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Demonstration Teaching

Frances Clark In Action

The reputation of Frances Clark is legendary. Her publications are readily available, but few of us had the opportunity to study with her or observe her teaching. On Thursday morning, the conference will see rare footage of Frances Clark teaching in private and group settings accompanied with commentary by Louise Goss, Dr. Clark's teaching partner.

Frances Clark's life and career influenced the entire field of piano-teacher-training in the last half of the twentieth century. The fresh, new philosophy of teaching that formed the basis of the piano pedagogy programs she initiated at Kalamazoo College (MI) and later transplanted to Westminster Choir College and The New School for Music Study (Princeton, NJ), was the result of her distinguished lifetime career as a pioneering music educator.

Recreational Music Making for Adult Piano Students

Brenda Dillon and Debra Perez

Countless adults yearn to play the piano. RMM stress-free classes are "dream-fulfillment opportunities" as adults learn that there is no expiration date on dreams. Brenda Dillon will demonstrate RMM classes with two pianos and Debra Perez will demonstrate RMM classes with multiple pianos.

Brenda Dillon, Project Director for the National Piano Foundation, is a leader in the RMM movement -- teaching classes, training teachers, writing articles and developing materials. She is also on the advisory board of the Frances Clark Center.

Debra Perez maintains a successful RMM program for adult piano students in South Texas. This program has drawn national attention from both educators and music retailers. Ms. Perez is currently co-authoring a 15-book RMM program for adult piano students.

For more information on Recreational Music Making, visit:
http://www.pianonet.com/
http://rmm.namm.org/

Distance Learning

Paul Sheftel and Jennifer Snow

In this remarkable teaching demonstration, technology and piano pedagogy interface to illustrate an expanded possibility for the piano lesson. Jennifer Snow will be on-stage at the conference teaching a student in New York City. Conversely, Paul Sheftel will be in New York as he teaches a student seated in front of the audience at the conference in Lombard.

To see a video demonstration of distance learning with a Disklavier MarkIV® piano, click this following YouTube link: video demonstration

Jennifer Snow is an accomplished performer who has appeared as a solo and collaborative pianist throughout Canada, the United States, Asia, and Europe. Currently on the faculty at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, Dr. Snow teaches piano, collaborative piano, and pedagogy.

Paul Sheftel is a leader in keyboard studies and has performed, lectured, and conducted workshops throughout the United States. His published materials and software are widely used in the US, Europe, and Asia.

Master Class with MTNA Winners

Renowned teacher and pianist Robert Weirich will conduct a master class with the three winners of the 2009 MTNA Piano Auditions.

Robert Weirich leads an active career as a pianist, teacher, author, and activist. He holds the Jack Strandberg Missouri Endowed Chair in Piano at the UMKC Conservatory in Kansas City. His articles and reviews have been published by various music magazines, most recently Clavier Companion.

For more information on Robert Weirich, visit:

Robert Weirich Home Page