FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1926-2014
Louise Goss, one of world’s leading figures in the field of piano pedagogy, co-founder of the New School for Music Study, and editor of two seminal series on teaching piano, and founder of The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, died on April 1, 2014, surrounded by family and friends.
Louise was the co-author and editor of the monumental Frances Clark Library for Piano Students and The Music Tree piano method series. In addition, she held positions as President of The New School for Music Study, Associate Professor of Piano Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College, and Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy.
She earned a B.A. degree from Kalamazoo College (Michigan), where she carried a triple major (music, English, and philosophy) and graduated magna cum laude. After earning the M.A. degree in music literature and completing the coursework for a doctorate in musicology at the University of Michigan, she served as instructor there before becoming editor of the Frances Clark Library for Piano Students.
In 1955, Goss and Frances Clark, a friend and colleague, were appointed directors of the piano and piano pedagogy programs at Westminster Choir College (New Jersey). In 1960, they founded The New School for Music Study, a post-graduate center for studies in piano pedagogy and community music program that developed innovative and effective approaches and materials for music teaching at the piano. The theories they developed revolutionized the field of piano pedagogy. During the 1960s and 70s, she pioneered the video teaching techniques that are now utilized by pedagogy programs around the globe.
Louise was a sought-after speaker, conducting workshops, clinics, seminars, and study courses at colleges, universities and conferences in the US and abroad. Goss was also the recipient of honorary doctorates in music from Kalamazoo College and Westminster Choir College and was honored with a Master Teacher Certificate and a Lifetime Achievement Award by Music Teachers National Association.
Louise made enormous contributions to the Princeton community for over 50 years. She will be remembered especially for her devoted service to Nassau Presbyterian Church where she worshipped for five decades and served in a wide variety of key lay leadership positions.
She will be mourned especially in three communities: her childhood home of Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she maintained close ties; her adopted home of Princeton; and Glover, Vermont, where she summered for over thirty years, contributing greatly to the social and spiritual life of the Northeast Kingdom.
Ms. Goss is survived by her sister, Inez G. Calcerano, of Orange City, FL, and nephew Guy Lindsey Calcerano, of Ewing, NJ, and a niece, Catherine C. Harmening of Flagler Beach, FL. In lieu of flowers, contributions to honor Louise Goss may be directed to The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, P.O. Box 651, Kingston, NJ 08528.
Louise will be honored at two services: a church service at 11:00 AM on June 7th and a memorial concert at 3:00 PM on June 8th. Both will be held at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ.