the frances clark center summer intensive seminars
An International Exploration of Piano Teaching Literature
with Leah Claiborne and Luis Sanchez
Seminar Details and Registration
An International Exploration of Piano Teaching Literature
July 8-9, 2024 (Mon-Tues)
Leah Claiborne and Luis Sanchez, Seminar Co-Leaders
with Guest Presenters including Gulimina Mahamuti, J. P. Murphy, William Chapman Nyaho, and Omar Roy
Join us as we explore international music and cultures—Latin America, Asia, Africa, India, and the Middle East— and their importance in piano teaching in a two-day online seminar. Attendees learn about these cultures and musical traditions, and consider how to integrate new music in their studios with cultural understanding and a student-centered mindset. Presenters expand the teaching literature by providing resources for excellent, international repertoire for elementary and intermediate pianists. Small group discussions and question-and-answer sessions provide participants an opportunity to share, learn, and reflect. A teaching demonstration will close the seminar to highlight the impact and importance of an international teaching repertoire and cultural awareness in the studio.
Questions? Contact info@francesclarkcenter.org.
Schedule (all times listed in EDT)
Seminar Co-Leaders and Guest Presenters
Luis Sanchez, Seminar Co-Leader
For over three decades, pianist Luis Sanchez has maintained an active career as soloist, collaborative artist, and teacher. He has appeared in concerts in the United States, South America, Europe, and Asia. He is currently Professor of Piano and Director of Keyboard Studies at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Dr. Sanchez joined the Steinway Artist Roster in 2012. In May 2021, he joined the Frances Clark Center for Piano Pedagogy as Director of International Initiatives.
Leah Claiborne, Seminar Co-Leader
Dr. Claiborne serves as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Frances Clark Center and serves as the co-chair of the DEI track for the National Conference of Keyboard Pedagogy. She was most recently named in Yamaha’s “40 under 40” most influential music educators in America and was the inaugural winner of the Stecher and Horowitz Power of Innovation Award provided by MTNA.
Gulimina Mahamuti, Guest Presenter
Gulimina Mahamuti is the first Uyghur from China to receive a DMA in Piano Performance in the U.S. She teaches at Bowdoin College and performs extensively as soloist and a member of the dynamic DUO MUNDI GEORGE & GULI throughout Asia, North and Central America, and Europe, broadcasting on their radio and TV programs. An active speaker at MTNA, NCKP, EPTA, and Southeast Asia conferences and webinars, Dr. Mahamuti was one of the plenary session speakers at the 2013 NCKP. She serves on MTNA DEI committee, evaluates for MTNA Community Engagement Grant, and chairs the 2024 MTNA Pedagogy Saturday’s DEI Track. Visit www.gulimina.com.
J. P. Murphy, Guest Presenter
J. P. Murphy serves as Assistant Professor of Piano & Piano Pedagogy and Area Chair at the University of Oklahoma where he teaches applied piano, graduate piano pedagogy, and coordinates the secondary piano studies program. Murphy currently serves as President-Elect of the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, as a member of the GP3 Steering Committee, and as a member of the NCKP Teacher Education in Higher Education Committee.
William Chapman Nyaho, Guest Presenter
William Chapman Nyaho is a recitalist and lecturer advocating music by composers of African descent. He is Vice President for DEI at MTNA and serves on the board of the Frances Clark Center. He teaches at Pacific Lutheran University and runs a private piano studio in Seattle. Chapman Nyaho’s publications include a five-volume anthology Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora with Oxford University Press and CD recordings of music by composers of African descent.
Omar Roy, Guest Presenter
Omar Roy currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at the University of South Carolina. His research interests include practice efficiency, inclusive teaching, and narrativity in music. Dr. Roy earned the DMA in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma.
