FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 10, 2005

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

RENOWNED MUSICIAN TO ADDRESS PIANO TEACHERS, STUDENTS

Marvin Blickenstaff, a renowned musician who presents workshops for piano teachers throughout the United States and frequently appears as soloist and lecturer at state and national conventions of the Music Teachers National Association, will visit Drake University on Saturday, Oct. 22. He will give two presentations and conduct a master class on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main, 25th Street and University Avenue.

The first presentation, which will start at 9 a.m., is titled "Warm ups? Who me? Technical Routines for All Ages." The second presentation, which will start at 10:30 a.m., is titled "Chopin's Preludes, Op. 28: Style, Technique and Thematic Transformation." Blickenstaff will then conduct a master class for selected piano students and participate in a question-and-answer session from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Students may attend all three events at no charge. The fee for piano teachers to attend all three events is $20 per person. For more information and registration, contact Christine Schneider at (515) 271-4011 or christine.schneider@drake.edu.

Blickenstaff is on the faculty of International Workshops, where he has performed and lectured in Austria, Canada, France, Norway, Scotland and Switzerland. He is co-author of "Music Pathways," a 36-book instructional series, and is a piano editor for the Frederick Harris Music Co. in Toronto, Canada. In addition, he has been on the editorial board of The American Music Teacher and is an associate editor of the periodical Keyboard Companion. He resides in Philadelphia, teaching at the College of New Jersey, the Westminster Choir College and Conservatory of Rider University and the New School for Music Study. He holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Indiana University.

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