Paul Harris Simultaneous Learning

Transcription

1 Paul Harris Simultaneous Learning After studies at the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London, Paul Harris has now established an international reputation as one of the UK's leading educationalists. He studied the clarinet with Professor John Davies, winning the August Manns Prize for outstanding performance, composition with Timothy Baxter and conducting with Maurice Miles. He then went on to study music education at the University of London where he was a pupil of Professor Keith Swanwick. He now has over six hundred publications to his name mostly dealing with a vast array of subjects mostly concerning music education. His Music Teacher's Companion (co-written with Richard Crozier), won the UK's MIA Best New Book award and his series 'Improve Your Theory!' the Music Teacher Best Print Resource Award. In addition he has written many works ranging from countless short education pieces to seven concertos, a ballet and a children's opera. He has also co-authored (with Anthony Meredith) major new biographies of Sir Malcolm Arnold, (Malcolm Arnold: Rogue Genius), Malcolm Williamson, (Malcolm Williamson: Mischievous Muse) and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. He writes regularly for many of the major international music magazines, including Music Teacher, BBC Music Magazine, the ABRSM's Libretto, and the American ICA journal, and is in great demand as a workshop and seminar leader and adjudicator in the UK, and across the globe. Paul has also undertaken research into specialist music education for the highly talented (the clarinet prodigy Julian Bliss number among his pupils), an interest that has taken him to many musical institutions around the world. He performs regularly, often in his voice, two clarinet and piano ensemble with Kathryn Knight, Jean Cockburn and Bethany Philips. He is an examiner and adjudicator and is frequently asked to take part in national events including the Chamber Music for Schools Competition, Music for Youth, the BBC Young Musician of the Year and Classic FM's teacher of the year. In 2006 Paul Harris's commitment to the music of Malcolm Arnold led to the establishing of an annual Malcolm Arnold Festival in the composer's hometown of Northampton. Under his directorship, this

2 exciting festival explores and celebrates the music of one of the great British composers of our age through a packed weekend of concerts, lectures and films. He has created and and continues to develop Simultaneous Learning, his highly acclaimed approach to instrumental and singing teaching which has found support all over the world. Paul's innovative teaching techniques combine thoroughness, imagination and practicality, which are the defining qualities of his outstandingly successful work. William Westney Course mentor and the perfect wrong note Pianist William Westney was the top piano prizewinner of the Geneva International Competition, and he appeared thereafter as soloist with such major orchestras as l'orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the Houston, San Antonio and New Haven Symphonies. Westney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens College in New York and a Masters and Doctorate in performance from Yale University, all with highest honors. During Fulbright study in Italy he was the only American winner in auditions held by Radiotelevisione Italiana. He has given solo recitals on four continents, including appearances at New York's Lincoln Center, the National Gallery and Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., St. John's Smith Square in London, University of Chile (Santiago), and a U.S. State Department tour of Italy. His playing has been described by reviewers as riveting (N.Y. Post) and refreshing (Straits Times, Singapore). Critics have praised his recordings for CRI and Musical Heritage Society, and Newsweek magazine selected his CRI album of Leo Ornstein's works as one of its "Ten Best American Music Recordings" of the year. An internationally noted educator, William Westney holds two endowed positions at Texas Tech University Paul Whitfield Horn Professor of Piano and Eva Browning Artist-in-Residence and has received the university s highest honor for education, the Chancellor s Council Distinguished Teaching Award. He won a grant from the U.S. State Department's Fulbright "Senior Specialist" program (Council for International Exchange of Scholars), to teach throughout Korea and China in As an interdisciplinary scholar, he was appointed the Hans Christian Andersen Guest Professorship at the University of Southern Denmark (Odense) and appeared throughout the Nordic area during the academic year,

