June 20, 2024
Congratulations to Butler students, faculty and recent graduates Margarita Denenburg, Jeanne Hourez, Seonju "Sunny" Jo, Ellen Sirower, Michael Lenahan, and Ana Moiseeva for their presentations at the Texas Music Teachers Association’s (TMTA) 2024 conference. TMTA, an affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association, aims to advance the value of music study and support the professionalism of music teachers. Founded in 1886 it is dedicated to promoting high-quality music instruction. Its membership includes around two thousand teachers in over sixty local organizations. Many music teachers attend these conferences to enhance their teaching by learning from master teachers.
Butler student Seonju "Sunny" Jo, kicked off the conference with her presentation Exploring Four Key Piano Pedal Techniques: Enhancing Musical Expression through a Practical Guide for Performance Excellence. Her lecture and demonstration of proper pedaling showcased a beautiful, singing quality. Associate professor of Piano Pedagogy Margarita Denenburg commented, "Her playing had such a singing quality that the audience knew they were experiencing something special." Her presentation emphasized the foundational importance of piano pedaling, equal in significance to mastering finger technique, focusing on four essential techniques: Syncopated for seamless note connections, Split-damper for precise control, Dynamic for emotional depth, and Long for crafting captivating legato passages.
Seonju "Sunny" Jo Presents Exploring Four Key Piano Pedal Techniques: Enhancing Musical Expression through a Practical Guide for Performance Excellence
A quartet of Butler presenters—Jeanne Hourez, Seonju Jo, Ellen Sirower, and Ana Moiseeva—presented Louise Farrenc and her Set 25 Études faciles Op. 50: Exploring Technical Piano Aspects through Expressivity. This presentation delved into the French composer Louise Farrenc and her collection, offering alternative perspectives on piano technique with a creative and thoughtful approach where expressivity plays a central role. Margarita Denenburg praised the presentation, highlighting "the musical gems by a female composer that have been brought to light"
Left to Right Jeanne Hourez, Ellen Sirower, Seonju "Sunny" Jo and Ana Moiseeva Present Louise Farrenc and her Set 25 Études faciles Op. 50: Exploring Technical Piano Aspects through Expressivity
Michael Lenahan, another Butler student, brought charisma to his poster session Applying the Taubman Approach and Score Annotation to Chopin’s Etude Op. 10 No. 2. His session addressed injury-promoting habits and how the Taubman approach can prevent them, engaging the audience with personal anecdotes about learning Chopin’s Etude and his transformative experience with the Taubman method. Margarita Denenburg described his presentation as "inspirational," noting his personal charisma and thorough research.
Michael Lenahan talks about his research
Margarita Denenburg also presented at the TMTA conference Tension to Freedom, Exercising in the Name of Music, a session on addressing tension and discomfort in piano playing. She shared exercises for teachers to implement in lessons, focusing on tension-release and relaxation techniques to produce a vibrant and colorful sound using arm weight and building a healthy pianistic foundation. Additionally, at the conference, Butler students Jeanne Hourez, and Seonju Jo served as judges for the All-Star Festival, where precollegiate students performed and competed. Also, Ellen Sirower participated in a Collegiate Master-masterclass with Sara Ernst.
Left to Right Jeanne Hourez, Michael Lenahan, Ellen Sirower, Margarita Denenburg and Seonju "Sunny" Jo Celebrating a Successful TMTA Conference