Pre-Conference Seminars
Tradition and Transformation: Learning, Playing, and Teaching Outside the Box
Wednesday, August 1, 2:00 PM-9:30PM

Pre-Conference Keynote Address
Launching 21st Century Musicians: Mentoring the Citizen/Artist
Angela Myles Beeching
Angela Myles Beeching, Director of the New England Conservatory Career Services Center, has presented workshops for the National Association of Schools of Music, Chamber Music America, Eastman, Peabody, and Oberlin Conservatories. A Fulbright Scholar, with a doctorate from SUNY Stony Brook, she authored Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music, published by Oxford University Press.

The conference will present four pre-conference seminars running concurrently on Wednesday, August 1.

for Independent Music Teachers - The Joy of Music Making
NCKP Committee on Independent Teachers
Susan See, Chair

The Joy of Music Making
presented by: Susan See, Carmen Shaw, Kelly Freije, Karen Thickstun
This prelude to the day's events will involve all independent teacher attendees performing "en masse" in a most joyful and entertaining manner. Intrigued? Come be a part of it!

Susan See teaches piano at Iowa Mennonite High School and in her home studio in Washington, IA. She is in demand as a soloist, clinician, and collaborative artist. She was the chairperson of the NCKP Committee on Independent Teachers in 2005.

Karen Thickstun, NCTM, teaches piano and piano pedagogy at Butler University and is director of the Butler Community Arts School, where she supervises 60 instructors. She maintains an independent studio in Nashville, IN. She is currently serving as Director-Elect for the East Central Division of MTNA.

Carmen Shaw, NCTM, teaches students of all ages and levels in Oshkosh, WI. She is active in professional associations, performs, adjudicates, presents workshops, and directs a church choir. She has been on the faculty of UW/Oshkosh.

Kelly Freije holds a B.M. in piano performance from Western Michigan University and an M.M. in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. She is an adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan University and maintains an independent piano studio in north-central Indiana.

"Improv" and Classics Converge: Students Skyrocket!
presented by: Susan Capestro
What happens when students learn skills associated with contemporary styles, not sporadically, but as fully integrated parts of piano study? Structural knowledge, improvising and arranging activities don't compete with traditional repertoire; they complement and enhance students' mastery of the classics.

Susan Capestro, MM, Northwestern University, BM, Ithaca College, an independent studio teacher from Massachusetts, has composed music for corporations and documentaries, as well as Tropism, an MMTA-commissioned piano/synthesizer duet. She authors articles, leads conference sessions, performs with symphony and jazz musicians, maintains wholeoctave.com and teaches jazz, popular music, and traditional repertoire synergistically.

Finding Perfect Pieces from the Standard Repertoire
presented by: Ann Bader
Assigning motivating repertoire is essential for a student's success. The perfect piece inspires practice, imagination, and progress. Further, it often underlies a compelling performance. This session will focus on what needs to be considered when choosing repertoire and how the search can be done efficiently using the Internet.

Ann Bader is the creator of Treasures for Piano, a web site designed to aid teachers in selection of repertoire and materials. She recently donated this site to the University of Michigan after receiving a grant to study levels assigned to piano literature.

The Joy of Technique
presented by: Paul Wirth
In this presentation, Paul Wirth demonstrates, both live and on video, how he teaches technique and applies it to repertoire with 8 year-old pianist Serena Lu. Serena, who has been studying with "Dr. Paul" since the age of four, performed at the Goshen College Piano Workshop in the summer of 2006 and as soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in March of 2007.

Paul Wirth, a former assistant to Sidney Foster at Indiana University, has been adapting advanced concepts to precollege aged students for 25 years. Dr.Wirth is cofounder of the Central Minnesota Music School, the Salon se Leve concert series in St. Paul and the Young Artist Piano Camp in Duluth, MN. His students have been featured soloists in over fifty concerts with orchestra, and frequently on NPR's "From the Top."

