2019 Sessions

'Playing Your Best When It Counts'
In today's high-pressure performance environments, a thoughtful and integrated approach to developing psychological performance skills is necessary. To play our best when it counts, you must simultaneously walk two parallel paths, one path for the development and refinement of your technical skills, and the second path for the refinements of your mental skills. This presentation is designed to help better understand your mental performance skills, teach you how to practice them, and help you execute them during performance. You will learn how to change self-limiting beliefs and attitudes, trust during performance what you are trained i practice, develop positive performance mindset, build confidence in yourself as a musician, and achieve the performance future of your choice. This presentation is based on the research of Dr. Bill Moore, an internationally recognized performance psychology consultant.​
Ken Christensen
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

'Doing What Comes Naturally: Nature's Clues to Effective Interpretation'
We often overlook the elements that make our sound/interpretation "natural". This workshop investigates the role that gravity, breath, momentum, and heartbeat play in formulating effective interpretation.
Marvin Blickenstaff
New School for Music, Princeton, NJ

'Pedagogy 101: A Curriculum to Promote a Secure Foundation in Reading Technique, and Musicianship'
​Marvin Blickenstaff
New School for Music, Princeton, NJ

'Thinking Outside the Box to Meet Your Students' Needs'
How do you keep a kid interested in music? Start with the music they find interesting. This discussion session will focus on whether there is truth behind the adage, "Every song has already been written" and how thinking outside the box can show your students that there are more similarities than they might think between classical music and pop music.
Pete Bolenbaugh
Wise Wonders Children's Museum
Billings, MT

'The Practice Buy-In'
Stephanie Davis
Billings, MT

'The Beauty in the Beat'
Students from University of Montana
​Missoula, MT

'What Do You Do When the Magic Stops: The Case of the Potential Drop-Out'
Drop-out rate in piano lessons is alarming.
What is the teacher's responsibility in preventing drop-out?

Intermediate Students Masterclass
Dr. Stephen Thomas
Brigham Young University-Idaho

Advanced Students Masterclass
Marvin Blickenstaff