The Sylvia Novak Pedagogy Weekend
The Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association of London Ontario is proud to present a free
weekend of music and teaching-related presentations. This weekend is open to all, but registrations
must be made by contacting The Aeolian. Twelve workshops with renowned clinicians, one classical
piano trio concert and a participatory workshop with a real Indonesian Gamelan make this a superb
offering and astounding opportunity for students, teachers and the general public.
Sylvia Novak was a gifted musician and teacher who lived and worked in London Ontario. She left a
legacy to ORMTA London to present annual Pedagogy Weekends. This weekend is a unique offering with
its “Free” admission. Donations will be gratefully accepted at the door to help ORMTA London to
continue to provide educational opportunities for our community.
Schedule:
Saturday November 5th:
Time
8:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Subject
Coffee Social
Gateways to Learning and Memory
Marketing and Social Media
The latest research on Tendon
Problems and Low Back Pain
12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
Lunch
Glenn Gould: The last recording
2:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
A Modern History of the Piano
Injury Prevention for Musicians
4:00 p.m.
Using Yoga to Maintain the Body and
Spirit as a Musician
Dr. Ruth Wright
5:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
The Gamelan: Participatory Workshop
(featuring a true Gamelan
Suprabaningrum (Perfume Essence of
Beauty Stateliness) brought over from
Java, Indonesia
Clinician
Clark Bryan (The Aeolian)
Titus Ferguson (Rtraction)
Frank Felice and
Richard Rosedale
(Physiotherapists,
University Hospital, UWO)
Kevin Doyle (Glenn Gould’s
recording engineer)
Steve Grega (D&S Pianos)
Dr. Donald Millar
(Chiropractor)
Lotus Why (Anusara
Inspired Yoga Teacher)
Music and Social Change
(Head of Music Education,
UWO)
Nur Intan Murtadza (PhD
Candidate, UWO)
Sunday November 6th
Time
11:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
Subject
Coffee Social
University, Community and Classroom
Connections: Re-engaging youth in
music education through El Sistema and
Musical Futures
Dream Big!-Build your Brand
2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Spectral Polystylisms of Contemporary
Piano Music
5:00 p.m.
Music Education in studio settingsengaging in reflective practice and
educating for independent musicianship
Concert: The Aeolian Trio
featuring works by Mendelsohn and
Piazzolla
7:30 p.m.
Clinician
Leslie Linton (PhD
Candidate, UWO)
Suzanne Edmonston
(London Marketing Guru)
Dr. Elaine Keillor
(University of Ottawa,
Faculty of Music)
Dr. Betty Anne Younker
(Dean of Music UWO)
Mary-Elizabeth Brown,
violin; Adrian Wright,
cello, Marion Miller,
piano
Presentation: Gateways to Learning and Memory
This presentation is based on a book Mr. Bryan published in 2009 which focuses on the Physical and
Psychological foundations for learning. Learning techniques will also be presented and adaptations for
practical uses with music will be illustrated.
Presenter: Clark Bryan
Clark Bryan completed his graduate work at the University of Western Ontario. He has studied with
many of the world’s most renowned pianists including Howard Shelley, Eugene List, Vladimir Askenazy,
Shura Cherkasky, Ruth Slenczynska and Cécile Ousset. Clark’s performance career has taken him to
Europe, North America and Mexico. He has done performances for CBC radio and television and has
recorded 12 CD’s of piano music to critical acclaim.
Other notable activities have included festival adjudication, competition juries, music editing,
workshops, a TEDxUWO talk and teaching. Mr. Bryan received the “Special Teacher” from ORMTA
London and was named Musical Personality of the Year by the London Free Press in 2005. In 2004, Mr.
Bryan purchased the Aeolian Hall in London, Ontario and is highly involved in presenting and promoting
music, music education and the arts through this venue.
