George F
Instruments: Piano, Organ
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Blues, Folk, Gospel, Showtunes, Swing
George F
Instruments: Piano, Organ
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Blues, Folk, Gospel, Showtunes, Swing
Where I Teach:
In Your Home
Ages Taught: 5-80
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
Master of Church Music and Organ, Concordia University, Chicago, IL, 2011 Master of Music (Organ Performance), Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, 1985 B.A. in Music (Organ Performance), Concord University, Athens, WV, 1974
Awards:
Board of Governor's Scholarship for piano study at West Virginia University, 1969-71
2015-to present, organ coaching at Indian University with master classes under Dr. Janette Fishell and Dr. Marilyn Keiser. Church organist and accompanist for various churches in the Chicago area.
Overview:
George has been a private piano teacher for at least twelve years working with Naperville Music, Ascendo Piano in Fort Wayne, Indiana and has done student teaching in music education K-12 in the Baltimore County, Maryland area. In 1969, I was awarded a Board of Governors' Scholarship in piano with study under Herman Godes and William Nelson. While a piano student, I studied organ with Dr. Clyde English, former student of Marcel Dupre. Later, I went to Concord University in Athens, West Virginia from 1971-1974 where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and organ performance. Starting in 1979-1985, a Master of Applied Music and Organ Performance at Norfolk State University in Virginia where my teachers were Dr. Allen Shaffer and Dr. Carl Haywood. More recently, I attended Concordia University in Chicago completing a Master of Church Music and Organ in 2011. Dr. Steven Wente was my organ professor and mentor during that time. Starting in 2015, I travel once a year to Jacobs School of Music for the organ and church music institute and organ coach with Dr. Janette Fishell and Dr. Marilyn Keiser. Later this summer, I have been invited to the Mormon Tabernacle to play the organ.
EXPERIENCE
Organ concerts at the Washington National Cathedral, Creative Arts Center, West Virginia University, Alexander Arts Center, Concord University, churches throughout West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois. Private teaching in piano with Ascendo Piano, Fort Wayne, Indiana from 2003-2006 and Fun with Piano, Western Springs, IL starting in 2011 and Musika Piano also beginning in 2011. For the last five years, I was an instructor in piano at Naperville Music teaching classical, jazz, popular, ragtime, christian, and contemporary. Part of my teaching work was to prepare students for recitals and area competitions.
I still maintain private students who have studied with me for at least three years and these lessons are in student's homes. In addition to my private teaching, I am a professional church organist and accompanist.
METHODS USED
George teaches from the Hal Leonard Piano Series and focuses on sight reading, technique, theory, and performance. For advanced students, he encourages performance, ensemble playing, and group competitions.I have also used other piano methods that includes the Royal Conservatory Piano Series, the Suzuki Method for piano, and Piano Adventures by Nancy and Randall Faber. For technique, I use the Keith Snell Series for scales and finger exercises, the Hanon Series, and Carl Czerny. When I think a student has grasped the basic fundamentals and can play a solo piece with minimal errors, I will recommend that student to participate in a group recital.
LESSON STYLE
For a lesson, George generally plays along with the student where the student plays a solo part with the teacher adding a second part. He also uses CD recordings with an instrumental part added having the student follow the recording.When teaching a piece, I will often ask the student to sight read notes and break down a composition into sections. Sometimes, I will have the student play just the treble notes, then bass, before adding the parts together. We talk about phrasing and dynamics for the expression including pedaling. proper balance between the parts is discussed.
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