3 giving recitals in the U.K., Denmark, Iceland, Finland and Norway. He teaches in the summer at the InterHarmony Festival in Arcidosso, Italy. Dr. Westney's unique Un-Master Class performance workshops were described as "fascinating" in a featured New York Times article. They are increasingly in demand in the U.S. and abroad, having been held at such prominent centers as the Aspen School, Peabody Conservatory, Kennedy Center, Royal Conservatory (Toronto), Cleveland Institute, Tanglewood Institute, Royal College of Music (London), Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst (Vienna), Central Conservatory (Beijing), Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), Royal Danish Academy (Copenhagen) and the Juilliard School. Schirmer Performance Editions released Dr. Westney's edition, and CD recording, of piano etudes by Stephen Heller in 2005, by Burgmüller in 2009, and a volume of Lyric Pieces by Edvard Grieg in His first book, The Perfect Wrong Note, was published by Amadeus Press in 2003 to critical acclaim. An international bestseller (over 25,000 copies), and recently released in a Japanese-language edition, it is a well-thought-out approach to music instruction to which many aspire, but which few attain according to the Library Journal, and American Record Guide described it as refreshing and rewarding. In recognition of the book s unique contribution to the field of music teaching, Music Teachers National Association chose William Westney to receive the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award in Murray McLachlan - Course mentor and piano technique Since making his professional debut in 1986 at the age of 21 under the baton of Sir Alexander Gibson, Murray McLachlan has consistently received outstanding critical acclaim. Educated at Chetham s School of Music and Cambridge University, his mentors included Ronald Stevenson, David Hartigan, Ryszard Bakst, Peter Katin and Norma Fisher. His recording career began in 1988 and immediately attracted international attention. Recordings of contemporary music have won numerous accolades, including full star ratings, as well as rosette and key recording status in the Penguin Guide to CDs, and Disc of the month and Record of the month in Music on the web and The Herald. McLachlan s discography now includes over forty commercial recordings, including the complete sonatas of Beethoven, Myaskovsky and Prokofiev, the six concertos

4 of Alexander Tcherepnin, the 24 Preludes and Fugues of Rodion Shchedrin, Ronald Stevenson s Passacaglia on DSCH the major works of Kabalevsky, Khatchaturian and the complete solo piano music of Erik Chisholm. McLachlan s repertoire includes over 40 concertos and 25 recital programmes. He has performed the complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle four times, as well as the complete piano music of Brahms. He has given first performances of works by many composers, including Martin Butler, Ronald Stevenson, Charles Camilleri, Michael Parkin and even Beethoven! He has appeared as soloist with most of the leading UK orchestras. His recognition has been far-reaching, bringing invitations to perform on all five continents. At the same time he continues to give numerous concerts and master classes in the UK. McLachlan teaches at the Royal Northern College of Music and at Chetham s School of Music in Manchester where he has been Head of Keyboard since He is the founder of the Manchester International Concerto competition for young pianists as well as the Founder/Artistic Director of the world famous Chetham s International Summer school and festival for Pianists, Europe s largest summer school devoted exclusively to the piano. As a teacher McLachlan continues to be very busy and in demand. Many of his students have won prizes in competitions and continued with their own successful careers as performers. Murray McLachlan is editor of Piano Professional Magazine, as well as Chair of the UK section of the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA UK). As well as performing and teaching, he is well known internationally for his numerous articles on Piano technique and repertoire. This includes extended columns which have appeared in International Piano Pianist and Piano Magazines. In 2012 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Dundee for outstanding services to music and education. This follows on from a knighthood awarded in 1997 by the Order of St John of Jerusalem in recognition of his services to music in Malta. on Margaret Murray McLeod Course mentor and repertoire for all levels Margaret Murray McLeod received her musical training at the Royal Academy of Music, studying piano with Frederic Jackson as well as composition, singing and clarinet. During her student years she was much in demand as an accompanist and chamber music player and was awarded the Scott Huxley Prize for piano accompaniment.

