levels. |
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Lois Svard:
Are music lessons a “fountain of youth” for older adults? Might music lessons be a “musical treasure” in terms of delaying cognitive decline in older adults? The answer is yes, according to an increasing number of researchers and medical professionals. A recent study in Germany and Switzerland found that, after a year of piano lessons, a group of 155 healthy adults in their 60s and 70s had gained gray matter in four brain regions that are involved in high-level cognitive functioning, including working memory and cognitive reserve, thus delaying the aging process. As the population ages, increasing numbers of older adults are taking music lessons, either as beginners, or returning to lessons they abandoned in their youth. They cite a variety of reasons, including stress reduction, mastering a new challenge, and a way to bring joy and meaning into their lives. Their teachers notice an improvement in cognitive function as the lessons progress, and now researchers have confirmed that as well. Pianist Lois Svard has received critical acclaim for her performances and recordings of contemporary American piano music. She is also well-known for her work in applying current neuroscience research to the study and performance of music. Svard’s book The Musical Brain: what students, teachers, and performers need to know (Oxford ), was awarded the 2024 ASCAP Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson book award. She has spoken about neuroscience and music for the European Piano Teachers Association, the Australian National Academy of Music, the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association, the International Society for Music Education, the Music Teachers National Association, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, the College Music Society, and at many state and regional music conferences. She also writes a blog The Musician’s Brain, that has introduced readers in more than 120 countries to some of the latest research in neuroscience and music. Svard received her DMA from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University where she was a student of Ann Schein. She is Professor of Music Emerita at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, where she was the recipient of both the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Artistic Achievement Award. |
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Erin Bennett:
Piano Music by Women: A Historical Treasure Trove for all Levels “I was an adult before I ever performed a piano piece by a female composer.” “Growing up, I used to play pedagogical pieces by women, but once I got into ‘serious’ repertoire, all of the composers were men.” Even in 2025, I am still hearing statements like these from my students and colleagues. While we are increasingly seeing more widespread adoption of piano repertoire by current women composer-teachers at the elementary and intermediate levels (i.e. Mier, Rollin, Bober, Eklund, Milne, etc.), only rarely do we hear student performances of works by historical women composers. This presentation will introduce attendees to piano works and collections by historical women, suitable for a variety levels, from the Baroque to Contemporary musical eras. The session will include musical demonstrations, as well as a resource list, designed to make it easier for teachers to acquire and integrate these works into their teaching and performance. Dr. Erin K. Bennett, NCTM is Associate Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy and Keyboard Area Coordinator at the University of North Florida, where she teaches applied and class piano, piano pedagogy, and chamber music. She has served on the piano faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp for more than a decade. An active presenter, Dr. Bennett has shared her research at the national conference of Music Teachers National Association, the National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum (GP3), and the National Conference for Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP). Her research into the Chicago composer Irene Britton Smith was recently supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her recent performances, centering works by women composers, have been featured at the Music by Women Festival and the Women Composers Festival of Hartford. Dr. Bennett holds degrees in piano performance from Rice University, the University of Florida, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she pursued dual cognates in music history and piano pedagogy. Her principal teachers have included Robert Roux, Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff, Michelle Conda, and Virginia Hawley Buhn. |
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Karen Zgonc:
Make it Official! From Basement Studio to Blooming Business A Guide to Turning Your Private Music Lessons into a Thriving Business. It’s time for a mindset shift from teacher to business owner. Let’s set legal and financial foundations, work on branding and marketing, create systems for stability, and make goals together. Karen Zgonc is the Executive Director of Ztunes Music - serving 550+ students in Atlanta and Decatur. She has performed and taught throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Many of her students have gone on to pursue professional careers in music. She has special interests in engaging community through music. Karen also directs the flute choir at Beacon Hill Middle School, leads the Ztunes Flute Club - Floot Loops, serves as recording secretary for the Decatur Music Teachers Association, has presented multiple times for Georgia Music Teachers Association, and is on the board of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony. |
Melody Morrison & Jackie Yong:
Together for Tomorrow: A Conversation on FSMTA Membership
FSMTA membership has declined significantly over the past decade, with early-career teachers and Gen Z musicians notably underrepresented. Why aren’t they joining—and why aren’t they staying? In this interactive session, we will present current membership trends, explore generational and structural barriers, and share insights from other state associations. We’ll examine challenges facing younger teachers—such as cost, time, and generational disconnects—and explore ideas like mentorship, funding support, and modernized engagement strategies. Attendees will also participate in a guided discussion to share local successes, frustrations, and ideas. Every member is a testimony to the association—let’s work together to ensure FSMTA’s future is vibrant, inclusive, and relevant.