Carnival of Creativity: Games and Off-the-Bench Activities
coordinator: Karen Thickstun
Every teacher needs a treasure chest of creative ideas, teaching games, and spontaneous student attention-getters. Come see what resources we have found to make learning AND teaching more joyful!

Karen Thickstun - Please see biography and photo above

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for Pedagogy Students and Young Professionals - Communication and Community
NCKP Committee on the Pedagogy Student
Linda Holzer and Katie Goins, co-chairs

Establishing Your Credentials: Using Your Resume and Portfolio for Maximum Impact in Building a Teaching Career
presented by: Sylvia Coats, L. Scott Donald, Martha Hilley, Linda Holzer, Janice Meyer Thompson
In this interactive session, pedagogues from a variety of backgrounds will discuss the job application process specifically for piano teachers, including job searches and the creation of application materials, cover letters, recommendations, resumes, and teaching demonstration audio/video samples (tapes or DVD). Audience questions are welcomed; please feel free to talk about your own experience with the piano teaching job market!

Sylvia Coats is professor of piano pedagogy and class piano at Wichita State University. She authored Thinking as You Play: Teaching Piano in Individual and Group Lessons, published by Indiana University Press. She serves as chair of the MTNA National Certification Commission. She recently presented at conferences in Kuala Lumpur, Austin, and Beijing. She performs with the Sotto Voce Trio, who is producing a CD of their commissioned works.

L. Scott Donald is the Administrative Director of the New School for Music Study in Kingston, NJ. He holds degrees from Furman University and the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied piano with Danielle Martin and pedagogy with Robert Duke, Martha Hilley, and Amanda Vick Lethco. He has published articles in Texas Music Education Research, Piano Pedagogy Forum, and Keyboard Companion.

Martha Hilley serves as chair of the Keyboard Division and director of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Texas at Austin School of Music. She has taught for International Workshops in Italy, Belgium, Hawaii, Australia, and Norway as well as for the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Alaska and the Summer Keyboard Institute at Tunghai University in Taichung, Taiwan.

Linda Holzer is associate professor of piano at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. An active soloist and chamber musician, she has been heard in concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and New York Public Radio Station WNYC-FM. As an author, Holzer has been published in Piano & Keyboard, Clavier, and American Music Teacher magazine.

Janice Meyer Thompson, pianist, is an accomplished soloist, duo-pianist, collaborative artist, and master teacher who has enjoyed a richly diverse musical career. She is Professor of Piano Pedagogy and Keyboard Area Coordinator at the Arizona State University School of Music, Tempe, Arizona. Dr.Thompson enjoys a national reputation for her leadership in the field of piano pedagogy and is a frequent presenter at national and international music conferences, festivals and master classes.

Paths to Entrepreneurial Success: Music Teaching, Music Business, and Music Technology
presented by: Mario Ajero, Susan Capestro, Katie Goins, Christopher Hepp
Through a panel presentation, experts will describe their business and technology usage relative to piano teaching. How does business savvy enhance the teaching studio and job satisfaction for student and teacher? How does technology enhance teaching? What kind of equipment should I buy for my teaching studio that fits my budget and won't immediately be out of date? How have changes in culture and technology affected piano teaching? Audience questions are welcomed; we ask that you come prepared to pick the presenters' brains and share your own thoughts!

Mario Ajero is Coordinator of Class Piano and Piano Pedagogy at Stephen F. Austin State University. Currently finishing his doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, he previously taught at Temple University. He has presented at the MTNA National Conference and has written articles for Keyboard Companion and American Music Teacher.

Susan Capestro, MM, Northwestern University, BM, Ithaca College, an independent studio teacher from Massachusetts, has composed music for corporations and documentaries, as well as Tropism, an MMTA-commissioned piano/synthesizer duet. She authors articles, leads conference sessions, performs with symphony and jazz musicians, maintains wholeoctave.com and teaches jazz, popular music, and traditional repertoire synergistically.