Presentation: Marketing; Social Media
Social and Digital Media are terms that are often thrown about as the holy grail of marketing and
promotion. In this highly interactive session I will discuss how the underlying philosophies of digital
media are the same as every other form of communication. We’ll discuss how easy it is to leverage new
tools and websites to grow your business and connect with potential participants. Of course we’ll spend
time reviewing the most common tools, how they can be best used, and how to get the most of our your
time spent online.
Presenter: Titus Ferguson
Titus Ferguson works as a Digital Media Strategist for a London based digital agency - rtraction and has
over 6 years of experience with social media tools, new media marketing and online public relations. His
project involvement has ranged from helping individuals and small businesses use social media to better
connect to multi day arts festivals. Titus’ often delivers in-depth and relevant social media training to
various stakeholders and enjoying helping people to realize the tremendous value that exists in the
online world.
Presentation: The latest Research on Tendon Problems and Low Back Pain
Musicians are athletes and should be treated as such. This presentation will provide the latest research
on the nature of tendon/muscle injuries and low back pain. It will also explain the implications,
prevention and treatment(s) for these injuries.
Presenters: Frank Filice and Richard Rosedale
Frank Filice (Bsc PT, Cert. MDT, BSc Psych) has worked as a physiotherapist at The London Health
Sciences Centre for 19 years.
Richard Rosedale (Bsc PT, Dimploma MDT) is a colleague of Frank Filice at The London Health Sciences
Centre and is also faculty at McKenzie Institute International.
Presentation: Glenn Gould: The last recording
Presenter: Kevin Doyle
Kevin Doyle is one of the world's most influential and in-demand producer/engineers. The list of artists
he's worked with reads like a who's who of the music industry, and includes Van Morrison, Andrea
Bocelli, Anne Murray, Kiss, Yo Yo Ma, Alannah Myles, Hall and Oates, Glenn Gould, Michelle Wright, With
a style of excellence that combines creativity and finesse, Kevin was nominated the #1 Recording
Engineer and the winner of 3 Juno Awards as Canada's best Mixer/engineer. And in addition has been
nominated for a Grammy Award for the multiple Grammy award winning CD "Goldberg Variations" by
the late Glenn Gould.
Growing up in Toronto, Kevin joined his first band at age fourteen. A self-taught guitar player, he played
in local bands throughout high school. At 18, he decided to focus on music production and engineering
and began to study seriously with a world famous faculty at Fanshawe College in London Ontario. During
summer breaks he played in local bands and produced/engineered punk rock bands.
After graduating from Fanshawe in 1980, Kevin went on to record "The Demics" ground breaking EP
"New York City". The success of The Demics opened the doors to "Sounds Interchange" one of Canada's
premiere recording studios in Toronto. It was at this studio that Kevin initiated a unique working
relationship with Glenn Gould and Bob Ezrin (Kiss).
Presentation: " A Modern History of the Piano, from the 20th to the 21st centuries"
In this interactive presentation, the modern development of the Piano will be presented. Future
predictions for its evolution will also be considered.
Presenter: Steve Grega
Steve Grega has been a piano technician, rebuilder and tuner for almost 40 yrs. Originally from New
Jersey where he learned his trade, he moved to London in 1985. Steve worked for 22 years as a staff
piano technician at The University of Western Ontario. Has been co-owner (with Darryl Fabiani) of D&S
Pianos in London Ontario for the past 5 yrs.
Presentation: “Injury Prevention for Musicians”
Presenter: Dr. Donald Millar
Dr. Donald Millar was born and raised in London Ontario. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in
Food Chemistry from the University of Guelph in 1976, and worked for four years as a Research Chemist
at General Foods Limited in Cobourg, Ontario. He then returned to school and graduated with honours
from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto in 1984, where he was awarded the Clinic
Proficiency Award. He has practised for twenty-seven years in downtown London and is the Past
President of the London Chiropractic Society. He is a sports injuries specialist, who has completed a
post-graduate degree in Sports Sciences at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, and is now a
Fellow of the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences of Canada. He has a twenty-six year old son.
