Workshop Presenters
Presenter: Qing Jiang
Title: “United by Music Before the Rehearsal Begins”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 9:00am – Lindsay Recital Hall
Collaborative pianists spend most of their practice hours alone, yet their art is defined by communication and partnership. What does it mean to collaborate when practicing alone? For pianists, the work of partnership begins long before the first rehearsal. In the practice room, pianists learn to imagine a singer's breath, hear a violinist's articulation, discover musical dialogue, and prepare for a wide range of artistic possibilities. This workshop explores the mindset and approaches that allow pianists to practice not merely for independent excellence, but for artistic connection. Through strategic score study, active listening, and imaginative practice, participants will gain practical tools for cultivating collaboration before meeting their musical partners. Although focused on collaborative piano, these principles can enrich the teaching and practice of musicians in all disciplines and levels. At its core, collaboration is not an event that begins at rehearsal—it is a way of thinking that begins in practice.
The workshop will integrate musical examples by American composers Charles Ives, Amy Beach, Florence Price and others.
Pianist Qing Jiang enjoys a diverse career in solo, chamber, and contemporary music. She has soloed under renowned conductors Oliver Knussen and Zushan Bian, and appeared in Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Snape Maltings Hall. An accomplished chamber musician, Dr. Jiang has performed with the Juilliard, Shanghai, Parker, Aeolus, and Jasper quartets. She has been heard at numerous festivals, including Ravinia, Britten-Pears, Music@Menlo, Yellow Barn, Garth Newel, Interlochen, and Aspen. Dr. Jiang is a faculty member of the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, and an Associate Professor of Piano and Director of Collaborative Keyboard Arts at Florida State University.
Title: “United by Music Before the Rehearsal Begins”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 9:00am – Lindsay Recital Hall
Collaborative pianists spend most of their practice hours alone, yet their art is defined by communication and partnership. What does it mean to collaborate when practicing alone? For pianists, the work of partnership begins long before the first rehearsal. In the practice room, pianists learn to imagine a singer's breath, hear a violinist's articulation, discover musical dialogue, and prepare for a wide range of artistic possibilities. This workshop explores the mindset and approaches that allow pianists to practice not merely for independent excellence, but for artistic connection. Through strategic score study, active listening, and imaginative practice, participants will gain practical tools for cultivating collaboration before meeting their musical partners. Although focused on collaborative piano, these principles can enrich the teaching and practice of musicians in all disciplines and levels. At its core, collaboration is not an event that begins at rehearsal—it is a way of thinking that begins in practice.
The workshop will integrate musical examples by American composers Charles Ives, Amy Beach, Florence Price and others.
Pianist Qing Jiang enjoys a diverse career in solo, chamber, and contemporary music. She has soloed under renowned conductors Oliver Knussen and Zushan Bian, and appeared in Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Snape Maltings Hall. An accomplished chamber musician, Dr. Jiang has performed with the Juilliard, Shanghai, Parker, Aeolus, and Jasper quartets. She has been heard at numerous festivals, including Ravinia, Britten-Pears, Music@Menlo, Yellow Barn, Garth Newel, Interlochen, and Aspen. Dr. Jiang is a faculty member of the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, and an Associate Professor of Piano and Director of Collaborative Keyboard Arts at Florida State University.
Presenter: Michael Clement
Title: “How to Play Jazz Chords in 5 EASY Steps”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 9:00am – KMU 240
Every piano teacher has heard it: "I want to learn jazz." And every piano teacher knows the panic that follows—where do you even start? Most jazz resources are theory encyclopedias that throw students into the deep end, leaving both teacher and student frustrated and no closer to actually playing.
This session introduces a simple five-step method built around a concept your students already know: the major scale. You'll learn the exercise yourself and walk away ready to teach it as part of your students' regular warm-up routine—so that when they pick up a lead sheet or play in their school's jazz band, they'll be ready.
Attendees will leave with a free digital copy of Anyone Can Play Jazz Chords, a 30-page e-book with companion video lessons.
Michael Clement is a pianist and composer known for his versatility in jazz, classical, contemporary, and cinematic music. A University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band alumnus, he was featured on Lab 2019 and has performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, including programs featuring film scores and guest artists like Capathia Jenkins and Take 6.
