Winter
2005, Vol. 16 #4
Some reflections on the 2005 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP)
The third biennial National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) was held August 4-6, 2005 at the Doubletree Chicago/Oak Brook Hotel. Under the sponsorship of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, the Conference was attended by close to 800 pianists and teachers from throughout the United States, as well as from a number of European countries and Australia.
The Keynote Address
Surely one of the highlights of the Conference was the opening address given by keynote speaker Karl T. Bruhn, who is recognized worldwide as the "father of music-making and wellness." His address was entitled "Music-Making and Wellness: An Idea Whose Time Has Come." Here is just some of the information which Karl included in his presentation.
Rhythm Dept: Pianist Evan Hirsch provides audio clips of practice steps and a complete performance of the Chopin Prelude in Em.
Perspectives in Pedagogy Dept: Paul Romero and Ann Herlong, winners of the Van Cliburn Amateurs' Competition, share their performances and arrangements.
Music Reading Dept: Meg Gray and LeAnn Halvorson provide more photos of how they help their students practice sight-reading.
On
teaching: "Teaching
is the essential profession ... the one that makes all others
possible."
Population: Statistics tell us that the number of babies
being born is shrinking, and the number of people living longer
is growing. Over the next sixteen years, the number of people
over age 50 will grow by about 74% while the number of people
under age 50 will grow by only 1%.
Music, age, and health: Over 70% of the visits to doctors'
offices are for stress-related problems. In recent years, research
has shown that music has deep biological roots and is a fundamental
part of human nature.
On aging and change: The mind and body are inseparable.
Our feelings and beliefs translate into biology. Choices and
actions affect us in many ways. Experiences condition unique
responses, which in turn, program our state of health. While
the mind is certainly not the only determinant of our biology,
its role cannot be underestimated, especially when facing challenges
associated with perhaps the greatest stressor known to mankind
- change. Our work, relationships, capabilities, needs, health,
and all that provides meaning and purpose continues to change.
As we age, life has a tendency to change substantially. Here,
perhaps is the most important question: Is there a rational,
unifying strategy to promote BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, and SOCIOLOGICAL
determinants of wellness?
Recreational Music Making (RMM) - what it is, and what it is not
RMM is the participation in enjoyable, accessible, and fulfilling GROUP music-based activities. But it is not just the "same-old, same-old." Its benefits extend far beyond just learning to make music. RMM programs are not intended to diminish the importance of formal music education, and therefore will not compete with, or replace traditional music education.
The RMM philosophy is NOT about inspiring extraordinary music-making. It's about inspiring extraordinary living. It's NOT about exceptional performance. It's about exceptional support and personal experience. It's NOT about teaching people to play. It's about giving people permission to play. Its best facilitators are NOT just talented musicians, they are caring, compassionate and intuitive guides.
RMM programs are ideal for adults who don't consider themselves musical, think they have no talent or have a non-musical background. The fastest growing segment of our population is made up of people who are 50 or more and most likely a lot of them missed the opportunity to learn to play when they were younger. Also, those who are retired may just be looking for an opportunity to get involved in something like a RMM program.
RMM and the human genome
A recent groundbreaking research project whose principal investigator was Barry Bittman, M.D. of the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, PA, has shown for the first time that playing a musical instrument can reverse multiple components of the human stress response on the genomic level. According to Mr. Bruhn, this is an "unparalleled FIRST for the global music community ... the most important medical research discovery in the history of music-making" ... and "the most significant strategic breakthrough in our understanding of the health benefits of music-making."
When Dr. Bittman recently did an interview for an important scientific publication: he said, "The specificity of our protocol must be taken into consideration. The Clavinova Connection (the recreational music making program used in this study) was carefully designed to progressively condition a sense of success from the start. Our goal was to inspire far more than just creative non-verbal expression and communication. We wanted each participant to immediately sense a great deal of personal success, and feel supported by the group. We deliberately deemphasized technology, yet focused on the use of technology in the background as an enabler of creativity. Our findings must be considered within this context and should not be generalized. I do not support the notion that playing a musical instrument under all circumstances reduces stress. In fact, the quest for high levels of mastery and performance may be stress-inducing."
Some recommendations
Mr. Bruhn concluded his address by offering a few recommendations:
Recommendation #1: Reduce dropouts. Acknowledge that the
profession has a problem and then set out to fix it.
Recommendation #2: Increase the number of music-makers,
strive to provide more access to this activity for all individuals
of all ages.
