Robert Weirich in Recital and Workshop

Robert Weirich in Recital and Workshop

Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association will be presenting internationally known pianist Robert Weirich in a recital and workshop on Sunday and Monday, April 22 and 23, 2012 at Countryside Church, 1025 N. Smith Road, Palatine, Illinois. Mr. Weirich leads an extremely active career not only as a pianist, but as teacher, author and composer. He has performed in such venues as Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Chicago's Symphony Center.

Mr. Weirich has been on the faculty of the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri/Kansas City since 1998. He is currently Associate Dean for Strategic Planning at the UMKC Conservatory. Previous positions were at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University, Tulane University and Syracuse University. His students have won national international competitions. His articles and reviews have been published by various music magazines, in particular Clavier Magazine for which he wrote two columns between 1984 and 2003.

Robert Weirich's recital on Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m. is entitled "Surviving the Chopin Etudes" and focuses on Chopin's Op. 10 Etudes with commentary as well as performance. Tickets will be available at the door and by advance reservation for $5 each. Students, parents and teachers are heartily welcomed.

Monday's registration for the workshop begins at 9:15 a.m.  It is highly recommended that teachers and other interested attendees reserve a spot ahead of time but walk-ins are welcome as well. The three topics covered in the workshop will be:

1.     Humanizing the Teaching of Bach. Weirich says, "We've all suffered the slings and arrows of outrageously unmusical Bach performances! This workshop is an attempt to restore the warmth and humanity of Bach's music through a look at the basics of rhythm, tempo, articulation and singing."
2.     The Ten Commandments of Piano Technique. According to Weirich, "If we had to boil down everything we know about technique, what principles would we come up with that work for any student of any age or level of advancement? The answers may surprise you!"
3.     Aaron Copland's America: Cultural Identity Explored through his Piano Music. Weirich explains,

"This session is essentially a lecture-recital that focuses on his intermediate level piano pieces and how they express the America of his era." A good collection of Copland pieces to bring to this session would be: Aaron Copland - The Copland Piano Collection (13 piano Pieces) published by Hal Leonard.

Please contact Janice Razaq at jlrpiano@yahoo.com or 847-854-2523. We hope for a record turn-out at this much-anticipated event.