A First Prize winner at the Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition and Yamaha Award recipient at the American Jazz Pianist Competition, Clement is an in-demand soloist and sideman known for his expressive touch, deep rhythmic sensibility, and storytelling approach to improvisation. His work as a composer and arranger has been performed by jazz ensembles, orchestras, and chamber groups, with music featured in film and television, including projects on Amazon Prime.
Also an experienced educator, Clement has taught over 300 students through his online platform, Freedom at the Piano, guiding pianists in improvisation and creative expression. He holds degrees in classical piano performance, jazz piano performance, and jazz composition from the University of North Texas.
Title: “How to Play Jazz Chords in 5 EASY Steps”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 9:00am – KMU 240
Every piano teacher has heard it: "I want to learn jazz." And every piano teacher knows the panic that follows—where do you even start? Most jazz resources are theory encyclopedias that throw students into the deep end, leaving both teacher and student frustrated and no closer to actually playing.
This session introduces a simple five-step method built around a concept your students already know: the major scale. You'll learn the exercise yourself and walk away ready to teach it as part of your students' regular warm-up routine—so that when they pick up a lead sheet or play in their school's jazz band, they'll be ready.
Attendees will leave with a free digital copy of Anyone Can Play Jazz Chords, a 30-page e-book with companion video lessons.
Michael Clement is a pianist and composer known for his versatility in jazz, classical, contemporary, and cinematic music. A University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band alumnus, he was featured on Lab 2019 and has performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, including programs featuring film scores and guest artists like Capathia Jenkins and Take 6.
A First Prize winner at the Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition and Yamaha Award recipient at the American Jazz Pianist Competition, Clement is an in-demand soloist and sideman known for his expressive touch, deep rhythmic sensibility, and storytelling approach to improvisation. His work as a composer and arranger has been performed by jazz ensembles, orchestras, and chamber groups, with music featured in film and television, including projects on Amazon Prime.
Also an experienced educator, Clement has taught over 300 students through his online platform, Freedom at the Piano, guiding pianists in improvisation and creative expression. He holds degrees in classical piano performance, jazz piano performance, and jazz composition from the University of North Texas.
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Presenters: Kren Fernandes and Gabriel de Freitas Silva
Title: “Music as a Universal Language: How Piano Lessons Strengthen Cognitive Development Date: Saturday, October 17, 9am – KMU 212 It is widely understood that music serves as a “universal language,” but what is it that makes it such? One research-backed reason is its ability to enhance cognitive functioning. As educators, it is important to understand and articulate the strengths of music education, specifically piano lessons. This presentation will examine the cognitive benefits of piano lessons and how they benefit diverse learners. Examples include how sight-reading strengthens working memory and how rhythmic and melodic decoding activities enhance auditory processing skills. Areas of research to be highlighted include working memory, auditory processing, and literacy development. We will also examine how piano lessons can reach a variety of students including students with diverse learning styles and students with learning disabilities. The session will conclude with demonstrations of specific lesson activities paired with the cognitive skills they reinforce, leaving attendees with deeper understanding of research-informed evidence to strengthen continued support of piano instruction. Kren Fernandes is a PhD Candidate in Music Education (Piano Pedagogy) at Florida State University, where she serves as a graduate assistant teaching group piano. She is an active member of MTNA, serving as Secretary of FSU's collegiate chapter and presenting at state and national conferences. A native Texan, she holds degrees in Piano Performance from Abilene Christian University and Hardin-Simmons University. Her teaching and musical experience includes adjunct instruction, private piano teaching, non-profit choir work, and accompanying. Kren is passionate about helping students discover joy, creativity, and self-expression through piano study while equipping them with tools for lifelong musical learning and enjoyment. Gabriel de Freitas Silva is a Brazilian Ph.D. candidate in Music Education (Piano Pedagogy) at Florida State University, where he teaches class piano as a graduate assistant. Alongside his university teaching responsibilities, he maintains an active private piano studio, working with students of various ages and skill levels. Gabriel is also a member of MTNA and is actively involved with the FSU chapter. He earned his bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from São Paulo State University and later completed a master's degree in Collaborative Piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Gabriel also recently received a Graduate Performance Certificate from Florida State University. |
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Presenter: Agnieszka Zick
Title: “Arts Fusion - How music organizations across Florida transform to reach modern audience”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 11:15 am – Lindsay Recital Hall
This session explores how innovative music organizations across Florida are redefining audience engagement through interdisciplinary collaboration, community partnerships, and creative programming. Through case studies of Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion, the Florida Wind Band, the Winold Music Festival, the Bayshore Piano Chamber Music Series, and pianist Svetozar Ivanov's multimedia performances, participants will discover practical strategies for connecting classical music with broader audiences. Short video interviews with artistic leaders and performance excerpts will illustrate how these organizations incorporate visual arts, storytelling, chamber music, youth initiatives, nontraditional venues, and collaborative projects to strengthen community impact. A live performance by FSU students will demonstrate the artistic power of collaboration in action. The session concludes with practical ideas that teachers, performers, and presenters can immediately implement, including interdisciplinary studio recitals, partnerships with local artists, and community-centered programming that fosters new audiences, expands performance opportunities for students, and strengthens support for local arts organizations.
