Amy L. Aberg McLelland, NCTM
*Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through
MTNA (Music Teachers National Association)
*Bachelor and Master Degrees of Music in
Piano Performance.
*Post-graduate studies in the field of ergonomic motion at the keyboard (Taubman Approach) in New York City, Amherst College, Williams College and Princeton University with Edna Golandsky and John Bloomfield, 1996 - present.
*Member Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.
*Certified instructor, Golandsky Piano Institute, NYC
A native of Huntsville, Alabama, McLelland has taught students of all ages and levels of advancement for over 27 years in private studios and colleges. During the summers she serves as an assistant teacher at The Golandsky Piano Institute at Princeton University, NJ and has served at the former Taubman International Piano Institute and Music Festival at Williams College, Massachusetts. Prior to moving to Birmingham, Alabama, McLelland served on the music faculties of William Carey College, Mississippi College, and other institutions. Since 1986, her private students have been regular prize-winners in piano competitions and many graduates have gone on to become successful college music majors, professional musicians, teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, scientists, engineers, therapists, social workers and more.
Since 1996 McLelland has been a student of Edna Golandsky and John Bloomfield in New York City and Atlanta. Because of this extensive and ongoing training, qualifying students at McLelland Piano may participate in special masterclasses and workshops in Birmingham, Atlanta, New York City and other locations. She began her piano studies in Huntsville, Alabama with Frances Schwemmer, AMTA Teacher of the Year recipient. Additional teachers have included Dr. Eric Larsen - North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Dr. Frederic Broer - Gordon College, Massachusetts, Amanda Penick - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Nina Scolnik, Michael Gurt, Dr. Jerome Reed, Sean Duggan, and Ilya Itin..
During her early music studies Mrs. McLelland was a regular state winner for Alabama in the AMTA piano auditions and performed as a soloist with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra after winning 1st place in the HSO Young Artist Auditions. Upon graduating from Randolph School, she received the Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts and the Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and has pursued post graduate studies in New York City, since 1996.
HONORS AND AWARDS
McLelland is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, including the Luke A..and Mary M. Wood Scholarship, The Hindman Foundation Fellowship, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Louise McAllister Scholarship, AFMC/NFMC scholarships, the MTNA Wurlitzer-Collegiate Artist Competition State Winner, Divisional alternate winner to Ntl winner. In 1997, she was the recipient of a MTNA Teacher Enrichment Grant to continue her studies of the internationally renowned Taubman approach to piano playing. In demand as a clinician, she has shared her experiences with these healthy Taubman principles through workshops across the southeast and was a featured clinician at the June, 2002 State Convention for the Alabama Music Teachers Association. In 2008, she was chosen through audition to perform in Spivey Hall, Atlanta, GA masterclass series for Imogen Cooper, (one of the pianists featured in the movie Amadeus.)
As a pianist, McLelland has appeared several times on Public Television and Public Radio, and has performed across New England and the Southeastern U.S. in solo and collaborative recitals, and as a soloist with symphonies and other large chamber groups. In addition to her work as a freelance accompanist, she has served as an official MTNA piano accompanist. Mrs. McLelland also serves regularly as an adjudicator for local, state, and national piano competitions, and has served on the executive boards for several professional organizations and is a past president of the Birmingham Music Teachers Association.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
Master of Music in Piano Performance, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1994..
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts, 1986.
Post graduate study in Taubman Approach to piano playing in New York City, Amherst College, Williams College, Princeton University 1996-present.
TEACHERS
Edna Golandsky, Founder and Music Director of the Golandsky Piano Institute, New York City, 1996-present
John Bloomfield, Faculty Chair of the Golandsky Piano Institute, New York City and Atlanta, GA, 2002-present
Ilya Itin, Faculty Member of the Golandsky Institute, New York, NY
Dr. Jerome Reed, Nashville, TN
Michael Gurt, Professor of Piano at Louisiana State University
Amanda Penick, Professor of Piano at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 1998-2000.
Dr. Frederic Broer, Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts, 1982-1986.
Dr. Eric Larsen, North Carolina School of Performing Arts, 1978-1979.
Frances Schwemmer, NCTM, 1970-1982.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
*Assistant teacher at The Golandsky Institute Summer Symposium, Princeton University, NJ, 2004-present.
*Independent Piano Teacher, McLelland Piano Studio, Birmingham/Hoover, Alabama, 2000-present.
*Assistant teacher at The Taubman International Piano Summer Institute, Williams College, MA, 2000-2003.
*Piano Faculty, William Carey College (piano majors, piano pedagogy, piano literature), 1999-2000.
*Adjunct Piano Faculty, Mississippi College, 1996-1999.
