College of Arts & Sciences

Piano Pedagogy

Northern Kentucky Winter Piano Pedagogy Conference - Ten Steps to Parnassus

Saturday, February 4, 2012
Fine Arts Center, Northern Kentucky University
Jointly sponsored by Ohio Music Teachers Association Southwest, Northern Kentucky Music Teachers Association and the NKU Department of Music

Ten Steps to Parnassus may be used as a guideline for the teacher as student pianists move beyond traditional method books into more advanced repertoire. This workshop will focus on three integral pillars of musical growth; technical and musical development, the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the classical sonata. Parnassus is represented by Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 by Johann Sebastian Bach and Sonata in B Flat Major Op. 106, the “Hammerklavier” by Ludwig van Beethoven. The first step to Parnassus begins with the early intermediate sonatina Op. 36 #1 by Muzio Clementi. This work is found in Grade Five, the most advanced level, of Piano Adventures by Nancy and Randy Faber.