Dr. Valerie Cisler
professor and chair, Department of Music and Performing Arts, 308.865.8118
Piano students from across the region will be attending the 42nd annual Spring Piano Workshop at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, April 9.
The workshop, titled “Get in Sync: Matching Fingers, Mind and Ears,” will begin at 9 a.m. in the UNK Fine Arts Building.
The workshop sessions will be presented by guest clinician Robert Vandall. Vandall, a native of New Philadelphia, Ohio, is a composer of piano educational materials with more than 400 published works. In addition, Vandall has presented workshops in 30 states and the District of Columbia. He holds a National Profession Certification with the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and was named a MTNA Fellow in 2008.
The first two workshop sessions will be from 9-11 a.m. During the first session, “Making Music: Helping Students Make a Piece of Music Come Alive,” Vandall will offer practical ways to help students discover what is truly interesting about a piece and how to project that element into performance. The second session, “Playing Scales Fast: Implications for Practice and Performance,” will include some practice and mental techniques for learning how to play quick musical scales.
A Guest Artist Master Class will take place from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Previously selected students will perform a piano piece and have the opportunity to receive feedback from UNK piano faculty including, Dr. Valerie Cisler, chair and professor of music; Dr. Nathan Buckner, professor of music; and Dr. James Cook, professor of music.
“The faculty master classes are designed to give students performance opportunities within a small group setting, and to provide relevant feedback on technical, interpretive and listening skills, in addition to helpful advice for practice and performance preparation,” Dr. Cisler said.
The final session, “Toccatas, Tarantellas and Technique: Helping Your Students Develop the Technical and Rhythmic Skills to Play Like a Virtuoso,” will be from 2-3 p.m. During the session, Vandall will use examples from all levels of student literature to demonstrate ways to help students perform with rhythmic flair and technical ease.
The 42nd annual Spring Piano Workshop is open to piano teachers, and students, grades seven-12 and collegiate. For more information and a complete schedule visit: http://www.unk.edu/fah/music.aspx?id=18584
