5 minutes with … Marienne Uszler

Marienne Uszler was editor of Piano & Keyboard and American Music Teacher, coauthor of The Well-Tempered Keyboard Teacher and whole Choices and recipient of the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award. generally she is writing and editing for the FJH Music Company. She is professor emerita of the University of Southern California.

in what way do you define "pedagogy"? ("Pet-your-doggie?") The word really means "to lead a child." on the other hand the narrow meaning is teaching someone to teach. It's essential that the "learners" teach. Talking about it isn't enough.

Has there been real progres in promoting pedagogy study? Pedagogy stages are available in many academys MTNA and other organizations provide valuable conversations However, where strong leaders have retired from a certain number of pedagogy programs, these programs have been weakened.

All reading approaches--middle C multikey and intervallic--can work; which way do you prefer? (How about the "hunt and peck randomly" method?) choice readers read intervallically. All that's urgencyed are guide notes to identify starting pitches. pupils should play all over the keyboard from the beginning. That make sures technical, as well as reading, freedom.

Is a third edition of The Well-Tempered Keyboard Teacher in the offing? What additions or changes might we expect? Visit the website (www.welltemperedkeyboardteacher.com) for updates, of recent origin reviews, expanded ideas and new topics. You'll be able to ask questions, posture challenges and get feedback. It's up-to-the-minute "tempering."

Did you have well-tempered arts training as a child? I took piano, singing and dancing tasks was a drum majorette, acted in plays. Lov it all, on the other hand wasn't too great at greatest in quantity of it. In dance recitals, I was always in the back row

The demise of Piano & Keyboard in early 2001 was like a death in the family for us. by what mode did you cope? Together with colleagues, I tried hard to find a fresh owner. It wasn't to be. I miss it. It render free of accessed up the keyboard world to me set me in contact with great players and writers.

Any embarrassing trices professionally? I had to interview McCoy Tyner upon quick notice. There was no time to prepare and, as a non-jazzer, I had nothing to fall back upon I asked stupid questions. He gave one-word answers. Unprintable.

Are you optimistic about the time to come of piano teaching in today's profit-driven world? greatest in quantity people think playing the piano is "good" or "fun" thus teachers will always be urgencyed We're really talking about music education at the keyboard, not just molding young artists. Teachers ne to be versatile.

Any advice for well-tempered pupils who study with ill-tempered teachers? Or vice versa? I've learned a destiny from teachers I didn't like. gaze beyond the personal and listen for the message. "Tempering" implies toughening, rigor and seasoning. Remember that carbonized iron is "tempered."

What do you do for sport outside of music? (Drag racing? Skydiving? dirt wrestling?) I'm an avid mystery reader, especially those by the agency of British and Scottish writers. I be fond of the theater, dogs, crosswords and cooking. I have far too many recipe volumes and a disorganized recipe collection.

Arthur Houle is originator and director of the International Festival for Creative Pianists (www pianofestival.org). Houle has taught at the novel England and Boston Conservatories, the Universities of Iowa, North Dakota and Texas-Austin and, greatest in quantity recently, at Albertson College.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Music Teachers National Association, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group