Dr. Agnieszka Zick is a Polish-born pianist, pedagogue, and arts advocate whose work bridges performance, collaboration, pedagogy, and community engagement. Founder and Artistic Director of the Bayshore Piano Chamber Music Series, she develops innovative programming that expands access to classical music through collaboration and community partnerships. Her artistic projects champion cross-cultural dialogue, underrepresented repertoire, and collaborations with living composers. An active performer and presenter, she has appeared at national and international conferences and festivals throughout the United States and Europe. Dr. Zick serves as Adjunct Professor at State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota and Eckerd College.
Title: “Arts Fusion - How music organizations across Florida transform to reach modern audience”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 11:15 am – Lindsay Recital Hall
This session explores how innovative music organizations across Florida are redefining audience engagement through interdisciplinary collaboration, community partnerships, and creative programming. Through case studies of Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion, the Florida Wind Band, the Winold Music Festival, the Bayshore Piano Chamber Music Series, and pianist Svetozar Ivanov's multimedia performances, participants will discover practical strategies for connecting classical music with broader audiences. Short video interviews with artistic leaders and performance excerpts will illustrate how these organizations incorporate visual arts, storytelling, chamber music, youth initiatives, nontraditional venues, and collaborative projects to strengthen community impact. A live performance by FSU students will demonstrate the artistic power of collaboration in action. The session concludes with practical ideas that teachers, performers, and presenters can immediately implement, including interdisciplinary studio recitals, partnerships with local artists, and community-centered programming that fosters new audiences, expands performance opportunities for students, and strengthens support for local arts organizations.
Dr. Agnieszka Zick is a Polish-born pianist, pedagogue, and arts advocate whose work bridges performance, collaboration, pedagogy, and community engagement. Founder and Artistic Director of the Bayshore Piano Chamber Music Series, she develops innovative programming that expands access to classical music through collaboration and community partnerships. Her artistic projects champion cross-cultural dialogue, underrepresented repertoire, and collaborations with living composers. An active performer and presenter, she has appeared at national and international conferences and festivals throughout the United States and Europe. Dr. Zick serves as Adjunct Professor at State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota and Eckerd College.
Presenter: Rebecca Pennington
Title: “Reflections on the Legacy of Frances Clark”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 11:15am – KMU 240
Frances Clark served as a mentor to countless students and piano pedagogues throughout her lifetime—both through her direct teaching and also through her articles, videos and conferences. Those that knew her were forever changed by her teaching philosophies. As the Administrative Director of The New School for Music Study, a division of The Frances Clark Center, I never had the privilege of personally knowing Frances or experiencing her teaching first-hand. Yet, my teaching has been permanently altered by her ideas.
The topics of this presentation will be divided into five categories: Reading, Rhythm, Teacher Responsibilities, Practice, and Teaching the Complete Musician. Within these categories I will address subtopics such as swing and count, intervallic reading, practice steps, transposition, composition and improvisation, preparing and introducing a new piece, lesson planning, establishment of pulse, and teaching musicality from the first lesson.
Amazing as it seems, the ideals promoted by Frances Clark are reaching younger generations and still have the power to mold a young teacher into a professional pedagogue.