Katie Goins received the DMA degree in Music and Human Learning with a specialization in Piano Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin. The 2003 recipient of the NFMC Lynn Freeman Olson Piano Pedagogy Award, she earned the MM degree at Ohio University where she studied with Gail Berenson. She is currently on the piano faculty of The New School for Music Study.

Christopher Hepp is on leave-of-absence from his Associate Professor position at University of Kansas, having accepted a management position with Sherman Clay in California, one of the nation's oldest and largest retailers of Steinway & Sons pianos.  A nationally recognized performer, author, and lecturer, he was the co-founder of SH Productions video company and PianoAmerica, the first store to combine digital piano sales and instruction.

Are We Having Fun Yet? Reflections on Building the Career You Want
facilitated by: Linda Holzer and Katie Goins, with other seminar presenters
Gather with colleagues and friends for thoughtful sharing of ideas, questions and concerns about what it means to be a piano teacher. Using a flexible small-group discussion format, we'll consider such questions as: How do you define professional satisfaction, and is your work satisfying? How do you strike a balance between personal development and professional development? What are your professional goals for the coming year? What are your most helpful time-management tools? Everyone's an expert here! We all wrestle with professional challenges. No matter where you are in the continuum - student, novice music teacher, experienced music teacher - your participation is warmly welcomed.

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for the Collegiate Teacher - Pedagogy Today: Missing Links
Brenda Wristen, coordinator
Phyllis Lehrer and Sam Holland, co-coordinators

Integrating Wellness Principles into College Pedagogy and Performance Curricula
An overview of the newly revised wellness curriculum and interactive panel discussions that consider the 'Pedagogy Perspective' and the 'Performance Perspective.' To review the current wellness resources, visit www.FrancesClarkCenter.org, click the National Conference tab and the 'Wellness' link under 'Resources.'

Brenda Wristen directs the Piano Pedagogy and Keyboard Skills programs at the University of Nebraska--Lincoln. She has published her research regarding musician wellness and biomechnics of piano technique in numerous national musical and scientific venues.

Phyllis Alpert Lehrer is Professor of Piano and Director of Graduate Pedagogy at Westminter Choir College of Rider University. She is an active performer, teacher, clinician, editor and author. Recent publications include editions for FJH and Carl Fischer.

Competency-based Guidelines in the College Pedagogy Curriculum
Chaired by Frances Larimer, the Task Force on Pedagogy Curricula has prepared and published competency-based guidelines for pedagogy studies at undergraduate and graduate levels. What are the competencies and how do we incorporate them into decision-making, curriculum-building, and evaluation in the college curriculum? Furthermore, how can we effectively utilize rigorous, competency-based guidelines in effective advocacy for the pedagogy curriculum with administrators and accreditors? To review the current guidelines, visit www.FrancesClarkCenter.org, click the National Conference tab, and the "Curriculum" link under "Resources".

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Technology Immersion Track
Hands-on lab and lecture sessions in small groups afford participants the opportunity to learn from experts in the field of music technology. Sessions are planned for both novices and those already experienced in using technology in the studio.
George Litterst, coordinator.

George Litterst is a nationally-known music educator, clinician, author, performer, and music software developer. He works extensively with the DisklavierTM piano and is co-author of the intelligent accompaniment software program, Home Concert Xtreme, and the electronic music blackboard, Classroom Maestro.

Building the 21st Century Piano Studio: How to Get Started (lecture/novice)
presented by: Susan Flinn and Michelle Gordon

Susan Flinn is an independent music teacher and owner of Flinn Piano Studio, Inc. and The Music Studio, LLC, in Stafford, Virginia. She holds a Music Business degree from James Madison University, and was a presenter with the Technology Committee at the 2001 World Piano Pedagogy Conference and the 2004 MTNA Conference.

Michelle Gordon, past-president of the Massachusetts MTA, is a private piano instructor, a church musician, choral accompanist, and licensed Kindermusik educator. She has written for Keyboard Companion and presented Technology Symposium sessions at the MTNA national conference.

