News

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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 7^th and a memorial concert at 3:00 PM on June 8^th. Both will be held at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ.

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Young Pianists Garner National Attention

The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy (FCCKP) recognizes the following outstanding musicians at The New School for Music Study on their recent achievements in piano study.

Three students at The New School for Music Study (NSMS) have been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall as part of the Music Development Program’s 2013 Tri-State Certificate of Excellence Recital and Awards Ceremony. Nina Austria (Grade 3), Joshua Guo (Grade 5), and Hayley Kunkle (Grade 8) were each awarded the highest marks in their respective levels in the tri-state area during the Practical Exams for the Music Development Program in June 2013. The Carnegie Hall performance is scheduled for Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 1:30 p.m.  Tickets for this event are on sale at the www.carnegiehall.org.

The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy also congratulates NSMS students Julia Jasnosz and Nicholas Martucci for their performance in the NJMTA Conference Masterclass for renowned piano duo, Stecher and Horowitz. The masterclass took place on Saturday, November 16 at Gill Chapel on the Campus of Rider University. Julia and Nicholas performed Bizet, Jeux d’enfants (Children’s Games) Op. 22 – No. 11, “Petit mari.”  

And, The Frances Clark Center recognizes NSMS student Gabriella Stanton for winning the talent competition of the NJ division of the National American Miss Pageant, with her original piano composition, Peaceful Forest. Gabriella represented the state of New Jersey at the National Pageant in Anaheim, CA in November, where she played her composition, received her crown and sash, and created lasting memories while making new friends. 

“The New School for Music Study is an integral part of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy,” writes FCCKP President Scott Price. “I am so very proud of our excellent staff of teachers, and their ability to maintain such a high level of work is inspiring to me.
They are wholly committed to high quality teaching and to supporting the whole student, and not just the piano playing.  I wholeheartedly congratulate the students, their families, and their teachers on this success. We are proud to have them all as part of the Frances Clark Center family.”

The New School for Music Study, located in the Princeton are of central New Jersey, is one of the country’s leading centers in piano education and provides a variety of programs and classes for piano students. Our faculty are not only great pedagogues, they are performers, researchers, and presenters; they have advanced degrees, years of piano teaching experience, are committed to making the most of your piano lessons and providing a well-rounded musical education. The New School for Music Study is a division of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, a not-for-profit educational institution (501c3) located in Kingston, New Jersey. For more information about The New School for Music Study, visit www.nsmspiano.org.

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Well-Known Piano School Hosts Open House

The New School For Music Study (NSMS) announces its first-annual Open House and Welcome Night, scheduled for Thursday August 29, 2013 from 4-8PM.   NSMS is located just 5 minutes north of Princeton on Nassau/Route 27 in Kingston, New Jersey.

At 6PM, members of the New School faculty will present Meet the Piano, a short recital in which various moods and emotions are explored through listening to the range of sounds the pianist can create.  “Along with beautiful musical examples and visual demonstrations, Meet the Piano offers a unique opportunity for audience members to be involved and ask questions,” New School Administrative Director Rebecca Pennington explains. “This recital is specifically geared toward piano beginners but can be enjoyed by all ages.”

Students, faculty, and administrative staff will be on hand to welcome returning NSMS students, friends, and guests from the general public, and information on lessons and classes, for all ages and levels, including early childhood and adult programs, will be available at the Welcome Night.

The NSMS Open House and Welcome Night is free and open to the public.

The New School for Music Study, located in the Princeton area of central New Jersey, is one of the country’s leading centers in piano education and provides a variety of programs and classes for piano students. The faculty are not only great pedagogues, they are performers, researchers, and presenters; they have advanced degrees, years of piano teaching experience, are committed to making the most of piano lessons and providing a well-rounded musical education. The New School for Music Study is a division of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, a not-for-profit educational institution (501c3).

For more information, please contact Angela Triandafillou [email protected] or 609-921-2900×106.

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Rebecca Pennington Named Interim Administrative Director

The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy announces the appointment of Rebecca Pennington as Interim Administrative Director of The New School for Music Study. Pennington was appointed to the position following the resignation of current Administrative Director Sara Ernst, who has accepted a position at the University of South Carolina as Assistant Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy. The Frances Clark Center is planning an extensive search for a new Administrative Director, beginning Fall 2013.

“We are thankful to Sara Ernst for her years of dedication to the New School and wish her the very best in her future endeavors,” Dr. Pennington commented. “I look forward to leading the New School in continuing our over 50 year tradition of excellence in teaching every student.”

Scott Price, President of The Frances Clark Center, adds, “We are so pleased to have Rebecca as Interim Director of the New School for Music Study.  She continues to be an exemplary faculty member and administrator at the school, and we are indeed fortunate to have someone of her skill and background serving in this capacity.”

Pennington begins her new position at The New School on August 1, 2013.

The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy is a not-for-profit educational institution (501c3) located in Kingston, New Jersey. The Center serves local, national, and international audiences through its three divisions: The New School for Music Study, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, and Clavier Companion magazine.

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Dr. Ernst Accepts Position at the University of South Carolina

The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy announces the resignation of Sara Ernst as Administrative Director of The New School for Music Study. Ernst has accepted a position at the University of South Carolina as Assistant Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy.  The Executive Committee has named Rebecca Pennington, currently Admissions Director at the New School, as Interim Administrative Director, while the Board of Trustees undertakes an extensive search for a new Administrative Director.

“My three years working for FCCKP have been rewarding years.  I have enjoyed my duties as NSMS director, working with the School, the Center, and the Board,” Ernst writes. “I hope that the School and Center continue to view me as a resource and colleague in the field of piano pedagogy.  I have utmost respect for its mission and goals and would welcome the opportunity for continued participation in a different capacity.  I feel sadness at my resignation, but also look forward to the future steps in my career.”

Leslie Owsley, Chair of the Center Board of Trustees, adds, “Of course, as happy as we are for Sara, we are very sorry to have her leave us.  She has been a visionary, thoughtful, and steady leader, and has done a tremendous amount to put the New School on a good path for the future.  We will miss her.”

Ernst begins her new position at The University of South Carolina in August 2013.

The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy is a not-for-profit educational institution (501c3) located in Kingston, New Jersey. The Center serves local, national, and international audiences through its three divisions: The New School for Music Study, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, and Clavier Companion magazine.

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