Academic/Educational Lectures
CLARA WIECK SCHUMANN: AN OVERVIEW OF HER LIFE AND MUSIC
Originally given to an undergraduate Keyboard Literature class in Spring 2021, this multimedia lecture provides conservatory students with an introductory overview of Clara (née Wieck) Schumann’s life, performance and compositional career, and influence on musical practices. It includes a comprehensive score study session of all four movements of her Piano Sonata in G Minor, analyzing themes and structure, and providing interpretive suggestions for performance.
Length: 110 minutes, including score study, listening, and Q&A
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: An Overview of Her Life and Music
Originally given to an undergraduate Keyboard Literature class in Spring 2021, this multimedia lecture provides conservatory students with an introductory overview of Fanny (née Mendelssohn) Hensel’s life, influence on Felix Mendelssohn’s compositional output, and compositional career. It includes a comprehensive score study session of all four movements of her Piano Sonata in G Minor, analyzing its unique thematic structure, altered form, curiously orchestral writing, and references to contemporary works.
Length: 110 minutes, including score study, listening, and Q&A
Expand the Repertory: An Introduction for Piano Teachers to Women Who Composed
Given to a society of music educators in Fall 2021, this lecture offers a brief overview of the lives of five women composers: Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Cécile Chaminade, Louise Farrenc, and Florence Price. The lecture suggests pieces and technical studies by these composers that can be incorporated into the repertoire of students of all levels, from early beginner to advanced. It also includes a section on resources for teachers to use in their pedagogy, and participants are sent a Google Doc containing extensive resources.
Length: 120 minutes, including Q&A
Informal Talks
Firing the Canon: Accidental Takeaways from Doing Things in Classical Music
Originally given to a graduating undergraduate music history class in Spring 2021, this loosely structured talk is based on “Adventures in Fear and Discovery: Learning Music Outside the Canon” and “What we’re really saying when we criticize Yuja Wang,” both of which were assigned reading for the class.
Length: 50+ minutes
Independent Music Career Q&A
Originally given to an undergraduate class of conservatory students in a career training course, this is a loosely structured session that looks at the career skills and insights that are not typically taught in conservatory. It emphasizes that creating a career in music cannot use a one-size-fits-all approach, and that vulnerability and uniqueness are assets in music.
Length: 50 minutes