5 From 1972 to 2001 she trained student teachers and performers in the School of Music at Edinburgh Napier University where she was Senior Lecturer for Performance Studies. In 1988 she established the very successful Summer School for Piano Teachers that she directed for some ten years, lecturing and conducting workshops and master-classes with teachers and young pianists. Under her guidance the Summer School gained an international reputation. As a senior examiner for ABRSM she has also lectured and conducted workshops and teachers seminars extensively both at home and abroad, travelling to Ireland, Malta, the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and New Zealand. Her contributions to the ABRSM Teaching Notes have been greatly valued for over a decade. Margaret has appeared in concerts throughout the UK and recorded for the B.B.C. and South German Radio. She has also played piano and harpsichord with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and accompanied many well-known singers and instrumentalists. Megan Beynon Kodály for Pianists Megan is a Musicianship, Cello and Piano teacher and holds advanced qualifications in both Kodály Musicianship and Education. She has experience of teaching at a post-graduate level at a university, as well as at a junior music school. James Crow Alexander technique James Crow has been teaching full-time since 2007 and each year he makes a very welcome return to the Chetham's course. He works with everyone from pianists to professional athletes, helping them make the most of their skills. James describes the technique as a user's guide to the human body. He runs Alexanderplus, a company devoted to improving skills, reducing pain, and helping effortless confident performance. By helping you spot unwanted and often painful tension, he helps you perform effortlessly, with a poise and grace that can come across as you play. It was his own repetitive strain injuries that helped him discover the technique. James can help you use your arms without pain, sit confidently with poise, and take control of your body as you play. Think of it as learning to play yourself as you play the piano. Originally trained as a cognitive scientist, he's is skilled at working with your mind-body connection in a way that's often surprising, usually fun, and eyeopening if you've never tried the technique before. James is a member of the Professional Society of Alexander Teachers, a BackCare professional member, and has an honour's degree in cognitive science. Liz Dewhurst Running your teaching practice Liz Dewhurst is a very busy private piano teacher from Mid Glamorgan. She is the Regional Organiser for EPTA Swansea, Administrator for both the Piano and Composers' Competitions, and is the Members' News editor. She has given presentations for EPTA groups and is on the management of EPTA UK.

6 .Emma Dixon Dalcroze Emma began playing the cello at the age of 11 and music has been her passion ever since. After progressing through the orchestras at school and the local youth orchestras in her home town of Sheffield, Emma went on to study the cello at the Royal Northern College of Music where she gained her BMus(hons) degree followed by a Master Of Music degree in cello performance. As a chamber musician and orchestral player Emma has performed throughout the UK and abroad on modern and baroque instruments. After graduating she completed two further years study of Dalcroze Rhythmics, Kodaly, improvisation and pedagogy to gain a Certificate in Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Emma has always loved teaching the cello and is passionate about inclusive music education, finding new and exciting ways to inspire and motivate young people and adults to enjoy making and exploring music. She teaches cello to students of all ages and levels, works as a chamber music coach and as a Dalcroze musicianship tutor. She is a mentor for Artis Performing Arts Education and designs and delivers music outreach projects for Manchester Camerata with a focus on Dalcroze and Early Years. Emma also regularly delivers classes and workshops for students and teachers on summer schools and conferences. She lives in Glossop, Derbyshire with her husband and three young children. Sharon Goodey Beginner Piano Sharon Goodey s background is best described as unconventional. It wasn t until she was eleven that her parents finally agreed to her owning a piano which was being thrown out by the local pub. Sharon then studied for ALCM, LTCL and an Open University degree. The degree consisted of music modules, child development and cognitive psychology and these have been of enormous benefit to her teaching. Through building her teaching reputation Sharon was asked to teach piano at the Guildhall School of Music as part of a program for young children. Her interests and experience have given Sharon a specialism in teaching very young beginners. Her scientific training along with a fascination and determination for problem solving led Sharon to analyse the very special issues of teaching this age group. The final result being the publication of the Playing With Colour series. Hans-Günter Heumannn beginner piano After studying at the Musikhochschule Hannover followed by further studying of composition in New York and New Orleans, Hans-Günter Heumannn dedicated himself to the editing of pedagogical piano material. His particular concern is to present music in an accessible way to reach a broad audience. As a result of his training and personal aims, he has composed and arranged piano music in all styles for beginners to advanced students and has developed methodical concepts for learning how to play the piano for all age groups. The great number of internationally successful publications reveals the acceptance of