Recommendation #3: Learn more about the adult market,
determine (as a profession) how to best serve it, and then you
(as an individual teacher) need to determine if it's for you.
Recommendation #4: Learn more about Recreational Music
Making, understanding the difference between traditional vs.
RMM instruction, and then you (as an individual teacher) need
to determine if it's for you.
Recreational Music Making and Wellness - It's a Quality
of Life (QOL) program ... "an idea whose time has come ...
an opportunity for the music community to do well by doing good."
Editor's Note: A good starting point for readers wanting to know more about the research Mr. Bruhn mentioned in his keynote address would be the Meadville Medical Center's Mind-Body Wellness Center website at www.mind-body.org. The research section provides additional information, video clips and important links.
Dr. Bittman can be reached via email at doctorb@mind-body.org and Mr. Bruhn can be reached at Bruhnassoc@aol.com. Also, for a comprehensive report on Dr. Bittman's research, see the News section of the Autumn 2005 issue of Keyboard Companion, pp. 60-62.
Karl T. Bruhn remains a respected and outspoken advocate for incorporating music-making into health care. With Dr. Barry Bittman, he is working on research projects focused on developing and scientifically testing the bio-psycho-social aspects of recreational music making. He has been president of the American Music Conference, the National Piano Foundation, Piano Manufacturers Association International, and Presidential Advisor to the American Music Therapy Association.
Other Conference events
The Pre-Conference Seminar on August 3 was extremely well attended and highly praised by registrants. It included a Keynote Address by Nelita True, and featured sessions for independent teachers, collegiate teachers of pedagogy, and for pedagogy students and young professionals.
Highlights of the Conference itself were noontime and evening concerts and receptions, daily Mini-Recitals featuring area pre-college students, teaching demonstrations, workshops, Research Poster Presentations, Technology Hubs, exhibits and Publisher Showcases.
Believing that a picture is indeed
worth a thousand words, we hope you enjoy the 2005 NCKP via the
Photo Gallery on page 5. The staff photographer for the event
was Carla Dean Day, and we are very appreciative of Carla's willingness
to allow us to reproduce all of these candid shots.
About Our Cover Art
Photos are taken from A Piano Teacher's Legacy - Selected Writings by Richard Chronister. Used with permission.
To see a larger image of our cover art, please visit our Art Gallery.
MULTIMEDIA ARTICLES
Rhythm Department
|
Pianist Evan Hirsch has provided audio clips of his demonstrating practice steps and a complete performance that accompany his article in the Rhythm Department, "How do you teach the rhythm challenges of the Chopin "Prelude in E Minor?" |
Perspectives in Pedagogy Department
|
Paul Romero and Ann Herlong recently won prizes in the Van Cliburn Amateurs' Competition. They share with us audio clips of parts of their performances. Paul has also provided a video clip. These supplement the article, "What experiences in your background influenced your decision to compete in the Van Cliburn Competition for Outstanding Amateurs?" |
Music Reading Department
|
Meg Gray and LeAnn Halvorson provide additional photographs to augment their discussion of "What steps do you assign for the process of sight-reading?" |
Also be sure to check out our page of
links to ALL of our multimedia articles in past
issues.
Table of Contents from
Winter 2005, Volume 16, Number 4
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The Magic Triangle: |
When can I play? |
Richard Chronister |
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The Other Teacher: |
What do college piano majors have to say about their piano study and practice? |
Jessica Klett |
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Independence Day: |
What steps do you assign for the process of sight-reading? |
Meg Gray |
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Let's Get Physical: |
Elementary Graduation Exercises |
Richard Chronister |
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The Heart of the Matter: |
How do you teach the rhythm challenges of the Chopin "Prelude in E Minor?" |
Maggie Charnon |
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Issues and Ideas: |
What experiences in your background influenced your decision to compete in the Van Cliburn Competition for Outstanding Amateurs? |
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It's Never Too Late: |
Ten years later - What are your adult students doing now? |
Diana Belland |
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Putting It All Together: |
Concertos, Part II: What are the first Mozart Concertos you teach and why? And what other early advanced concertos do you recommend? |
Laurent Boukobza |
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Tomorrow Today: |
How do you use digital video in your teaching? |
Mario Ajero |
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The World Around
Us: |
What is your policy regarding missed lessons, and do you allow special exceptions? - A nationwide interview |
Helen Smith Tarchalski |
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Keyboard
Kids' Companion |
Puzzles, Practice Projects, Meet the Composers, and more! |
Helen Smith Tarchalski |
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