Rebecca Mergen Pennington has been a member of the faculty of the New School for Music Study since 2007. She currently serves as Administrative Director, overseeing the NSMS administrative team and all school operations.
Dr. Pennington has been a frequent performer in faculty recitals and is often seen performing duets and trios with other faculty members. She teaches the popular Piano Detectives Club, a group class for kindergarten students. She also runs beginner piano programs during the summer for young children, aiming to foster a love for music through these students' natural curiosity and enthusiasm.
Title: “Reflections on the Legacy of Frances Clark”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 11:15am – KMU 240
Frances Clark served as a mentor to countless students and piano pedagogues throughout her lifetime—both through her direct teaching and also through her articles, videos and conferences. Those that knew her were forever changed by her teaching philosophies. As the Administrative Director of The New School for Music Study, a division of The Frances Clark Center, I never had the privilege of personally knowing Frances or experiencing her teaching first-hand. Yet, my teaching has been permanently altered by her ideas.
The topics of this presentation will be divided into five categories: Reading, Rhythm, Teacher Responsibilities, Practice, and Teaching the Complete Musician. Within these categories I will address subtopics such as swing and count, intervallic reading, practice steps, transposition, composition and improvisation, preparing and introducing a new piece, lesson planning, establishment of pulse, and teaching musicality from the first lesson.
Amazing as it seems, the ideals promoted by Frances Clark are reaching younger generations and still have the power to mold a young teacher into a professional pedagogue.
Rebecca Mergen Pennington has been a member of the faculty of the New School for Music Study since 2007. She currently serves as Administrative Director, overseeing the NSMS administrative team and all school operations.
Dr. Pennington has been a frequent performer in faculty recitals and is often seen performing duets and trios with other faculty members. She teaches the popular Piano Detectives Club, a group class for kindergarten students. She also runs beginner piano programs during the summer for young children, aiming to foster a love for music through these students' natural curiosity and enthusiasm.
Presenter: Stephanie Archer
Title: “Cognitive Cousins: Music and Math”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 11:15am – KMU 212
A decrease in critical thinking skills in modern students is a concern of many educators today. This idea should lead teachers to consider how to engage students in critical thinking. Promoting thinking is a common practice in mathematics education but less so in music. In the article “Warning Signs”, three signs of taking over a child’s thinking process are discussed. Music teachers would benefit from recognizing these warning signs in their own teaching to better aid students.
In this presentation, we will discuss how these warning signs apply to the music lesson. Strategies for avoiding these common malpractices will be examined to create lessons that enhance cognitive abilities. The three warning signs are (1) interrupting the child’s strategy, (2) manipulating the tools, and (3) asking a series of closed questions. Activities such as drawing pictures to demonstrate musical perception, using manipulative objects, and asking strategic questions will be demonstrated.
Dr. Stephanie Archer, NCTM holds graduate degrees in piano pedagogy from Louisiana State University and Florida State University. She has been teaching piano to students of all ages for over 15 years and loves helping future teachers grow as educators. She has served in many leadership roles for local and state chapters of Music Teachers National Association and the National Federation of Music Clubs. She is currently the president of Alabama MTA and enjoys sharing new ideas and teaching strategies in pedagogy. Her research has been published in the MTNA e-Journal, the Journal of Piano Research, and Florida Music Director.
Title: “Cognitive Cousins: Music and Math”
Date: Saturday, October 17, 11:15am – KMU 212
A decrease in critical thinking skills in modern students is a concern of many educators today. This idea should lead teachers to consider how to engage students in critical thinking. Promoting thinking is a common practice in mathematics education but less so in music. In the article “Warning Signs”, three signs of taking over a child’s thinking process are discussed. Music teachers would benefit from recognizing these warning signs in their own teaching to better aid students.
In this presentation, we will discuss how these warning signs apply to the music lesson. Strategies for avoiding these common malpractices will be examined to create lessons that enhance cognitive abilities. The three warning signs are (1) interrupting the child’s strategy, (2) manipulating the tools, and (3) asking a series of closed questions. Activities such as drawing pictures to demonstrate musical perception, using manipulative objects, and asking strategic questions will be demonstrated.
