Year of Award
2012
Document Type
Professional Paper
Degree Type
Master of Arts (MA)
Degree Name
Fine Arts (Integrated Arts and Education)
Department or School/College
Creative Pulse Program
Committee Chair
Rick Hughes
Commitee Members
Karen Kaufmann, Nancy Labbe
Keywords
accompanist, accompanying, choir, choir director, conducting, multiple intelligences, music, piano
Abstract
Piano skills are extremely important to a choral teacher’s success, and I always considered my piano playing as a weak point in my teaching. The intent of my project was to dedicate a year of intensive practicing and performing as an accompanist in order to improve my piano technique, gain a wider repertoire of music to use in teaching private lessons and choir, and gain confidence in my abilities as an accompanist. Through one hundred and three hours of documented practice time, eight performance experiences in a variety of settings, and eighteen pieces prepared and performed, my playing has improved dramatically, as has my confidence in my playing. I have also learned important things about myself as a pianist, and have realized how a wide variety of Howard Gardener’s Multiple Intelligences are utilized when accompanying.
Recommended Citation
McKenzie, Ellen, "A YEAR OF PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE: IMPROVING PIANO SKILLS TO BECOME A BETTER CHORAL DIRECTOR" (2012). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 1360.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1360
© Copyright 2012 Ellen McKenzie