Together for Tomorrow: A Conversation on FSMTA Membership
FSMTA membership has declined significantly over the past decade, with early-career teachers and Gen Z musicians notably underrepresented. Why aren’t they joining—and why aren’t they staying? In this interactive session, we will present current membership trends, explore generational and structural barriers, and share insights from other state associations. We’ll examine challenges facing younger teachers—such as cost, time, and generational disconnects—and explore ideas like mentorship, funding support, and modernized engagement strategies. Attendees will also participate in a guided discussion to share local successes, frustrations, and ideas. Every member is a testimony to the association—let’s work together to ensure FSMTA’s future is vibrant, inclusive, and relevant.
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Dr. Melody Morrison is a Lecturer of Music at Middle Geogia State University. She is an experienced solo and chamber musician, has performed in several states across the U.S. and has appeared as a soloist with the University of Idaho Symphony Orchestra, Washington-Idaho Symphony, Corban University Concert Band, and Corban University Chamber Orchestra. Morrison specializes in piano pedagogy including instructional application of technology and connections between repertoire, curriculum, and different generations of music learners. She has presented numerous sessions on various pedagogical topics at local, state, and national conferences across the U.S. and Canada. Her research has also been published in journals such as Update: Applications of Research on Music Education, Florida Music Director, and Piano Magazine.
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Dr. Jackie Yong, NCTM is Assistant Professor of Piano and Coordinator of the Keyboard
Division at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) in Florida, USA. A versatile performer, he has performed from Bach to Bernstein, Boulez to Bright Sheng across four continents in the U.S., Germany, Singapore, Colombia, Brunei, and Malaysia. His accolades include top prizes from the Rockwood, Charleston International, and Asia-Open International Piano Competitions. He has premiered works by living composers and performed at major events like FSU’s Biennial Festival of New Music and UTK’s New Sound Concert Series. His artistry has been featured in broadcasts and interviews, including on WUOT 91.1 FM’s UT Concert Hall Series and 988 FM. He is an MTNA-certified adjudicator and is the director of PBA Annual Piano Competition. He frequently presents at many conferences including regional, national, and international conferences of College Music Society (CMS), state and national conferences of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), PBA Interdisciplinary Conference, and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP). A two-time recipient of the David Z. Kushner Paper Award, he has also received the FSU Dissertation Research Grant and the UTK Diversity Enhancement Fellowship. He is an inducted member of Pi Kappa Lambda and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. Jackie Yong received the Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Florida State University, studying under Read Gainsford with three additional specialized studies in piano pedagogy, music theory pedagogy, and college teaching. Website: jackieyong.com |
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Natalie Whittington:
The Preschool Student – A Treasure in a Small Package Preschool students are energetic, creative, and fun. Their little brains soak up everything around them. Music teachers have historically shied away from this age group reasoning that these students are too young, too unfocused, or unable to sit still. This presentation aims to unlock the treasures PreK students provide. Preschool families are actively searching for engaging activities for their students. By expanding into this largely untapped market, music teachers can generate more income. With the right support, preschool students can not only succeed in lessons but thrive. Preschool music lessons provide an opportunity to gain proficiency in pre-reading, pre-math, and problem-solving, which can set students ahead of their peers when entering elementary school. The presenter has taught preschool music lessons for over 20 years and will introduce practical teaching tips, proven methods, useful materials, and lesson plans to meet PreK students at their level and jumpstart their music journey. Natalie Whittington is a 30-year pianist and music teacher who currently resides in Tampa, Florida. She earned her BA in Piano Performance from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. She also holds MNTA certification as well as FSMTA Judge Certification. Natalie has held various board positions in her District and Local MTA, chaired multiple student performance events, and served as a workshop presenter for FSMTA and her local MTA. She spent the majority of her career following her husband’s military journey. This provided a unique perspective on teaching military students, preschool students, and students with special needs. Natalie has served as a church pianist, children’s choir director, handbell choir director, accompanist, and studio teacher. Most recently, Natalie was able to travel to Guatemala to advise and mentor on a music program with a local orphanage. She loves using her talent and creativity to help students succeed and thrive on their musical journey. Any free time is spent traveling with family or outside in the garden. |