7 his work. His books have been translated into many different languages and millions of copies sold. Hans-Günter Heumann produced a four-colour Musiklexikon für Kinder, an extensive reference work for which he received the Deutscher Musikeditionspreis (German Music Edition Prize) in Three further highlights followed with Pianothek - a new series for piano enthusiasts with skilful arrangements that sound good from classical to pop; Pianissimo - a treasure chest containing purely classical piano music for students, adult returners and amateur enthusiasts; and Heumann s Pianotainment in two volumes, each containing 100 easy piano hits from baroque to pop. In 2009/10 the Little Amadeus Klavierschule was written. With original illustrations of the well-known characters from the TV series, and many background stories of Mozart s life, as well as a clear pedagogical concept, this method soon became a success. Heumann has created an extensive piano method for English-speaking territories (published ). The Classical Piano Method is a wonderful resource for young and mature piano students who have a passion for classical music. American Music Teacher reported: This method approaches piano instruction from the European standpoint of attaining piano proficiency and competent musicianship from the very beginning of piano lessons. Hans-Günter Heumann is a freelance composer and author, living in southern Germany. Andrew Higgins improvisation and beginner piano After studying piano at the London College of Music, Andrew graduated from the University of Surrey, specializing in Composition and Performance with musicology. Andrew spent 15 formative years touring the world as a session musician and music producer in the 1980s and, with several albums behind him at that point, decided to devote more time to composition and to teaching the piano. Several of his piano students have since gone on to study at specialized Music Schools or at university level and one of his former students is now a concert pianist in his own right. Andrew joined Alfred Publishing in 1996, which coincided with his discovery of the pedagogical insights of the late Dr. Amanda Vick-Lethco, a co-author of Alfred's Basic Piano Library. Her all-encompassing holistic approach, focusing on the "pianist as musician," inspired him to develop Dr. Lethco's ideas still further by incorporating improvising and memorizing techniques into Alfred's Basic Piano Library's teaching philosophy. When Dr. Lethco attended one of his seminars, she confessed to having no idea that her books could be used in such a creative way! Andrew now works extensively with Alfred Publishing in the UK and Europe, promoting their ideals of musicianship through workshops and lectures, and meeting with teachers, performers and their students to discuss piano teaching techniques. Many teachers have remarked on the freedom and flexibility in his approach to music and, while Andrew considers improvisation and composition an intrinsic aspect of making music in the twenty-first century, this is always underpinned by a clear emphasis on sound technique and musicality.

8 Dina Parakhina Beginner piano After graduating with a Diploma of Distinction from both the Central Music School and the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Dina Parakhina went on the become one of the youngest-ever members of the Central Music School faculty when she inherited the chair formerly held by her teacher, professor Tamara Bobovich. She occupied this post for fifteen years until she moved to the UK in 1996, and was one of the most-wanted pedagogues in her native Russia. She combined teaching with a busy performing career, collaborating with many outstanding instrumentalists, singers and conductors, as well as playing with major Russian orchestras, giving recitals and making TV and radio broadcasts at the most prestigious venues in Moscow and other cities of the former Soviet Union. In 1988, after winning a competition, she started work as a solo pianist of the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, with which she regularly performed piano concertos by Mozart, Shostakovich and Rachmaninov while on extensive tours of France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Ireland, as well as at the Bolshoi Theatre itself. A sought-after chamber musician, she participated in the Semaines Musicales Tours festival in France giving recitals with Lyobov Kazarnovskaya, Gegem Grogoriam and Nikita Storojev and the 125 Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory Festival in Germany, where, most notably, she gave a German radio première of the Rubinstein Cello Sonata with distinguished cellist Valentin Feigin, with whom she worked during his last years. Since her move to England, her engagements have included regular appearances with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall at the Proms, a solo recital dedicated to Rachmaninov at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, and a performance of Shostakovich s First Piano Concerto with the Lancashire Chamber Orchestra. Among her recent appearances are a recital with cellist Leonid Gorokhov and violinist Yuri Torchinsky which was twice broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and a recording of Mendelssohn s Double Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Vassily Sinaisky. Dina Parakhina is on the faculty of the Royal College of music, Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and Chetham s school of music. Emma-Ruth Richards Composition Emma-Ruth's music has been commissioned and performed by Opera North, London Philharmonia, London Sinfonietta, BBC NOW Chamber Players, Håkan Hardenberger, Colin Currie, Nicholas Daniel, Paul Silverthorne, The Rhodes Piano Trio, Ebor Singers, Navarra Quartet, Dudok Quartet, Ligeti Quartet, Aurora Percussion Duo, HM Royal Marines Windband, Camerata Pacifica, Manchester Camerata, and The Absolution Saxophone Quartet amongst others. Her music has been performed all over the UK as well in Europe, Hong Kong, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. She is a Royal Northern Gold Medal composer and has featured in festivals including Music of Today 2009, James MacMillan 2009,

