Technology Sessions
Tradition and Transformation: Learning, Playing, and Teaching Outside the Box

(Biographies of all presenters are located below).

George Litterst, Coordinator

Linda Christensen
Studying Piano Concerti: the Power of Virtual Reality
This session will provide information on web resources and software available to facilitate learning piano concerti, including sites that provide MIDI files and demonstrations of various software titles that provide "smart accompaniment".

Kathy Maskell
It's Never Too Late for Recreational Music Making
Definitely a "hot topic" for Baby Boomers and Seniors, we will take a look at how music lessons for adults of all ages have changed in recent years and how the joy of music-making is taking center stage.

Mario Ajero
Podcasting: Harnessing the Power of Internet Audio and Video to Educate and Motivate Students
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.

Serena Mackey and Susan Flinn
Recreational Music Making in Every Lesson
Recreational Music Making (RMM) principles cross generation lines. Not just for Baby Boomers, this new wave in music education applies to Gen X students and the Millennial generation now 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
News From the Cutting Edge
Come see how real studios are using technology to market themselves and improve their business. During this interactive session, participants will complete and discuss a "needs assessment" to focus and grow their resources. Jammed full of take-home and self-learning materials.

Susan Capestro
Just What Is All That Jazz?
Not the hit song from the musical, Chicago, but bring your dancin' fingers anyway! Gather individual and group techniques. Experience characteristics of various jazz styles, like swing and bebop, through fun activities in the lab.

Alejandro Cremaschi
You Deserve a Media-Rich Website
Studio websites must do more than list contact information, biography and studio policies. This presentation will show you how to boost your website with audio, MIDI and video clips, photos, RSS feeds, blogs and other exciting possibilities.

Lisa Zdechlik
Got Galumph? Technology Rescues the Long Lost Art of Improvisation
This interactive improvisatory session explores ways to reclaim your spirit of play at the keyboard with the help of technology. Discover playing out of the box through musical painting, galumphing and more.

Mario Ajero, Shana Kirk, George Litterst Teaching Outside the Box: Long-Distance Technologies to Connect Your Studio to Students across Town or around the Globe
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.

Serena Mackey, Kathy Maskell, Alejandro Cremaschi, Lisa Zdechlik
Musicianship and Cooperative Learning
This session will show how teachers can use technology to promote musicianship and cooperative group learning through ensemble activities, peer tutoring, and group improvisation. Featured technology: MIDI keyboards, sequencers and files, and teacher's lab control console.

Michelle Sisler, Alejandro Cremaschi
High Tech Hits Home - Practical Tips for Audio and Video Recording
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.

Serena Mackey, Kathy Maskell
Connecting the Dots...Matching Methods and Machines
Using examples from diverse method books, enhance teaching time by matching software, MIDI files, digital piano resources and supplement materials to resources already in your studio! Create a concept-based, technology-rich curriculum that works for you and eliminates last minute lesson planning.

Presenter Biographies

photo Mario Ajero
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.

photo Susan Capestro
Susan Capestro, MM, Northwestern University, BM, Ithaca College, composed Tropism, an MMTA-commissioned piano/synthesizer duet, music for corporations and documentaries. She performs with symphony and jazz musicians, maintains wholeoctave.com and teaches jazz and traditional repertoire synergistically.

photo Linda Christensen
Dr. Linda Christensen teaches piano and music technology at Wayne State College. She is a frequent presenter at MTNA and NCKP, and has been published in Keyboard Companion and Piano Pedagogy Forum.

photo Alejandro Cremaschi
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.

photo Susan Flinn
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.

photo Shana Kirk
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.

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

photo Serena Mackey
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.

photo Kathy Maskell
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.

photo Michelle Sisler
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.

photo Lisa Zdechlik
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.