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Grace Shepard:
Discovering Peter Pelham's Manuscript - Revealing New Aspects of Early American Keyboard Pedagogy Centered around Peter Pelham’s Music Manuscript of 1774, this lecture-recital celebrates the complexities of keyboard education in the foundational years of Colonial America and seeks to gain deeper understanding of the evolution of music pedagogy through the manuscript containing collected pedagogical material and pieces organized for student study. Close study reveals details about early Colonial American music education that are not widely considered or included in standard keyboard music history. Pelham gained prominence first in Boston, and later in Williamsburg Virginia, as an organist, teacher, and performer. The scrapbook contains examples of pedagogical pieces varying from basic minuets to adapted arias with lyrics and works that could be played at the organ. There is also popular music, which shows the inter-connectedness of formal art works and everyday vernacular music that exists in pedagogy at the keyboard. The repertoire performed represents the variety and consistency of pieces present in the manuscript. Dr. Grace Shepard is a pianist and composer based out of South Florida. As a performer, she is equally interested in traditional and new music and has significant experience as a collaborative pianist. In addition to performing on the piano, she also enjoys arranging and composing music. Her career has included international performances, premieres of new works, and extensive music history research. Grace is also an active teacher, with students achieving recognition through performance and evaluation. In her research, she focuses on under-represented groups and interdisciplinary work. Throughout her performing and composing career, Grace explores unique connections between time and place, as well as looking to highlight under-represented artists. She has performed at the Columbia Museum of Art, Bard College, Skidmore College, the University of South Carolina, and in outreach programs which have performed at local libraries, retirement communities, and local prison systems. Her compositions have been performed at the 2021 NASM Conference, as part of the 30 Americans new works commission at Columbia Museum of Art, and at numerous performances at the University of South Carolina. |
Janelle Crane, Emily Gilbertson, Mikayla Kreider & Xixi Shen:
The First Year at the Piano…Without a Method Book!
Rote teaching has recently become popularized in piano pedagogy. Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory supports the benefits of this approach, which allows students to develop aural skills and physical technique to play engaging music sooner. However, teachers may find it intimidating to implement at first.
In this presentation, we will examine our own experiences in teaching by rote. Our experiences come from a year of practicum teaching at a large university, in which we learned how to structure the first year of piano lessons without a method book.
From these experiences, we can show what it’s like to implement rote teaching. In addition to discussing challenges and benefits, we will also present how to make rote learning personalized and fun. Additionally, we’ll demonstrate how to transition to reading notation. Attendees will leave with knowledge about the realities of rote teaching and how to implement it in their own studios.
The First Year at the Piano…Without a Method Book!
Rote teaching has recently become popularized in piano pedagogy. Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory supports the benefits of this approach, which allows students to develop aural skills and physical technique to play engaging music sooner. However, teachers may find it intimidating to implement at first.
In this presentation, we will examine our own experiences in teaching by rote. Our experiences come from a year of practicum teaching at a large university, in which we learned how to structure the first year of piano lessons without a method book.
From these experiences, we can show what it’s like to implement rote teaching. In addition to discussing challenges and benefits, we will also present how to make rote learning personalized and fun. Additionally, we’ll demonstrate how to transition to reading notation. Attendees will leave with knowledge about the realities of rote teaching and how to implement it in their own studios.
