Teaching Piano Music Theory Concepts Using Frere Jacques

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Julie Lovison, Director of The Lake Shore Music Studio in Chicago presents Essential Music Concepts that can be introduced to piano students (or general music education students) using the simple tune Frere Jacques (Brother John) . The idea is to see that you can explain important music theory at any level of learning and also that simple melodies and music phrases are found within more complex pieces as the student’s repertoire advances. This was presented as part of the Lee Roberts Music Publications Showcase at the MTNA Conference Milwaukee 2011. 

This is just a 10 minute “taste” of her longer program “One Stop Shopping With Brother John – Exploring 35 music concepts using the tune Frere Jacques.” By focusing on only one melody it is enlightening for teachers and students to see the various concepts within the structure of one simple musical theme.

Intro to Pace Piano Method for Teachers

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Julie recorded her teleseminar so that any piano teacher who could not be on the call could listen to it after the fact. The recording is an introduction to the Robert Pace Piano Instruction Method and is ideal for piano teachers who want to learn more about the approach or those who are planning to attend her summer Comprehensive Musicianship Training.

It is about one hour long and includes some Q & A.

Intro to Robert Pace Piano Instruction Method

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Visiting Mobile

On a Spring 2011 trip to Mobile, Alabama Julie had a chance to observe one of her Robert Pace Piano Method trainees Ellen Jones and her associate as they team taught a partner lesson.

Julie also had the opportunity to visit with her good friend and former Millikin University roomate Annette Heim who works in the teacher education department of Spring Hill College. Julie accompanied Annette for her Master’s Degree recital at University of Wisconsin Madison.  Annette is a flutist with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and performs and records with her husband guitarist Bret Heim as the Heim Duo. Their beautiful CD, Celestials: American Music for Flute and Guitar can be found online at CDBaby.

Lake Shore Music Studio

MTNA Milwaukee 2011

S. Marian Verhaalen, Sue Rusch, Julie Lovison

Julie Lovison attended the 2011 Music Teachers National Association Conference in Milwaukee where she was on hand to assist teachers visiting the Lee Roberts Music Publications booth. On behalf of the publisher, Julie presented a segment of the Robert Pace Piano Method showcase along with Cynthia Pace and S. Marian Verhaalen.

Sister Marian was one of Julie’s mentors in the Robert Pace Approach. The two met while they were both teaching piano at Alverno College on Milwaukee’s south side. Sister Marian is an expert in Brazilian music (she has also published music under the name Mary Verne) and has written many repertoire pieces for the Pace series including a collection of  Brazilian Duets, the popular Level One suite City Set as well as Solo Adventures Sets one, two, and three and four. Sets three and four were just released in Spring 2011. S. Marian Verhaalen is the author of the book  Camargo Guarnieri, Brazilian Composer: A Study of His Creative Life and Works published by Indiana University Press. She is a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis and is currently editing a history of the order and teaching at Cardinal Stritch College.

Sue Rusch and Julie Lovison

The MTNA conference also gave Julie the opportunity to spend some time with good friend and former Alverno Moppets colleague Sue Rusch. Sue is the Co-Director of  Partners in Music in  Hales Corners, just outside Milwaukee.

Because of the proximity to Chicago the MTNA conference was well attended by a number of piano teachers from the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association of which Julie is a former President.

Musicals Camp 2010