Useful Information Everywhere: How to Design a Computer Lab Curriculum Using Internet Resources (lecture/novice)
presented by: Michelle Gordon

High Tech Hits Home--Recording in Your Studio (lecture/novice)
presented by: Alejandro Cremaschi, Michelle Sisler
Learn how to easily record from your digital or acoustic piano, voice or other instrument right in your own studio for recording CDs or in order to upload to the internet for your website or podcasting. We will take you through the basics of audio recording and editing, file types, what equipment and software you will need, and step-by-step instructions on how to get started! Learn how to transfer new or old digital or analog video recordings to your computer, edit them and make them into files ready for DVDs websites and podcasting.

Dr. Alejandro Cremaschi teaches at the University of Colorado at Boulder. An active performer and a specialist in the areas of group piano pedagogy and technology, he has recorded for the label Marco Polo and presented at national and international conferences.

Michelle Sisler is a piano teacher in Owatonna, MN and is the owner of Keys to Imagination, a resource for music teachers adding technology to their studios. She has presented at MTNA, state conferences, and has written for Keyboard Companion and Clavier.

Podcasting: Harnessing the Power of Internet Audio and Video to Educate and Motivate Students(lecture/intermediate/advanced)
presented by: Mario Ajero
With the popularization of mobile devices like the iPod, learn how to take advantage of accessible technology that can deliver digital audio and video content to your students, fellow teachers, and people around the world.

Mario Ajero is Coordinator of Class Piano and Pedagogy at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has written for Keyboard Companion and American Music Teacher and presented at the MTNA national conference and GP3 Forum.

Need-to-Know Notation: Time-saving Tips & Tricks for Creating Customized Student Materials(lecture/intermediate/advanced)
presented by: Shana Kirk, Kathy Maskell

A self-avowed gadget-geek, Shana Kirk works closely with music industry leaders such as Time Warp Technologies and the Yamaha Corporation of America to share the benefits of technology with the teaching community. She maintains a teaching studio in Denver, CO.

Kathy Maskell, NCTM is the owner of MusicWorks, Inc. Tewksbury MA. Having held several positions in Massaschusetts Music Teachers Association, she was chosen as their Teacher of the Year for 2006. Kathy has given music technology presentations for MTNA conferences and has written articles for Keyboard Companion.

Teaching Outside the Box: Long-Distance Technologies to Connect Your Studio to Students across Town or around the Globe (lecture/intermediate/advanced)
presented by: Shana Kirk, George Litterst
Explore practical, Internet-based options for teaching individual students, masterclasses, and even music history or theory courses. No matter where you or your students live, you can teach in their homes without ever leaving your studio.
(see biographies and photos above>

Recreational Music Making in Every Lesson(lab/all participants)
presented by: Serena Mackey and Susan Flinn
RMM principles cross generation lines. Not just for Baby Boomers, this new wave in music education applies to Gen X students and the new Millennial generation filling our schools. Discover how to include de-stressing, non-performance, music exploration into lessons for every age and level using minimum technology and maximum fun!

Serena Mackey is owner and program director of the studio, a teaching studio in Boise, Idaho serving 200 piano students. Serena presents nationwide on a variety of topics including group teaching, the business of teaching, technology and pedagogy. Her writings and curriculum are known for humor, zest, and practical ideas. Serena lives on the swinging bridge between traditional standards and contemporary methods. She is learning balance.

See Flinn biography and photo above.

Got Galumph? Technology Rescues the Long Lost Art of Improvisation(lab/all participants)
presented by: Lisa Zdechlik
Beethoven and Mozart did it. The well-rounded musician is not complete without it. It helps everything musical, from understanding theory to playing beautifully, yet is often overlooked. Technology is in a unique position to help.

Lisa Zdechlik is an Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy and Group Piano at the University of Arizona. Her research involves the interaction between music analysis and performance and the applications of current technologies to music learning.

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