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Janelle Crane is a Ph.D. candidate in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy at Florida State University, where she studies under the mentorship of Diana Dumlavwalla and David Kalhous. She teaches undergraduate group piano, maintains a private studio, and serves on the executive board of the collegiate MTNA chapter at FSU.
Well-versed in solo and collaborative performance, Janelle began her musical pursuits at an early age. She has won solo and concerto first prize awards throughout her home state of Arizona. Recent performance highlights include a lecture recital on the Preludes and Fugues of Dmitri Shostakovich. Janelle studied with the late Pee-Yaw Lim Wilkes, protegé of Arthur Alexander and Dame Myra Hess, for fifteen years. She holds an MM in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, and a BM in Music Education from Arizona State University. Her primary applied and pedagogy teachers include Jeongwon Ham, Caio Pagano, Barbara Fast, and John Patrick Murphy. Previously, Janelle taught PreK-12 general and vocal music in public schools in Arizona and Texas. Her research interests include gamification in piano teaching, the Impostor Phenomenon, and group piano in public schools. |
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Emily Gilbertson is a pianist, singer, and teacher. She began violin lessons at the age of 4 and classical piano lessons at the age of 5. Currently she is a PhD candidate in Piano Pedagogy at Florida State University where she studies piano with Dr. Kalhous and piano pedagogy with Dr. Dumlavwalla. She has presented at national conferences such as the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Conference and the MTNA Collegiate Symposium, and state conferences such as the Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) Professional Learning Conference and the Florida Music Teacher Association (FSMTA) State Conference. She has experience accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists in recitals, lessons, studio class, and juries. Emily also has experience as a church pianist accompanying services and performing with choirs. Emily has worked as a private piano teacher in California, Oklahoma, and Florida. In addition to privately teaching piano, Emily was an instructor for group piano class at Interlochen Arts Camp in 2022, 2024, and 2025. Currently, Emily serves as a graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University where she teaches undergraduate class piano.
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Mikayla Kreider is a PhD candidate in Piano Pedagogy at Florida State University, studying under Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla. Mikayla is originally from Akron, Ohio, where she earned her undergraduate degree in piano performance from the University of Akron. Then, she traveled to Florida to earn a master's degree in piano performance from the University of Florida. She has extensive experience not only as a solo performer, but also as a collaborative pianist in various settings, including chamber music and choral accompanying. At Florida State University, she teaches group piano through her graduate assistantship. Her research interests include music perception and cognition, as well as music performance anxiety. Additionally, Mikayla is an instructor of piano at Maclay Music Academy, where she offers both private lessons and group summer camps.
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Xixi Shen earned her Ph.D. in Piano Pedagogy at Florida State University. During her PhD program at FSU, she served both as a Graduate Research Assistant at the FSU Center for Music and a Graduate Teaching Assistant for group piano classes. Shen earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music and completed her Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy at Temple University.
Xixi is an active presenter and performer at conferences associated with the Music Teacher National Association (MTNA). Her presentations have explored topics such as keyboard performance practice, group piano teaching, and private piano instruction. In July 2024, she traveled to Finland for the International Society for Music Education, where she presented two workshops on world music teaching and music performance anxiety. Her research focuses on promoting piano wellness and exploring diverse musical styles. |
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Mimi Zhang & David Mach:
Treasures of Tailleferre: An Exploration of her Works for Piano Duet
The sole female figure of Les Six, Germaine Tailleferre’s works for piano duo exemplify both the beauty and elegance of French Impressionism, as well as the wit and charm of the French avante-garde. Tailleferre’s idiomatic command of the instrument yielded a remarkable piano duo output ranging from late elementary to advanced levels. This presentation explores these underplayed works by providing repertoire swaps, and performances of Tailleferre’s duo repertoire ranging progressively from Magrath levels two through ten. Featured works include Suite Burlesque, Image, and several other works. These works will please students both on the stage and in the audience.