He is the London chiropractor for the National Rowing Team, which trains in London in the summers,
and in Victoria B.C. in the winters. He is also the team chiropractor for the London Majors and London
City Soccer. He has worked at the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
He was the Director of Chiropractic Services for the 2001 Canada Summer Games in London, the Medical
Director for the 2006 Scott Tournament of Hearts Canadian womens’ curling championships, The 2011
Brier Canadian Mens’ curling championships, and the 2006 Canadian Womens Open Golf
Championships. He does volunteer work on weekends at figure skating competitions, womens’ hockey
tournaments, triathlons, and marathons.
Presentation: “Using Yoga to maintain the body and spirit as a musician”
Presenter: Lotus Why
Lotus Why has been teaching yoga for ten years and most recently received her Anusara
InspiredTM Yoga teacher designation. She continues to teach adults, children and seniors. She
assisted and instructed in the Lotus Centre’s Teacher Training program.
Although a teacher of yoga, to Lotus yoga is the true teacher. The journey of yoga deepens our
awareness on a physical, emotional and spiritual level, and through intention, alignment and
action we connect with freedom, our essential nature. This is yoga.
Presentation: Music and Social Change
Increasing levels of youth unrest, mental illness, addiction, suicide and crime tell us all is not well for
many young people in our societies. Music education programmes such as El Sistema and Musical
Futures suggest that effective, inclusive music education can have dramatic impacts on young people's
attitudes, behaviour and life chances. What would be necessary for music education to effect
widespread social change? In this presentation Dr Ruth Wright considers this question.
Presenter: Dr. Ruth Wright
Educated at the Royal Academy of Music London and the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Dr Ruth
Wright has spent the last 30 years building a career as a musician, studio and classroom teacher,
university professor and author. In 2009 she moved to London, Ontario to take up the position as Chair
of Music Education at the University of Western Ontario. Her research interests are in the areas of
music and social justice, the sociology of music education and inclusion in and through music. Her book
Sociology and Music Education was published by Ashgate Press in 2010.
Presentation: The Gamelan
With its array of tuned bronze instruments, suspended gongs, drums and voices, Javanese gamelan
presents a feast for the ears and the eyes. Come and experience a hands-on workshop and hear the
music that has been described as “mysterious like moonlight and always changing like flowing water”.
Participants will be playing on Gamelan Suprabaningrum (Perfume Essence of Beauty Stateliness)
brought over from Java, Indonesia by Nur Intan Murtadza. The instruments are hand-made and sit on
ornately carved teak resonators. A gamelan (orchestra) traditionally accompanies wayang kulit shows
(shadow puppets), dances. feasts and ceremonies in Java.
Gamelan music is performed in musical unity, rather than as a group of individual musicians playing
separate instruments. The musical roles of the gamelan players are equally important and
interdependent. Through playing and listening to gamelan, one may hope to reach a feeling of harmony
and community.
Presenter: Nur Intan Murtadza
is an accomplished musician in the gamelan tradition of Central Java, Indonesia. She received her
training from some of the great masters in gamelan such as Pak Sumarsam (Wesleyan University,
Connecticut) Pak Harjito (Wesleyan University, Connecticut), Pak Midiyanto (Surakarta, Indonesia), Pak
Sutikno (Surakarta, Indonesia), Pak Sutrisno (Yogyakarta, Indonesia). In 1995, she was the recipient of
the Darmasiswa scholarship given by the Indonesian government which enabled her to study the
gamelan music traditions intensively in Indonesia. Subsequent visits on a regular basis have established
lifelong relationships with her mentors and regional gamelan groups.