9 RNCM Chamberfest 2011, Sounds New Canterbury 2010, HCMF 2011, Queen s Belfast 2012, North West 2012, St. Magnus 2012, IC Hong Kong 2012, Internationaal Kamermuziekfestival Den Haag 2012, Banff 2012 and Aldeburgh 2013 and Emma-Ruth is a member of the LSO's composer soundhub; the composer in residence with Milton Keynes City Orchestra and London Arte Chamber Orchestra; a co-director of Collectives and Curiosities; and a member of the Chetham s International Summer School Faculty. Emma-Ruth has studied privately with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, HK Gruber, Judith Weir, Arlene Sierra and Pavel Novak and in seminars and workshops with Pierre Boulez, Henri Dutilleux, Simon Bainbridge, Julian Anderson, James MacMillan, Frederic Rzewski, Howard Skempton and in the Cardiff BBC Studios with Michael Berkley and Jac Van Steen; she completed her PhD at the RNCM studying privately with Alexander Goehr. Charlotte Turner Keyboard harmony Charlotee Turner trained as a pianist from a young age, attending Chetham s School of Music and then the Royal Northern College of Music. It was here that in 2005 she began to study the harpsichord under the tuition of Sharon Gould. She has since worked with Ketil Haugsand, Laurence Cummings and Robert Howarth. Since graduating with a Distinction in harpsichord performance in 2007 she has performed across the UK, winning second prize twice in the Broadwood Harpsichord Competition 2007 and 2009 and appearing with her ensemble Consort 1700 in the Ripon International Music Festival, The Leeds International Concert Series, as a guest with Ensemble 360 and Nicola Benedetti in Sheffield City Hall, Manchester Camerata, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a soloist at the Brugges International Harpsichord Exhibition. Education work has always been important to Charlotte and she has been fortunate to have worked for the charity Live Music Now! with her ensemble for several years. This has allowed her to take music into hospitals, care homes and schools for severely disabled and deprived children and adults. In 2009 Charlotte won Arts Council Funding to organise Manchester s inaugural Baroque Festival involving visits to local schools and a weekend of concerts. Since then she has worked hard to raise the profile of Baroque music in Manchester which has included directing Handel s opera, Tamerlano, in the International Anthony Burgess Centre and will soon involve two performances of Bach s Brandenburg V in unusual and accessible venues: Matt and Phred s Jazz Club and The Royal Exchange Theatre. Charlotte has received excellent reviews for her recent recitals at London s Fenton House and Handel House, and her playing has been described as, vividly communicative and exquisitely precise and beautiful. Charlotte teaches harpsichord and piano privately, and at Chetham s School of Music where she is also Joint Team Leader of the Practice Department.

10 Bethan Rhys Wiliam - Moving with Period Music Bethan was born in Swansea and educated at Altrincham Grammar School, Cheshire. After studying vocational dance at Bush Davies School, East Grinstead, her professional career began in Ghent, Belgium as a dancer with the Royal Opera Ballet and continued with engagements with: Ballet International, The Iranian National Ballet, Malmö Stadsteater, Northern Ballet Theatre, including gala performances at the London Coliseum and Royal Festival Hall with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev in his Nureyev and Friends seasons. She was a founder member of London City Ballet. She has also danced of tours of Italy, France, Romania and Norway. Since 1996 Bethan has been engaged as tutor in Movement, Dance and Physical awareness at the Royal Northern College of Music. In addition to her academic teaching role she has been involved as choreographer/movement coach / assistant director for the college s numerous opera productions. In 2014 she was accepted as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in recognition in meeting the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching in Higher Education. In 2014/15 Bethan was engaged as choreographer/movement coach on Garth Bardsley s productions of Stephen Sondheim s Company and Benjamin Britten s A Midsummer Night s Dream for the RNCM which won the opera prize at the 2016 Manchester Theatre Awards.