Dr. David Mach is the current music director and concert series coordinator at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, Anastasia Island. He is a pianist, organist, St. Augustine Piano Academy piano instructor, and collaborator based in St. Augustine, Florida. Dr. Mach is a passionate pianist, pedagogue and previously served on collegiate faculty as an instructor and artist collaborator.
Dr. Mach has received prizes in competitions both regionally and internationally. In 2022, he received 1st prize in the United States New Star International Piano Competition. David has received prizes in numerous other international competitions including the Virtual New Orleans Piano Institute International Competition, VII Future Stars International Piano Competition, and the Orbetello International Piano Competition. He has won various regional competitions including The University of Oklahoma Rising Star Solo Competition, Oklahoma Music Teachers Association Competition, Alabama Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition, Alabama Music Teachers Association Solo Competition, amongst others.
Dr. Mach has presented his research at regional and national conferences. In March 2025, he presented at the MTNA National Conference with “Painting at the Piano with Science: The Physiology of Tone Color,” a presentation on the scientific studies of Otto Ortmann on piano technique. This research was also presented at the 2024 GP3 Conference, NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, and the opening plenary session for MTNA Collegiate Symposium 2024. At NCKP 2023, Dr. Mach presented “Discovering Tailleferre: Underrepresented Piano Duet and Two-Piano Repertoire of Germaine Tailleferre,” research which he shared at four separate conferences. Other presentations include “Group Piano That Moves: Off-the-Bench Strategies for the Collegiate Group Piano Class” (MTNA 2022), “Fire and Flame: Rhythm and Performance Practice in Selected Works of Gabriela Ortiz” (Music by Women International Festival 2024), “A Hidden Gem: Music of Mary Chandler” (CMS South Central Conference 2024), and “A Rhythmic Tour of Mexico: Veinte Piezas Fáciles by Manuel Ponce” (MTNA 2024).
Dr. Mach received his doctorate at the University of Oklahoma in piano performance and pedagogy under the tutelage of Dr. Jeongwon Ham, Dr. Fast, and Dr. Magrath, Master’s degree in Piano Performance at the University of Houston under Madison Endowed Professor of Piano Nancy Weems, and BM under Dr. Kevin Chance at the Moody School of Music.
While David is not teaching or preparing for a performance, he enjoys reading, or learning about music production and synthesis.
Dr. Mimi Zhang, founder of St. Augustine Piano Academy LLC, is a pianist, violinist, collaborator, pedagogue, and researcher based in St. Augustine, Florida. She holds degrees in music education, piano performance, and piano pedagogy. Recently, Zhang was the grand prize recipient of the 2024 National Music Studio Startup Grant Competition.
Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on the integration of group fitness pedagogy and music education, Chinese piano repertoire, the Kodály approach, injury prevention, and entrepreneurship. She has been published in the ShareOK Repository (2024), NCKP Proceedings (2023), and MTNA e-Journal (2020). Zhang was recently featured on Episode 167 of the Music Studio Startup podcast with Andrea Miller.
As a performer, Dr. Zhang holds top prizes in competitions such as the Orbetello International Piano Competition, US New Star International Competition, and OU Young Artist Competition. She performs with Dr. David Mach as the Echo Piano Duo, a piano duo recognized for their powerful, colorful performances across the U.S., Germany, and China.
Dr. Mimi Zhang received her D.M.A. in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, an M.M. in piano performance from the University of Alabama, and a B.A. in music education and piano performance from Virginia Tech.
Treasures of Tailleferre: An Exploration of her Works for Piano Duet
The sole female figure of Les Six, Germaine Tailleferre’s works for piano duo exemplify both the beauty and elegance of French Impressionism, as well as the wit and charm of the French avante-garde. Tailleferre’s idiomatic command of the instrument yielded a remarkable piano duo output ranging from late elementary to advanced levels. This presentation explores these underplayed works by providing repertoire swaps, and performances of Tailleferre’s duo repertoire ranging progressively from Magrath levels two through ten. Featured works include Suite Burlesque, Image, and several other works. These works will please students both on the stage and in the audience.
