Marguerite Miller, Professor Emeritus at Wichita State University in Kannsas, is a popular clinician, adjudicator, lecturer, consultant, and author. Her philosophy—Life Without Music Would Be A Mistake—prompts her continued interest in, dedication to, and involvement with piano pedagogy. She is a clinician for the Alfred Publishing Company and...

In this issue, we continue with four more responses to the question first posed in the Spring 1995 issue regarding the use of digital keyboards for home practice. In keeping with the spirit of KEYBOARD COMPANION, we want to know your response to this question. I urge you to take the time to tell us your thoughts on this subject. We would especially...

We are told that Louis Moreau Gottschalk, America's first matinee idol, was the creator of the "piano orchestra" or Monster Concert, which became a genuine institution in 19th-century America. In his memoirs, Gottschalk mentions a number of spectacular occasions when he employed mammoth musical forces. The ultimate was a concert in Havana in which ...

by Marguerite Miller To fully appreciate some of the technological wonders of today requires some knowledge of or experience with the equipment of the past. For example, my first use of a recording device was in the '50s, when I bought a Webster-Chicago wire recorder. Eager to use it and unbeknown to my students or their parents, I recorded ou...

from the series: Tomorrow Today: Technology Recycling is a buzzword of the '90s! You will probably agree that our topic for this issue, Multi-Keyboard Ensembles, is a recycled version of the Monster Concert. Earlier in this century, many concert pianists enjoyed this activity as a diversion. It was a way to "let down their hair" and indul...

Although the term group teaching defies a simple definition or universal application, most piano teachers today include some type of group activity in their teaching- from regular weekly or monthly group lessons to an occasional "practice recital." Likewise, every piano teacher uses some form of technology in teac...