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MWSU | Academics/Departments | Music | KEYBOARD STUDIES |
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The keyboard studies program at Missouri Western State University offers instruction to students in piano and organ. Highly qualified faculty provide students with the individual attention necessary for their development as pianists and musicians. OverviewThe keyboard program at MWSU is unusual in the Midwest because of its dual emphases on performance and scholarship. Because of the faculty's philosophy that the training of excellent performers and teachers must include an in-depth understanding of literature and pedagogy as well as advanced technical skills, a four-year cycle of topics in literature and pedagogy is required of the applied keyboard major. The excellent practice facilities include grand pianos, professional upright pianos, and a Zuckermann harpsichord. For performance, three Steinway nine-foot concert grand pianos are available. Many of the keyboard alumni of MWSU have distinguished themselves as successful performers, studio teachers, in graduate music programs (including graduate assistantship awards), and in other careers for which the keyboard degree proved to be beneficial. In addition to departmental scholarships, students may apply for the St. Joseph Area Music Teachers Association (SJAMTA) cash scholarship which is awarded annually to an incoming freshman piano major. Piano Pedagogy The Piano Pedagogy program at MWSU is built on the philosophy of preparing students to be successful studio teachers for students of any age and ability. By observing teachers instructing students and actually teaching in supervised situations, students become aware of the ingredients of a successful piano instruction program. Every Spring semester a pedagogy seminar is offered to piano majors emphasizing a different aspect of successful piano teaching. Methods for both group and private instruction are presented. Students are encouraged to make use of the pedagogy library which contains many materials to assist in piano instruction. The modern electronic piano lab is another resource available to students who wish to pursue group or classroom instruction. Piano majors are invited to become members of the St. Joseph Area Music Teachers Association (SJAMTA), a group of highly dedicated teachers working together to provide the best possible instruction to children in the St. Joseph area. The organization, which is a member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), holds monthly meetings at MWSU featuring guest lecturers from the four-state region. MWSU students often attend the annual state convention of the Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA), featuring performers, lecturers, and clinicians of national prominence. Keyboard Activities The keyboard majors at MWSU have many opportunities to perform for guest artists, area organizations, student recitals, and the weekly piano seminar as well as gaining exposure in accompanying and chamber music. A sixteen-piano ensemble with up to thirty-two performers annually presents a "Monster Concert"; that has become a popular crowd-pleaser. Performing in this organization gives students a group experience that enables them to learn to follow a conductor and introduces them to a vast realm of piano ensemble literature as well as transcriptions of symphonic and operatic works. Piano majors may also compete each spring for cash scholarships established by the St. Joseph Area Music Teachers Association (SJAMTA) to reward students for high achievement in performance. Keyboard Classes, Projects, and Programs
Recording Project
Faculty: Dr. Matthew Edwards (Director of Keyboard Studies, Piano Literature), Dr. David Bennett (Piano, Piano Pedagogy), William I. McMurray (Organ, Music History), Jerry L. Anderson (Piano). |
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