Dr. David Mach is the current music director and concert series coordinator at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, Anastasia Island. He is a pianist, organist, St. Augustine Piano Academy piano instructor, and collaborator based in St. Augustine, Florida. Dr. Mach is a passionate pianist, pedagogue and previously served on collegiate faculty as an instructor and artist collaborator.
Dr. Mach has received prizes in competitions both regionally and internationally. In 2022, he received 1st prize in the United States New Star International Piano Competition. David has received prizes in numerous other international competitions including the Virtual New Orleans Piano Institute International Competition, VII Future Stars International Piano Competition, and the Orbetello International Piano Competition. He has won various regional competitions including The University of Oklahoma Rising Star Solo Competition, Oklahoma Music Teachers Association Competition, Alabama Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition, Alabama Music Teachers Association Solo Competition, amongst others.
Dr. Mach has presented his research at regional and national conferences. In March 2025, he presented at the MTNA National Conference with “Painting at the Piano with Science: The Physiology of Tone Color,” a presentation on the scientific studies of Otto Ortmann on piano technique. This research was also presented at the 2024 GP3 Conference, NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, and the opening plenary session for MTNA Collegiate Symposium 2024. At NCKP 2023, Dr. Mach presented “Discovering Tailleferre: Underrepresented Piano Duet and Two-Piano Repertoire of Germaine Tailleferre,” research which he shared at four separate conferences. Other presentations include “Group Piano That Moves: Off-the-Bench Strategies for the Collegiate Group Piano Class” (MTNA 2022), “Fire and Flame: Rhythm and Performance Practice in Selected Works of Gabriela Ortiz” (Music by Women International Festival 2024), “A Hidden Gem: Music of Mary Chandler” (CMS South Central Conference 2024), and “A Rhythmic Tour of Mexico: Veinte Piezas Fáciles by Manuel Ponce” (MTNA 2024).
Dr. Mach received his doctorate at the University of Oklahoma in piano performance and pedagogy under the tutelage of Dr. Jeongwon Ham, Dr. Fast, and Dr. Magrath, Master’s degree in Piano Performance at the University of Houston under Madison Endowed Professor of Piano Nancy Weems, and BM under Dr. Kevin Chance at the Moody School of Music.
While David is not teaching or preparing for a performance, he enjoys reading, or learning about music production and synthesis.
Dr. Mimi Zhang, founder of St. Augustine Piano Academy LLC, is a pianist, violinist, collaborator, pedagogue, and researcher based in St. Augustine, Florida. She holds degrees in music education, piano performance, and piano pedagogy. Recently, Zhang was the grand prize recipient of the 2024 National Music Studio Startup Grant Competition.
Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on the integration of group fitness pedagogy and music education, Chinese piano repertoire, the Kodály approach, injury prevention, and entrepreneurship. She has been published in the ShareOK Repository (2024), NCKP Proceedings (2023), and MTNA e-Journal (2020). Zhang was recently featured on Episode 167 of the Music Studio Startup podcast with Andrea Miller.
As a performer, Dr. Zhang holds top prizes in competitions such as the Orbetello International Piano Competition, US New Star International Competition, and OU Young Artist Competition. She performs with Dr. David Mach as the Echo Piano Duo, a piano duo recognized for their powerful, colorful performances across the U.S., Germany, and China.
Dr. Mimi Zhang received her D.M.A. in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, an M.M. in piano performance from the University of Alabama, and a B.A. in music education and piano performance from Virginia Tech.
