Education
Friday Opening "Edutainment" Set
Free and Open to the Public!
This year's Festival launches in the Elks Ballroom at noon on Friday with a special presentation by piano great and longtime Festival favorite Jeff Barnhart. Entitled "So You Want to Write Songs? Better Play the Piano!", Jeff begins with the idea that nearly every notable composer from 1890-1950 was also a pianist. He then takes us from Irving Berlin to Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers to George Gershwin, Cole Porter and beyond, sharing from a piano player’s point of view how their level of training and pianistic virtuosity (or lack thereof) influenced their style of composing and creation.
Jeff Barnhart will also explore Ragtime and early Jazz composers Scott Joplin, Eubie Blake, Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, again concentrating on how their pianistic upbringing shaped their “voice” as it were. With Jeff's knowledge, talent and personality, this promises to be a both educational and entertaining experience!
Student Clinics featuring professional instruction are an annual highlight of the Festival Education Program.
Student Clinics provide both individual instrument and ensemble instruction.