Steering Committee
Laura Beauchamp, Lenoir Rhyne College
Michelle Conda, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Barbara Fast, University of Oklahoma
Andrew Hisey, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music
The second National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum (GP3) was held August 2-3, 2002 at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. This intensive, two-day forum was specifically designed for college and university group piano and piano pedagogy teachers. The first day was devoted to group piano teaching and the second day focused on piano pedagogy. Similar to the first forum held in 2000, a unique feature of the conference was an on-sight library consisting of syllabi, proficiency requirements, and other course materials brought by participants. These were available for browsing throughout the forum.
A complimentary welcome reception was held August 1, on the Rooftop Garden of the conference hotel, the Vernon Manor. The reception was sponsored by the Yamaha Corporation and Vernon Manor.
The Forum began with a day devoted to the teaching of group piano. The opening panel presentation focused on group piano and piano proficiency. Five representatives from different types of institutions shared how the piano proficiency is handled at their schools. Panelists included: Glenna Sprague (Oakton Community College), Andrew Hisey (Oberlin Conservatory), Cynthia Benson (Bowling Green State University), Tim Shook (Southwestern College), Timothy Shafer (Penn State University). Questions discussed included:
Two rotations of small group discussions followed the panel presentation. Additionally, participants filled out a questionnaire related to various components of piano proficiency at their respective institutions.
The afternoon featured four presentations on group teaching techniques. Participants rotated and were able to attend all four sessions. Presenters and topics were: Michelle Conda, "Teaching Popular Chording in the Group Piano Setting;" George Litterst, " Putting it All Together: Using Personal Computers in the 21st Century Piano Laboratory;" Ann Milliman Gipson, "Facilitating Group Interaction Within the Piano Class;" Martha Hilley, "Web-Based Instructional Support for Group Piano."
The afternoon concluded with a presentation by Connie Arrau Sturm, "Video Excerpts to American Group Piano Pioneers." Using excerpts of videotapes from her doctoral research, Dr. Sturm illustrated and discussed components of successful group piano teaching.
The first day of the conference was brought to a close with a complimentary reception hosted by MTNA (Music Teachers National Association).
The second day of the forum was devoted to teaching piano pedagogy at the college level. The opening panel discussion topic was "Perspectives on Pedagogy Teaching: "How do you Teach Beginning Teachers to Teach Beginning Technique?" Panel members included Jane Magrath (University of Oklahoma), Mary Craig Powell (Capital University), and Sam Holland (Southern Methodist University).
The morning concluded with two small group discussions on the following topics: "Share your favorite technology-focused assignment or project from your pedagogy course," and "Share your favorite non-technology-focused assignment or project from your pedagogy course."
The afternoon began with a presentation by Lynda Metelsky, Senior Examiner at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, "Perspectives on Pedagogy Teaching: Testing and Evaluating Pedagogy Students at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto." Her presentation was followed by two rotations of small group discussions on the topic: "How do you test and evaluate the work of pedagogy students in courses and internships at your institution?"
The afternoon concluded with self-selecting small group discussions in which participants were asked to meet with colleagues who work in situations similar to their own. The three designated groups were: people who teach at undergraduate institutions whose loads are limited to the piano area, people who teach at undergraduate institutions whose loads include work in other areas (theory, aural skills, music appreciation/history, administration), and people who supervise graduate students.
Click on the link http://pianopedagogy.uc.edu/ to access a list of participants, comments, and pictures from GP3 2002. The following reports of the various panel presentations, individual presentations, and small group discussions serve as the forum proceedings.
Barbara Fast
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