Teaching Pre-College Organ Students: Methods of the Twenty-First Century
The lack of a standardized system of music education in the U.S. poses certain problems in preparing students for entrance into university music study, in general, and for organ majors, in particular. This presentation seeks to define achievements and problems of the pre-college education in organ music, as well as the expectations of university organ departments regarding incoming students. It explores the new approaches to providing mobile, on-line resources for organ teachers working with pre-college students, and proposes a program for supporting those teachers with course materials in e-book format.
Elena Paradies
Elena Paradies, a native of Lithuania, is a doctoral student in organ performance at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, studying with Dr. Janette Fishell. She received her master’s degree in piano at the Lithuanian Music Academy and in organ at the M. Glinka State Conservatory in Nyzniy Novgorod, Russia. She has participated in organ masterclasses with Professors Kramer, Uriol, Danby, Bellotti, Biggers, and Lohmann. She taught at Klaipeda University, Lithuania, where she published methodological works on organ performance. During the same period, she taught organ at the Klaipeda Art Gymnasium. Her pupils became winners of Children International Competitions: Berlingske Tidende (Denmark) and Rudolf Lyman Organ Competition (Lithuania). While in Lithuania, she combined pedagogical work with intensive concert performances in different venues in Lithuania, Russia, Denmark, Italy, and Germany. She has given lectures on Lithuanian organ music at Greifswald University (Germany) and the Eastman School of Music.