Dr. Stephanie Archer, NCTM holds graduate degrees in piano pedagogy from Louisiana State University and Florida State University. She has been teaching piano to students of all ages for over 15 years and loves helping future teachers grow as educators. She has served in many leadership roles for local and state chapters of Music Teachers National Association and the National Federation of Music Clubs. She is currently the president of Alabama MTA and enjoys sharing new ideas and teaching strategies in pedagogy. Her research has been published in the MTNA e-Journal, the Journal of Piano Research, and Florida Music Director.
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Presenters: Rachel Cox and Mary Seal
Title: “A Celebration of Florida Composers” Date: Saturday, October 17, 2:20pm – Lindsay recital Hall A lecture-recital for violin and piano that showcases such luminaries as Frederick Delius, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Ruth Crawford, James Stephenson, Jerry Casey, Alex Burzos, and Richard Danielpour. Artists are Rachel Cox, violin and Mary Seal, piano. Both are faculty at Florida Southwestern State College. Rachel Cox is presently a professor of violin and viola at Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers and an instructor for the Florida Gulf Coast University Academy. In 2017, in conjunction with two other members of the Music Foundation of Greater Naples, Rachel launched the Musical Moments Series at the Center for Performing Arts in Bonita Springs, the first year-round concert series in Southwest Florida. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Rachel currently resides in Cape Coral. Mary Griffin Seal is a pianist and music faculty member at Florida SouthWestern State College and Florida Gulf Coast University, teaching piano and also serving as staff accompanist at Florida SouthWestern. Ms. Seal majored in piano performance at Hartt College of Music and Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, where she received Bachelors and Masters degrees in piano performance, and was elected to membership in Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society. Professional organization service includes: President of Florida State Music Teachers Association, 2013-15 |
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Presenters: Charles Turon and Gail Berenson
Title: “The Teacher’s Role in Promoting Healthy, Joyful, Music Students” Date: Saturday, October 17, 2:20pm – KMU 240 One important legacy of MTNA and FSMTA is in the realm of musicians’ health and wellness. Both organizations have recognized that promoting students’ physical and mental wellbeing directly impacts their success and love of music and how teachers view their roles and responsibilities. This session presents the Functional Wholeness Continuum, a model which helps define those responsibilities. The wholeness continuum divides students’ wellbeing into three zones: “in development,” “at risk,” and “reaching independence.” Three words sum up the teacher’s role in each zone: instruct, alert, and inform. Teachers instruct students in healthful music making, alert them if they are at risk of injury, and inform them of how they can take responsibility for their own wellbeing. Equipping teachers in these areas involves education that is not a part of traditional teacher training. This session will include several sample scenarios as well as essential pedagogical and health-related resources for further exploration. 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. 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. Gail Berenson, Ohio University Professor Emerita of Piano, is a passionate advocate for educating musicians on musician health issues. Past President of Music Teachers National Association, she is a recipient of the 2015 MTNA Distinguished Service Award, the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy’s 2019 Outstanding Service Recognition Award and their 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award. She is co-chair of the FSMTA Wellness Committee and founded many music teacher associations, including the Musicians’ Health and Wellness Special Interest Group, affiliated with the International Society for Music Education. She continues as an active collaborative performer and a lecturer at the local, state, national, and international levels. |
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Presenter: Yukino Miyake
Title: Kiku Preludes: “American Cultural Intersections in the Music of Florida Composer Gary Smart”
Date: Sunday, October 18, 9:00am – Lindsay recital Hall
As Professor at the University of North Florida, Gary Smart has made significant contributions as a composer, performer, and educator. His music reflects the diverse influences that have shaped his artistic life, ranging from jazz to world music. Inspired by his experiences living in Japan, his Kiku Preludes, a set of thirteen piano miniatures, draw upon Japanese soundscapes, folk melodies, and cultural encounters. Written from a cross-cultural perspective, these works offer a fresh—and at times humorous—musical interpretation of Japanese culture. This lecture-recital explores the cultural associations and musical characteristics of the preludes, examining how Smart translates lived experience into musical expression. The presentation will conclude with a performance of selected preludes.
