Winter 2001: Volume 12, Number 4

The following is from The Editor's Page, by Elvina Pearce:

A Report on The National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy This past July, I was one of the nearly 700 pianists, teachers, and music industry representatives who attended the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) held in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook. This Conference (whose theme was "Extraordinary Results with Every Student through Exceptional Teaching") reactivated the original National Conference on Piano Pedagogy founded by Richard Chronister and James Lyke in 1979. For the event, more than 200 individuals participated as speakers, demonstration teachers, workshop presenters, performers, committee chairpersons, and resource and discussion leaders. An optional, well-attended half-day Pre-Conference Seminar preceded the actual three-day convention. Its theme was "Toward a Pedagogy for the New Millennium" and it was devoted primarily to concerns of those involved with teacher-training. Each morning and afternoon session of the three-day Conference itself began with a Mini-Recital featuring "traditional" pre-college level students (as opposed to "super-stars") playing "age-appropriate" repertoire and playing it beautifully! For many attendees, this turned out to be one of the highlights of the Conference! Daily sessions also included outstanding keynote addresses and programs featuring teaching demonstrations, workshops, poster presentations, and numerous break-out sessions where we all had an opportunity to participate in small group discussions of the topics and activities of the day. Other inspiring events included a session titled Pedagogical Legacies of the Past presented by three artist-teachers who were students of Philipp, Horszowski, and Arrau, and two stunning evening concerts, one featuring MTNA's 2001 junior high, high school, and collegiate competition winners, and the other by Nelita True, the Conference Artist. The convention concluded with a Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony honoring Richard Chronister (who was also the founder of KEYBOARD COMPANION). The next NCKP is scheduled for August 7-9, 2003, with the pre-Conference Seminar on Wednesday, August 6th. It will again be held in Oak Brook, IL, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. So I urge you to PUT THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR NOW AND CONSIDER THIS BIENNIAL EVENT AS A MUST DO! About Our Cover Picture The picture on our Winter cover appeared on the back of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association 2001 Membership Directory in an advertisement sponsored by the Samuel Music Company. Its message was: "Samuel Music salutes the teachers of ISMTA. Thank you for teaching the value of piano lessons and the joy of music." With stores in Champaign, Springfield, Bloomington, Peoria, and Effingham (the home office), the Samuel Music Company is the largest full-line, full-service retail music company in downstate Illinois. It was recently listed by Music Trades Magazine as one of the top 200 music retailers in the United States. "Music for Everyone" describes its long-time mission to enrich the lives of people of all ages with the practical benefits and joy of music participation. KEYBOARD COMPANION is appreciative of Doug McDavitt and Samuel's for their generosity in supplying us with a copy of the picture as well as permission to use it on our cover. Doug said that this picture was actually part of the "300th Birthday of the Piano" celebration produced by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), and it was used in several printed promotions and covers, including a brochure at the Piano 300 Exhibition at the Smithsonian. The picture was produced by Lien/Nibauer Photography, Inc. © 2000.

To see a larger image of our cover art, please visit our Art Gallery.

FEATURED ARTICLE

RHYTHM DEPARTMENT

"What is your first concern when teaching rhythm to beginners?" appears in the current print issue, but it also was asked of six authors in the magazine's inaugural offering in the Spring of 1990. Since that is no longer available as a back issue, here is a re-print of those articles contributed by Joanne Smith, Barbara Wasson, Janell Whitby, Jane Magrath, Suzanne Guy, and Barbara English Maris.

The Web Editor's Introduction

s a music teacher, I felt a special elation when reading about and seeing on television the recent liberation of the people of Kabul in Afghanistan. One of the first things that happened, along with the appearance of women outside their homes and the flying of kites, was that MUSIC once again filled the air - singing, playing of recorded music, and presumably playing of instruments as well (reportedly within minutes of liberation). I heard a radio piece on the BBC World Service whose first thirty seconds consisted of only the sound of music spontaneously being made on the streets of Kabul. It was a poignant reminder to all of us how basic a human need it is to hear and make music - that life without music is life that is on hold. We cannot really know or feel the depth of the suffering that the people of Kabul endured during the past decade and more, but we certainly can appreciate their joy in once again being able to have music (and much more) as part of their daily lives. It is a further confirmation of how vitally important our work is as piano teachers, and how fortunate we are to have this responsibility.

These are the other articles that were in the Winter 2001 issue

Information on obtaining back issues

	The Magic Triangle: Teacher/Student/Parent Barbara Kreader, Editor	Should parents practice with their children? (Part Two)	Emily Ernst Randy Ernst
	The Other Teacher: Home Practice Elvina Pearce, Editor	What steps do you assign for pedal practice?	Rick Andrews Gregory Nagode
	Independence Day: Music Reading Craig Sale, Editor	How do you help a transfer student with poor reading skills?	Kelley Benson Suzanne Guy Rachel Snyder
	Let's Get Physical: Technique Scott McBride Smith, Editor	Boris Berlin: A tribute to Canada's pioneer of the piano	Laura Beauchamp Linda Metelsky Scott McBride Smith
	The Heart of the Matter: Rhythm Bruce Berr, Editor	What is your first concern when teaching rhythm to beginners?	Lyn Bronson Michelle Seibert
	Issues and Ideas: Perspectives in Pedagogy Kathleen Murray, Editor	How do you incorporate group teaching into your work with intermediate level students?	Susan Ogilvy Mary Van De Loo
	It's Never Too Late: Adult Piano Study Brenda Dillon, Editor	Is there a process versus product in teaching adult amateur students?	Lillian Livingston Jane Magrath
	Putting It All Together: Repertoire Marvin Blickenstaff, Editor	How (and when) do you teach phrasing?	Karen Beres Mariam Eley Mary Reiff
	Tomorrow Today: Technology George Litterst, Editor	In what order would you suggest that a new teacher acquire and integrate technology into his/her studio?	Michelle Gordon Shana Kirk Eularee Smith
	The World Around Us: News and Views Helen Smith Tarchalski, Editor	How does print publishing fit in a digital world?	Frank Hackinson Gail Lew Ralph Martino Danny Rocks

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The music in the background is
"Waltzing With One Glass Slipper" by Erin Creighton,
a music education student at Roosevelt University.
This piece was composed recently as a final project
for an undergraduate piano pedagogy class,
and was recorded by the composer.