She is currently in the PhD program in Music Education at The University of Western Ontario. She
received her Masters in Music Education from the University of Toronto. She has also been a gamelan
consultant for the Toronto District School Board and was part of the collaborative team that developed
the gamelan curriculum for the TDSB’s World Learning Resource. In addition to schools and universities
in Ontario, Nur Intan has facilitated gamelan workshops for festivals and museums
Presentation: University, Community and Classroom Connections: Re-engaging youth in music
education through El Sistema and Musical Futures.
Music is an integral component through which educators are able to engage children and youth in local
and broader contexts. University, community and school board partnerships may provide an essential
link between opportunities and possibilities for participation in musical activities.
This presentation will review two projects which are currently being piloted in London, Ontario and
explore the implications for the private music teacher. The first is an orchestral program called “El
Sistema” which is aimed towards at-risk youth who may not have other opportunities for after-school
music activities. This program will provide music lessons, orchestral instruments and ensemble
performance opportunities to children and youth in the London area. Clark Bryan of Aeolian Hall is
launching this program in October 2011. A second "El Sistema" program is scheduled to begin later this
year at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
The second project is called “Musical Futures” and seeks to re-engage intermediate and senior students
with classroom music education through instruction on traditional rock band instruments. Using nonformal and informal teaching techniques, students are encouraged to build on their existing passion for
music and actively participate in the music making process. This pilot project, which has already been
successfully implemented in the UK, is currently in progress under the direction of Dr. Ruth Wright of
the Don Wright Faculty of Music.
Presenter: Leslie Linton
Leslie Linton is currently a PhD student at the University of Western Ontario with a focus in music
education. Ms. Linton is actively involved with the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and
is currently serving as past-president of the London Branch. Ms. Linton is interested in topics such as
sociology and music education, preservice teacher education, elementary music education and critical
pedagogy. Her education includes a B.Mus(Ed), B.Ed, M.Mus(Ed) and has taught music in the
elementary classroom, private studio setting and university. She currently teaches Curriculum and
Pedagogy in Elementary Music at the Faculty of Education, the University of Western Ontario and is a
Teaching Assistant at the Don Wright Faculty of Music, UWO.
Presentation: Dream Big!” –
Creative marketer and classical musician, Suzanne Edmondson, puts pedal to the metal as she shares
ideas and inspiration for building your brand and developing a niche in your community and your world.
Strategic overview, examples, practical takeaways, and interactive discussion will be included
Presenter: Suzanne Edmonston
Suzanne was a very lucky kid. She grew up in the early 1960s in a Brantford, Ontario neighbourhood
where practically every five-year-old kid on the block started piano lessons. A kindly piano teacher – Mr.
Culbert - went door to door, almost like the milkman! At age six, Suzanne entered the studio of a
legendary Brantford musical couple - the Perrys – vivacious Nan with her legion of piano students, and
patient Mark, a church organist who taught theory and history. Piano punctuated Suzanne’s life through
her childhood and teens, with lessons, recitals, Royal Conservatory exams and the annual Kiwanis
Festival. It seemed a natural choice to continue with undergraduate and graduate degrees in piano
performance (UWO, University of Victoria), and she was greatly influenced by teachers including John
Paul Bracey, Dr. Damjana Bratuz, Gwen Beamish, and Robin Wood. Upon graduation, she turned her ear
and her art to creating resonant marketing and communications campaigns for non-profit and for-profit
organizations, including orchestras, universities, churches, hospitals, and most recently, the hotel and
restaurant industry. She still plays piano for her own pleasure, but mainly she enjoys sitting back and
listening to her husband, Orchestra London oboist, Ian Franklin.
Presentation: "Spectral Polystylisms of Contemporary Piano Music"
Repertoire discussion will focus on works from the Conservatory Canada and Royal Conservatory lists.