*Independent Piano Teacher, McLelland Piano Studio, Clinton/Jackson, Mississippi, 1996-2000.
*Adjunct Piano faculty, William carey College, 1990-1994.
*Independent Piano Teacher, McLelland Piano Studio, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 1990-1994.
*University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Graduate Teaching Assistant, 1988-1990.
*Independent Piano Teacher, Aberg Piano Studio, Huntsville, Alabama, 1986-1988.
*Piano instructor, Gordon College Community Music Program, Wenham, Massachusetts, 1982-1986.
GUEST CLINICIANS AND GUEST FACULTY
Dr. JEFF R. McLELLAND:
(Pipe Organ, Guest Clinician)
Degrees held: Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance, University of Southern Mississippi
Master of Music in Organ Performance, Eastman School of Music
DMA, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
(Major Professors: Dr. Paul Andersen, Russell
Saunders, Warren Hutton).
Prior to accepting the position of Director of Music and Fine Arts at Independent Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL, Dr. McLelland was a tenured associate professor of music at William Carey College and Mississippi College. In demand as a recitalist and clinician, McLelland has concertized widely across the U.S. and Europe in such locations as St. Thomas Church, NYC, Coventry Cathedral, England, Musikdagar Sweden, Boston, Atlanta, Orlando, Carnegie Hall, with the Alabama Boy Choir, and has been featured on the nationally broadcast radio program, PIPEDREAMS.
The recipient of numerous prizes from National
competitions (including the MTNA Collegiate Artist Competition, and AGO NYACOP Competition), McLelland is a former Regional Councillor for the southeast region IV of the American Guild of Organists.
John Bloomfield
(Faculty Chair, Golandsky Piano Institute, NYC)
Taubman expert and Golandsky Certification Program mentor. Mr. Bloomfield travels from NYC to Birmingham in the spring to work with select students at McLelland Piano. Additionally, lesson opportunities are available when he travels to Atlanta, GA several times throughout the year.
A MESSAGE FROM THE STUDIO DIRECTOR, Amy McLelland, NCTM:
"I am continually excited about playing and teaching piano and my goal is to share this excitement and to use my knowledge to help instill a love of music in my students. When both the student and the teacher give their best, you can expect to see some wonderful musical milestones. Ultimately, students will have the most fun in music study when they see improvement and can feel a true sense of accomplishment. This includes accomplishment in all areas of musicianship -- from note reading, performance, creative interpretations, composition, to the development of a healthy and virtuosic technic. The curriculum is designed to find ways to allow students to develop their talents and strengths by understanding their unique learning styles and by creating the most ideal learning atmosphere. While no two students are alike, I believe that students of all ages and personality types learn best when they are in a happy, motivated and calm emotional state.
While I am a very serious classical pianist, as evidenced by my continued performing and post-graduate studies in New York City, Princeton, and Atlanta, I always try to provide an upbeat atmosphere in the private lessons and small-group classes. I expect my students to take their own music-making seriously -- even when we’re having fun in the process of learning -- and I always try to make sure that the first thing out of my mouth is positive, no matter how a student might have played that day. I am relentless in trying to find new and better ways to challenge my students and help them become not only better pianists, but better people as well. I always try to put the welfare of my students over any personal gain.
When I taught piano majors in colleges, so many injured pianists walked through my studio door. Thanks to my extensive training in the field of ergonomic motion at the piano, and my studies in NYC of the Taubman Approach with Edna Golandsky and John Bloomfield since 1996, I was able to get these and many other students and teachers out of pain by showing them healthier ways to move their fingers, hands, and arms. Interestingly, these healthy motions are also the basis of a virtuosic technic -- not a bad deal, no pain PLUS faster and more even playing and control than you ever thought possible!
As Mrs. Taubman and Edna Golandsky explain, "No pain is your gain." It is unfortunate that so many traditional ways of teaching today encourage motions which are harmful to the body (such as curling the fingers beyond their natural curve, or "shaping with the wrist or elbow" and bringing limb parts to the extreme range) and thus no surprise that approx. 86% of orchestral players are severely injured, with a higher estimate for pianists. It is important to me that my students strive to develop a healthy technic that will prevent them from suffering the pain and limitation that affects so many other pianists.
These important principles of ergonomic motion at the piano can also be applied to computer typing and other daily activities throughout life, preventing the development of overuse (misuse) injuries from future non-piano related activities and jobs. Not a bad bonus for piano lessons!
Please let us know if you would like to schedule an interview or consultation. I look forward to discovering new and exciting ways to help music-making come alive in your life!"
Sincerely,
Amy Aberg McLelland, NCTM
Director, McLelland Piano Studio
