Music Trade Review
Issue: 1953 Vol. 112 N. 11 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Established 1879
November, 1953
Vol. 112-No. II
2,884th Issue
THE
PIONEER
REVIEW
PUBLICATION
OF
THE
MUSIC
INDUSTRY
Increasing Interest in Class Piano
Instruction Revealed at USC Workshop
By DOROTHY BISHOP
Head of Preparatory Department. School of Music. University of Southern California
HE fourth consecutive summer ses-
sion workshop in class piano, con-
ducted by Mrs. Fay Templeton Frisch
of New Rochelle. IN. Y., recently closed
at the School of Music, University of
Southern California. A greater number
of teachers than previously were at-
tracted to this year's summer course.
The fact that these teachers represented
ten states across the nation, Florida,
Iowa, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Ver-
mont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyo-
ming, as well as California attests to
the increasing interest in class piano
instruction.
Within a three hour period each
day, Mrs. Frisch illustrated her lec-
tures and discussions with the most
convincing proof in the demonstration
of children's classes.
T
Tunes Played in Minutes
In minutes after the workshop got
under way, first tunes were being
played by children, many of whom had
never seen a piano before except per-
haps on television or in a music store.
Climaxing the four weeks, other groups
of children of intermediate and more
advanced standing were able to per-
form ensemble pieces on the ten pianos
with remarkable sensitivity to rhythm,
tonal balance, musicianship and grasp
of music reading.
The experience of playing together
and of listening to one another brought
about a corresponding improvement in
ear and rhythmic perception with all
groups. Beginners of 6-7 years and of
junior high age grew consistently in
abilities to "carry tunes" and play
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, NOVEMBER, 1953
these tunes musically, to understand
phrase and form, to harmonize, trans-
pose and read at sight.
Just what are the implications of
such outstanding achievement in class
instruction? Does not the fact that
children respond so joyously and suc-
cessfully to group piano lessons bring
us closer to an eventuality of keyboard
experience for all children? Privilege
for a few would seem to give way to
opportunity for many, and without loss
of thoroughness or quality.
where she currently is engaged in re-
cording the last volume of her inter-
pretations of Bach's monumental work.
"The Well Tempered Clavier." In the
interview Mme. Landowska spoke of
her life, her career, and her philoso-
phy. She also played several selections
on one of her famous harpsichords, in-
cluding portions of the third movement
from Bach's Concerto in D Major, a
17th-century dance, the second move-
ment of the Vivaldi Concerto, tran-
scribed by Bach for harpsichord, and
Bach's Italian Concerto.
High Standard in Techniques
Indeed Mrs. Frisch has set a high
standard in the techniques of class
piano teaching. Those attending this
remarkable workshop — the music su-
pervisors, college instructors, elemen-
tary teachers, studio piano teachers and
parents eager to help their own chil-
dren, all expressed their determination
to go back to their communities and
"do something about it." May there be
more comment in the trade journals
from time to time as to how these peo-
ple a/3 succeeding in bringing more
music to more children.
Unique Harpsichord Program
Televised by Mme. Landowska
Mme. Wanda Landowska. whose
harpsichord interpretations have won
her world renown, appeared on a 1NBC
Television program on Sunday, Octo-
ber 25th.
The film was produced at Mme.
Lendowska's home in Lakeville, Conn.,
3 0 Years of Concerts
The telecast marked the 30lh Anni-
versary of Mme. Landowka's concert
debut in ihis country. She appeared
as soloist with the Philadephia Orches-
tra under Leopold Stokowski's direc-
tion, in \ovember, 1923.
From 1925 to 1940. Mme. Landow-
ska had her own school in St. Leu-la-
Foret. a suburb of Paris. Until 1940.
when she was forced to (lee her France,
more than 1.000 persons studied at her
F.cole de Musique Ancienne. which was
a mecca for music lovers. She also
concertized extensively throughout the
world. With the threatened occupation
of Paris by the Nazis in 1940, Mme.
Landowska fled to Southern France and
eventually lo the United States. In
1942, she returned lo the New York
concert stage, after an interval of 14
years. For the past two years, she has
concentrated on her recordings at Lake-
ville. Her harpsichord is concert pi-
ano size with a double keyboard.
