Presented by
The Nazareth College Department of Music,
Rochester Piano Teachers Guild and NYSMTA District12
With Guest Left Hand, Beverly Smoker
Monday, June 23, 2008 (Rehearsal Hall, A4)
01:00 - 3:00 pm. Road to Technical and Stylistic Mastery (Part 1).
03:00 - 3:30 pm. Break
03:30 - 5:00 pm. Teaching Rubato: Bend It, but Don't Break It!
Tuesday June 24, 2008 (Rehearsal Hall, A4)
09:00 - 09:45 am. Road to Technical and Stylistic Mastery (Part 2); Discussion of assigned repertoire for technical/musical considerations .
09:45 - 11:00 am. Keys to Artistic Performance (Wilmot Recital Hall)
11:30 - 12:00 pm. Teacher Technique Group Therapy: Bring Me Your Problems - Let's Talk! (Rehearsal Hall, A4)
01:30 - 02:30 pm. Training Your Students To Hear and See What You Do! (Wilmot Recital Hall)
03:00 - 05:00 pm. Master Class (Wilmot Recital Hall)
Teaching Rubato: Bend It, But Don't Break It
We, as piano teachers face many challenges, perhaps one of the greatest being the maintenance of a steady tempo in our students' playing with a strict inner pulse. But what happens when they reach all of that splendid repertoire that demands rhythmic freedom? This workshop will provide teachers with ideas on when and why we use rubato, as well as techniques for how to teach students to play with rhythmic freedom beginning at an early age. Professor Clarfield will perform and provide an extensive list of repertoire form early intermediate to advanced levels that are effective in teaching rubato.
The Road to Technical and Stylistic Mastery
This workshop examines the essential elements of building a solid technique that leads to greater musicality and stylistic awareness. Attention will be given on how to achieve the correct sound that will result in desired musical purpose. An overview of the stylistic traits of the musical periods will be presented as they relate to how a student learns and polishes their repertoire for performance. Repertoire and exercises will be demonstrated from Elementary through Advanced levels. Professor Clarfield will incorporate examples from her books, Burgmüller, Czerny and Hanon: Piano Studies Selected for Technique and Musicality, and Keys to Stylistic Mastery (Books 1,2,3 co-authored with Dennis Alexander) published by Alfred Publishing Company.