5 minutes with … Marienne Uszler

American Music Teacher, Oct-Nov, 2004 by Arthur Houle

Marienne Uszler was editor of Piano & Keyboard and American Music Teacher, coauthor of The Well-Tempered Keyboard Teacher and Sound Choices and recipient of the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award. Currently, she is writing and editing for the FJH Music Company. She is professor emerita of the University of Southern California.

How do you define "pedagogy"? ("Pet-your-doggie?") The word really means "to lead a child." But the narrow meaning is teaching someone to teach. It's essential that the "learners" teach. Talking about it isn't enough.

Has there been real progress in promoting pedagogy study? Pedagogy degrees are available in many schools. MTNA and other organizations provide valuable conferences. However, where strong leaders have retired from some pedagogy programs, these programs have been weakened.

All reading approaches--middle C, multikey and intervallic--can work; which way do you prefer? (How about the "hunt and peck randomly" method?) Excellent readers read intervallically. All that's needed are guide notes to identify starting pitches. Students should play all over the keyboard from the beginning. That ensures technical, as well as reading, freedom.

Is a third edition of The Well-Tempered Keyboard Teacher in the offing? What additions or changes might we expect? Visit the website (www.welltemperedkeyboardteacher.com) for updates, new reviews, expanded ideas and fresh topics. You'll be able to ask questions, pose challenges and get feedback. It's up-to-the-minute "tempering."

Did you have well-tempered arts training as a child? I took piano, singing and dancing lessons, was a drum majorette, acted in plays. Loved it all, but wasn't too great at most of it. In dance recitals, I was always in the back row.

The demise of Piano & Keyboard in early 2001 was like a death in the family for us. How did you cope? Together with colleagues, I tried hard to find a new owner. It wasn't to be. I miss it. It opened up the keyboard world to me, put me in contact with great players and writers.

Any embarrassing moments professionally? I had to interview McCoy Tyner on quick notice. There was no time to prepare and, as a non-jazzer, I had nothing to fall back on. I asked stupid questions. He gave one-word answers. Unprintable.

Are you optimistic about the future of piano teaching in today's profit-driven world? Most people think playing the piano is "good" or "fun," so teachers will always be needed. We're really talking about music education at the keyboard, not just molding young artists. Teachers need to be versatile.

Any advice for well-tempered students who study with ill-tempered teachers? Or vice versa? I've learned a lot from teachers I didn't like. Look beyond the personal and listen for the message. "Tempering" implies toughening, rigor and seasoning. Remember that steel is "tempered."

What do you do for fun outside of music? (Drag racing? Skydiving? Mud wrestling?) I'm an avid mystery reader, especially those by British and Scottish writers. I love the theater, dogs, crosswords and cooking. I have far too many recipe books and a disorganized recipe collection.

Arthur Houle is founder and director of the International Festival for Creative Pianists (www pianofestival.org). Houle has taught at the New England and Boston Conservatories, the Universities of Iowa, North Dakota and Texas-Austin and, most recently, at Albertson College.