S
Established 1879
November, 1953
Vol. 112-No. II
2,884th Issue
THE
PIONEER
REVIEW
PUBLICATION
OF
THE
MUSIC
INDUSTRY
Increasing Interest in Class Piano
Instruction Revealed at USC Workshop
By DOROTHY BISHOP
Head of Preparatory Department. School of Music. University of Southern California
HE fourth consecutive summer ses-
sion workshop in class piano, con-
ducted by Mrs. Fay Templeton Frisch
of New Rochelle. IN. Y., recently closed
at the School of Music, University of
Southern California. A greater number
of teachers than previously were at-
tracted to this year's summer course.
The fact that these teachers represented
ten states across the nation, Florida,
Iowa, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Ver-
mont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyo-
ming, as well as California attests to
the increasing interest in class piano
instruction.
Within a three hour period each
day, Mrs. Frisch illustrated her lec-
tures and discussions with the most
convincing proof in the demonstration
of children's classes.
T
Tunes Played in Minutes
In minutes after the workshop got
under way, first tunes were being
played by children, many of whom had
never seen a piano before except per-
haps on television or in a music store.
Climaxing the four weeks, other groups
of children of intermediate and more
advanced standing were able to per-
form ensemble pieces on the ten pianos
with remarkable sensitivity to rhythm,
tonal balance, musicianship and grasp
of music reading.
The experience of playing together
and of listening to one another brought
about a corresponding improvement in
ear and rhythmic perception with all
groups. Beginners of 6-7 years and of
junior high age grew consistently in
abilities to "carry tunes" and play
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, NOVEMBER, 1953
these tunes musically, to understand
phrase and form, to harmonize, trans-
pose and read at sight.
Just what are the implications of
such outstanding achievement in class
instruction? Does not the fact that
children respond so joyously and suc-
cessfully to group piano lessons bring
us closer to an eventuality of keyboard
experience for all children? Privilege
for a few would seem to give way to
opportunity for many, and without loss
of thoroughness or quality.
where she currently is engaged in re-
cording the last volume of her inter-
pretations of Bach's monumental work.
"The Well Tempered Clavier." In the
interview Mme. Landowska spoke of
her life, her career, and her philoso-
phy. She also played several selections
on one of her famous harpsichords, in-
cluding portions of the third movement
from Bach's Concerto in D Major, a
17th-century dance, the second move-
ment of the Vivaldi Concerto, tran-
scribed by Bach for harpsichord, and
Bach's Italian Concerto.
High Standard in Techniques
Indeed Mrs. Frisch has set a high
standard in the techniques of class
piano teaching. Those attending this
remarkable workshop — the music su-
pervisors, college instructors, elemen-
tary teachers, studio piano teachers and
parents eager to help their own chil-
dren, all expressed their determination
to go back to their communities and
"do something about it." May there be
more comment in the trade journals
from time to time as to how these peo-
ple a/3 succeeding in bringing more
music to more children.
Unique Harpsichord Program
Televised by Mme. Landowska
Mme. Wanda Landowska. whose
harpsichord interpretations have won
her world renown, appeared on a 1NBC
Television program on Sunday, Octo-
ber 25th.
The film was produced at Mme.
Lendowska's home in Lakeville, Conn.,
3 0 Years of Concerts
The telecast marked the 30lh Anni-
versary of Mme. Landowka's concert
debut in ihis country. She appeared
as soloist with the Philadephia Orches-
tra under Leopold Stokowski's direc-
tion, in \ovember, 1923.
From 1925 to 1940. Mme. Landow-
ska had her own school in St. Leu-la-
Foret. a suburb of Paris. Until 1940.
when she was forced to (lee her France,
more than 1.000 persons studied at her
F.cole de Musique Ancienne. which was
a mecca for music lovers. She also
concertized extensively throughout the
world. With the threatened occupation
of Paris by the Nazis in 1940, Mme.
Landowska fled to Southern France and
eventually lo the United States. In
1942, she returned lo the New York
concert stage, after an interval of 14
years. For the past two years, she has
concentrated on her recordings at Lake-
ville. Her harpsichord is concert pi-
ano size with a double keyboard.
S
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).