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Chenny Gan:
Spice it up! Incorporating Improvisation into Classical Repertoire Contrary to common notions, Bach, Mozart, Chopin & Co. were not stiff purists and literalists. In fact, they were closer to Thelonious Monk or Dave Brubeck in practicing their art, with Improvisation at the center of many of the masterworks they produced. This workshop aims to inspire teachers and performers alike, by showing ways to unlock musical treasures by adding elements of creativity and improvisation into the traditional classical repertoire in tasteful and idiomatic ways. Works from the Baroque to Romantic eras will be food for reconstructive thought. Together we will explore freedom from the Urtext and make pieces come alive by injecting fresh, adventurous and stylistically authentic touches into the music we all know and love so well. An internationally active performer and teacher, Dr. Chenny Gan's professional engagements have brought her to over a dozen countries on three continents, with diverse assignments that span from the inner-city neighborhoods of Los Angeles to New York's iconic Carnegie Hall. She was born in Guangxi, China, and immigrated to the U.S. at age 8. As a scholar, she has presented and published research for the College Music Society, Society for Ethnomusicology, the Harvard East Asian Studies Conference, among others. In recent years, Dr. Gan has been recognized by NerdScholar.com in the "40 Under 40" list of the best young professors in the U.S. and was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Award by the United Methodist Board of Education. She holds degrees from Wesleyan College, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Southern California. Currently Chenny is in her thirteenth year teaching at Wesleyan College, serving as Professor of Music and Director of Graduate Music Programs. Her areas of interest and expertise include ergonomic piano technique, vocal and instrumental accompanying, improvisation, fusion, and the role of music in society and community. She speaks fluent English, Mandarin, and German, striving to learn something new every day and sharing her passion for music with others. |
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Zulfiia O. Tursunova:
Biomechanics Optimization System for Music Performance Music performance and practicing activities consist of highly repetitive sets of motion leading to buildup of excessive compensatory muscular tension in various groups of muscles within the musician’s body. As muscular tension builds up during music playing process, it impacts other aspects such as breathing, emotional state, confidence level, memory reactivation, and level of sound control. These components are essential for reaching musical performance goals and a transcendental aesthetic value of music for the performer and the audience. Z. Tursunova’s Biomechanics Optimization System and Physiological Conditioning for Music Performers introduces instrumental players to the simple yet efficient ways to address aforementioned issues via a set of specialized conditioning exercises, self-assessment reference points, optimization and maintaining healthy biomechanics routines during music performance activities. Tursunova’s system is applicable to music playing activities of various levels, from true beginners to professional performers. The system offers physiological conditioning patterns for musicians as well as the means to evaluate and minimize unnecessary compensatory muscular tension, optimize biomechanics of sound production during music performance, and prevent development of typical injuries among instrumental music performers and students. Zulfiia O. Tursunova is a US-Ukrainian pianist, composer, conductor, and educator. Tursunova holds Master’s degree in Music Composition & Instrumental Conducting, with the Healthy Musician Performance concentration from University of South Florida, and BA in Psychology & Music from New College of Florida. As an applied piano performance teacher, Tursunova is focused on learner-centered integrative approaches in music education and performance practices. Elements of cognitive neuroscience, biological, social, and personality psychology are incorporated in her specially designed curriculum for music students of all levels. Z. Tursunova’s Biomechanics Optimization System and Physiological Conditioning for Music Performers is a practical approach that is used to helps guiding instrumental students to achieve healthy music playing habits according to instrumental topography/ergonomics and physiological specifics of each student. |
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Christy Apodaca:
Seaside Stroll Start each day of the conference energized by fresh air and movement! Participants will gather at the pool for a few warm-up exercises then head to the beach for more movement. We’ll take in the beautiful ocean view and breathe in fresh air. A quick walk back to the hotel will end our adventure. Lace up your walking shoes, grab a towel and join me by the pool! Christy Apodaca hails from Colorado and holds degrees in Athletic Training and Exercise Physiology. She spent ten years as an Exercise Physiologist for the Air Force overseeing the health and wellness programs at various military installations. Christy has also worked as an Athletic Trainer in the world of Sports Medicine in collegiate, high school, and other settings. Her love of music started at an early age with piano and saxophone lessons and has continued to be part of her life through participation in various volunteer and professional musical groups. Christy moved to Florida in 2014 with her husband Robert, where she resumed the musical side of her career as a piano teacher at JN Studios in East Orlando. |