Presenter: Dr. Elaine Keillor
Born in London, Ontario, Elaine Keillor holds the record as the youngest recipient of the
Associate (ARCT) degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) with all of the theory
exams completed at the age of ten. Becoming the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in musicology
from the University of Toronto, Dr. Elaine Keillor has performed in recitals and as soloist with
orchestra on piano and harpsichord throughout North America and in Europe. After teaching at
the University of Toronto, York, Queen’s, and McMaster Universities, she has been since 1977 a
professor at Carleton University, Ottawa, lecturing on Baroque, Classical periods, Canadian
musics, ethnomusicology, keyboard performance and literature.
As principal investigator of the Canadian Musical Heritage Society, Dr. Keillor edited Piano
Music I (1983). Piano Music II (1986), Music for Orchestra (1994), and Music for Orchestra III
(1995). She is also the author of John Weinzweig: The Radical Romantic of Canada (Scarecrow
Press, 1994), and numerous essays in compilations, periodicals, and encyclopedias including the
Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, The Canadian Encyclopedia, New Grove Dictionary, Die Musik
in Geschichte und Gegenwart, and The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Her latest book
publication is Music in Canada: Capturing Landscape and Diversity (McGill/Queen’s Press, 2006;
paperback, 2008)
In January 1999 she was the inaugural recipient of the Canadian Women’s Mentor Award in the
“Arts and Culture” category. Keillor was the 2004 Helmut Kallmann Award recipient for
Distinguished Service relating to music libraries and archives, for outstanding contributions in
documenting and improving access to resources in Canadian music.
Being the team leader for the production of the websites “Native Drums” launched in June
2005, and “Native Dance” in 2006, Keillor invites visitors to www.nativedrums.ca and
www.nativedance.ca to explore the musical expressions of the First Peoples within Canada.
Her recent recordings, Views of the Piano Sonata [CSCD 1002], “By a Canadian Lady:” Piano
Music 1841-1997 [CSCD 1006], Legend of the First Rabbit [Studea Musica], Canadian
Compositions for Young Pianists [4 CDs, Studea Musica], Romance: Early Canadian Chamber
Music [CSCD 1009] and The Music of Mary Gardiner [Conservatory Canada] have been praised
for their “impeccable pianism” and “musicality.”
Presentation: Music education in studio settings-engaging in reflective practice and educating for
independent musicianship.
Presenter: Betty Anne Younker
Betty Anne Younker, Ph.D. (Northwestern University) returns to the University of Western Ontario as
Dean and Professor of Music Education of the Don Wright Faculty. She was on faculty from 1997-200
during which time she was awarded the Dr. Pedro Goldman Award Faculty of Music Students Council. In
addition, she was awarded the distinguished Alumnus of the Year by Pennsylvania State University
College of Arts and Architecture (2008). Before returning to UWO, Younker was Associate Dean for
Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Michigan. Her research
interests include critical and creative thinking within the disciplines of philosophy and psychology.
Publications include articles in national and international journals and chapters in several books. Paper
presentations have occurred at state, national, and international conferences. Before appointments at
the university level, Dr. Younker taught in band, choral, and general music settings in the public school
system as well as taught flute students from beginning to university levels of performance. Presently
she serves on several editorial boards and committees for a variety of professional organizations.
The Aeolian Trio:
In mid-June 2011, Aeolian Hall executive director Clark Bryan asked pianist Marion Miller, his
frequent keyboard performing partner, to join violinist Mary-Elizabeth Brown, assistant concertmaster
of Orchestra London, and cellist Adrian Wright, recently arrived from the other London and a long career
with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, to combine for a chamber music concert during the Hall’s
annual Summer Soirée festival. After a coffee shop meeting to compare schedules and discuss
repertoire, the three arranged a first rehearsal.
“From the word go, we connected as musicians, having a spookily united feel for how we should
interpret the music,” Adrian recalls. “Mary Beth had steered us toward Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of
Buenos Aires” — Marion had already performed several of the Argentinian composer’s other tangospiced works — “and I am sure the emotional lyricism and ferocious energy of the music helped us to gel
as an ensemble.”
Well before their Aeolian date on Aug. 18, they had decided they wanted to continue together as a
trio.