Japanese pianist Yukino Miyake is the winner of the Los Angeles Liszt International Competition and the Francis Walton Competition. She also received 2nd place at the All-Japan Artist Competition and 3rd place at the Novji International Music Competition. She began studying piano at the age of five and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kyoto City University of Arts. After moving to the United States, she completed a performance certificate at the University of North Florida, followed by a second Master’s degree in Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Houston. Miyake holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Title: Kiku Preludes: “American Cultural Intersections in the Music of Florida Composer Gary Smart”
Date: Sunday, October 18, 9:00am – Lindsay recital Hall
As Professor at the University of North Florida, Gary Smart has made significant contributions as a composer, performer, and educator. His music reflects the diverse influences that have shaped his artistic life, ranging from jazz to world music. Inspired by his experiences living in Japan, his Kiku Preludes, a set of thirteen piano miniatures, draw upon Japanese soundscapes, folk melodies, and cultural encounters. Written from a cross-cultural perspective, these works offer a fresh—and at times humorous—musical interpretation of Japanese culture. This lecture-recital explores the cultural associations and musical characteristics of the preludes, examining how Smart translates lived experience into musical expression. The presentation will conclude with a performance of selected preludes.
Japanese pianist Yukino Miyake is the winner of the Los Angeles Liszt International Competition and the Francis Walton Competition. She also received 2nd place at the All-Japan Artist Competition and 3rd place at the Novji International Music Competition. She began studying piano at the age of five and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kyoto City University of Arts. After moving to the United States, she completed a performance certificate at the University of North Florida, followed by a second Master’s degree in Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Houston. Miyake holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Presenter: Davis Dorrough
Title: “The Science of Student Motivation: Transforming Lessons Through Habit and Motivation Psychology”
Date: Sunday, October 18, 9:00am – KMU 240
Keeping students motivated can be a challenge, but lasting motivation is about more than rewards, stickers, and goal charts. This session explores the psychology behind why students engage, persist, and thrive, translating research into practical strategies that can be implemented immediately in the piano lesson.
Drawing on concepts such as Self-Determination Theory, growth mindset, the Zone of Proximal Development, and habit formation, we'll examine how students develop intrinsic motivation and how teachers can create the conditions that help it flourish. Learn how small adjustments in lesson design, repertoire selection, feedback, and student choice can increase engagement, build confidence, and encourage greater ownership of learning.
Whether you teach beginners or advanced students, you'll leave with research-informed strategies that transform motivation into lasting musical habits.
Davis Dorrough is a pianist, educator, author, and piano editor at Alfred Music. A frequent clinician, he has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences on student motivation, creativity, functional musicianship, composition, and studio teaching. He is the co-author of ten books, including the Easy Piano Lead Sheets and Chord Charts series, and has published numerous educational piano compositions. Davis served as Chair of the MTNA National Certification Commission and has received multiple honors, including the MTNA MarySue Harris Studio Teacher Fellowship Award and designation as an MTNA Foundation Fellow.
Title: “The Science of Student Motivation: Transforming Lessons Through Habit and Motivation Psychology”
Date: Sunday, October 18, 9:00am – KMU 240
Keeping students motivated can be a challenge, but lasting motivation is about more than rewards, stickers, and goal charts. This session explores the psychology behind why students engage, persist, and thrive, translating research into practical strategies that can be implemented immediately in the piano lesson.
Drawing on concepts such as Self-Determination Theory, growth mindset, the Zone of Proximal Development, and habit formation, we'll examine how students develop intrinsic motivation and how teachers can create the conditions that help it flourish. Learn how small adjustments in lesson design, repertoire selection, feedback, and student choice can increase engagement, build confidence, and encourage greater ownership of learning.
Whether you teach beginners or advanced students, you'll leave with research-informed strategies that transform motivation into lasting musical habits.
Davis Dorrough is a pianist, educator, author, and piano editor at Alfred Music. A frequent clinician, he has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences on student motivation, creativity, functional musicianship, composition, and studio teaching. He is the co-author of ten books, including the Easy Piano Lead Sheets and Chord Charts series, and has published numerous educational piano compositions. Davis served as Chair of the MTNA National Certification Commission and has received multiple honors, including the MTNA MarySue Harris Studio Teacher Fellowship Award and designation as an MTNA Foundation Fellow.
