Piano

Private Piano instruction- I currently teach all levels of piano, from beginning to advanced.

I use Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course, entitled, "Adult All-in-One Course" for those at the beginning through intermediate level. It includes basic piano technique, theory as well as performance repertoire. In addition, I supplement with sheet music from various genres when appropriate. I feel it is essential for young adults and adults to have "the big picture" when learning the piano.  I have found this a highly successful approach with students here, as they are immediately working in Major Keys, and learning to recognize notes in groups as well as reading them individually.  They also enjoy playing more sophisticated sounding pieces almost immediately.

For the more advanced student, we choose pieces together that again represent a wide variety of piano literature from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary eras.  I also emphasize the skills of sight reading, improvisation and accompanying through all the various levels of learners.

Visiting artists are an enriching part of our music program. In the past two years, we have had the pleasure of having classical pianist, Ilya Itin and jazz pianist, John Harmon work with students both in private lessons and in master classes.

"Spontaneous Jam" by Alfred Gockel

Flute

Private Flute Instruction- I currently take students at all levels of flute, from beginning to advanced, as well as including piccolo instruction in the lesson if appropriate.

I use a lot of Trevor Wye techniques with the flute students, emphasizing correct embouchure, breath control, and articulation, as well as tone color.

In addition, students generally work use Köhler technique exercises, do sight reading in duet form with me on a regular basis, as well as work on performance solos which I accompany.

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Special Topics in Music

Ragtime to Rap: A Musical Timeline Through American History

Minor course

Second term

Taught: Mary Lynch-Weirich

This course will study the creation and development of American popular music in relation to the cultural, social, political and economic context of the United States from the early 1900’s through present day.

Offered for the first time this year, as one of the two special topics courses in Music being taught, the other being History of Rock and Roll, taught first term this year, by associate director of bands, music theory/history, and woodwinds instructor, David Weirich.