What to call themselves could not have been more obvious. “Nothing could be better than to take the
name of the venue of our first concert, run by the man who brought us together,” Adrian says. Their
debut was an overwhelming success and midway through it Marion announced from the stage their
formation as The Aeolian Trio — adding, to much laughter, that “Those of you on Facebook may now
see that we are ‘in a relationship.’ ”
“These three artists played with verve and energy,” wrote Renée Silberman, reviewing that first
concert for beat magazine. “It will not take them long to fine tune their musical relationship.
What we heard was a fearless performance of demanding repertoire.” She praised them for lyricism,
vitality and elegance as well as for the “aesthetic acrobatics” with which they ranged between the
“jarring, dissonant, distinctly non-salon” wildness of the Piazzolla and the more familiarly formalistic
works by Mendelssohn and Handel.
The trio plans to develop a wide repertoire, including some duos, with further concerts and education
work. Meanwhile it is delighted to be back at Aeolian Hall for a return engagement.
Performers:
Marion Miller, piano
Marion Miller began piano at four, was teaching at 12 and entered the University of Western Ontario at
16, graduating with a master's degree in music performance and the President's Gold Medal for
academic excellence. With two Canada Council Arts Grants, she went on to study with such musical
legends as Ozan Marsh at Chautauqua, Cecile Genhard in Zurich and Marcel Ciampi in Paris. She has
recorded several CBC concerts of chamber music, been profiled on CBC's Arts National and has taught at
UWO, the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music and the Kincardine Summer Music Festival. Besides
maintaining a large class of private students, ranging from young beginners to advanced adults and
other music teachers, she is also a sought-after accompanist and has adjudicated music festivals from
coast to coast. She frequently performs with collaborator Clark Bryan, with whom she has released a CD
of the Rachmaninoff suites for two pianos.
Adrian Wright, cello
Adrian Wright was inspired to become an orchestral musician after spending three years with the
National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain with cello coaching from David Strange. He studied at the
Royal Academy of Music with Derek Simpson before joining the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in
Cardiff. During his twenty six years with the BBC NOW he enjoyed touring, CD recording and radio
broadcasts with a great diversity of conductors but working with Maris Janssons and Tadaki Otaka stood
out as particularly inspiring. During this period, Wright enjoyed teaching at the Cathedral School,
Llandaff and maintained a private studio. After fifteen years with the orchestra he had several lessons
with Joan Dickson and found her approach to cello technique and teaching to be highly illuminating. In
his last few years in the UK Wright formed a duo with pianist and church music specialist Richard Lewis.
In 2009 his wife Ruth became the Chair of Music Education at the Don Wright Faculty of Music, The
University of Western Ontario and they moved to London. Wright has enjoyed working as a freelance
cellist with Orchestra London and playing in various string ensembles. He has also been doing some part
time cello teaching at UWO.
Mary-Elizabeth Brown
Mary-Elizabeth Brown, 25, holds an Hon's. B.Mus, cum laude from the University of Toronto and a
M.Mus (Performance) from the Universite de Montreal. Mary-Elizabeth has been the recipient of
awards and grants from the University of Toronto, Corporation of the City of London, DePaul University,
Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation, Hazel Crydermann-Wees Foundation, Universite de Montreal,
Fonds des Amis de l'Art, and the American Suzuki Foundation.
She has appeared with the London Youth Symphony, Orchestra London Canada and the Banff Festival
Chamber Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Mary-Elizabeth has been heard on CBC Radio and at major
festivals across Canada. An advocate for New Music, she regularly collaborates with emerging Canadian
composers. Equally at home as an orchestral player, she is currently the Associate Concertmaster of
Orchestra London Canada, as well as the Concertmaster of Youth Orchestra of the Americas.
Mary-Elizabeth plays on a 1737 Guidantus violin and F.N Voirin bow kindly on loan from the Banff Centre
for the Arts.