Presenter: Hui Xu
Title: “Why Fingering Matters in Classical Piano Pedagogy”
Date: Sunday, October 18, 9:00am – KMU 212
Students may play the correct notes, rhythms, and dynamics, yet their performances can still sound awkward. Often, the cause is inefficient fingering. This presentation explores how proper fingering serves as a foundation for technical ease, musical expression, memorization, and injury prevention in classical piano study.
Through examples from standard repertoire, participants will discover how fingering supports natural hand anatomy, facilitates smooth legato, improves technical efficiency, and reduces tension. The session also demonstrates how scales, arpeggios, and thoughtful fingering patterns build muscle memory and performance confidence.
Beyond technique, fingering is a pedagogical legacy passed from teacher to student across generations. Through the contributions of Leopold Godowsky, whose immigration enriched American piano culture and whose innovative approach to fingering influenced generations of pianists, this presentation highlights the transmission of musical knowledge. In honor of America's 250th anniversary, it reflects music's power to connect cultures, generations, and educational traditions.
Dr. Hui Xu is an internationally recognized concert pianist, educator, and recording artist whose performances have been presented throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Acclaimed for her technical brilliance, expressive depth, and refined musical artistry, she has built a distinguished career as both performer and teacher.
Originally trained in China and Eastern Europe, Dr. Xu earned the Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Florida State University. She maintains an active international performing career and is an MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, a recognized Steinway & Sons Top Piano Teacher, and a frequent adjudicator for piano competitions and festivals.
Dr. Xu is the founder and artistic director of Inner Art of Music and serves on the piano faculty at St. Petersburg College. Her students have earned top prizes at national and international competitions and have performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Mozarteum Salzburg, and Palau de la Música Catalana. Through her YouTube channel, Inner Art of Music, she also reaches a global audience, with select videos exceeding 500,000 views.
Title: “Why Fingering Matters in Classical Piano Pedagogy”
Date: Sunday, October 18, 9:00am – KMU 212
Students may play the correct notes, rhythms, and dynamics, yet their performances can still sound awkward. Often, the cause is inefficient fingering. This presentation explores how proper fingering serves as a foundation for technical ease, musical expression, memorization, and injury prevention in classical piano study.
Through examples from standard repertoire, participants will discover how fingering supports natural hand anatomy, facilitates smooth legato, improves technical efficiency, and reduces tension. The session also demonstrates how scales, arpeggios, and thoughtful fingering patterns build muscle memory and performance confidence.
Beyond technique, fingering is a pedagogical legacy passed from teacher to student across generations. Through the contributions of Leopold Godowsky, whose immigration enriched American piano culture and whose innovative approach to fingering influenced generations of pianists, this presentation highlights the transmission of musical knowledge. In honor of America's 250th anniversary, it reflects music's power to connect cultures, generations, and educational traditions.
Dr. Hui Xu is an internationally recognized concert pianist, educator, and recording artist whose performances have been presented throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Acclaimed for her technical brilliance, expressive depth, and refined musical artistry, she has built a distinguished career as both performer and teacher.
Originally trained in China and Eastern Europe, Dr. Xu earned the Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Florida State University. She maintains an active international performing career and is an MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, a recognized Steinway & Sons Top Piano Teacher, and a frequent adjudicator for piano competitions and festivals.
Dr. Xu is the founder and artistic director of Inner Art of Music and serves on the piano faculty at St. Petersburg College. Her students have earned top prizes at national and international competitions and have performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Mozarteum Salzburg, and Palau de la Música Catalana. Through her YouTube channel, Inner Art of Music, she also reaches a global audience, with select videos exceeding 500,000 views.
Presenters: Collegiate Presentations
Organized by Lindsay Garritson
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2:20pm – KMU 212
Organized by Lindsay Garritson
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2:20pm – KMU 212
Roundtable Discussions: Navigating Your Teaching Career at Every Stage
Date: Saturday, October 17, 3:25pm
Emerging Professionals (green) – KMU 212
Established Professionals (orange) – Linsay Recital Hall
Seasoned Professionals/Legacy & Leadership (red) – KMU 240
Date: Saturday, October 17, 3:25pm
Emerging Professionals (green) – KMU 212
Established Professionals (orange) – Linsay Recital Hall
Seasoned Professionals/Legacy & Leadership (red) – KMU 240