The purpose of this survey is to determine the educational and professional status of piano teachers in the colleges and universities of the United States. This survey will attempt to evaluate the musical and educational background as well as the professional status of people engaged actively in the teaching profession today.

L’objectif de cette thèse est de s’interroger sur la prégnance éventuelle de paradigmes romantiques chez les pianistes improvisateurs solistes issus du jazz. Du modèle de la virtuosité soliste au style et plus généralement à l’esprit romantique,est-il possible de déceler, chez eux, une part d’héritage assumée ou non ? Concernant des pianistes aussi différents que les virtuoses de la musique savante romantique du XIXe siècle en Europe et les pianistes de jazz américains du siècle suivant, le terme d’héritage pourrait sembler inadapté voire abusif. Or il ne faut pas sous-estimer l’apport de la musique savante écrite aux musiques improvisées, en particulier dans le domaine pianistique. Tous les pianistes improvisateurs se sont plus ou moins trouvés confrontés à des pages extraites des répertoires classique, romantique ou contemporain, tout au moins pendant leurs études pianistiques qui pour certains, ont été extrêmement approfondies. Peut-on discerner dans le jeu de certains virtuoses les influences des deux grands génies romantiques au caractère si différent que furent Chopin l’intimiste et Liszt l’extraverti au travers de cette virtus latine reliant habileté et transcendance, apanage du héros prométhéen qui vole le feu pour l’offrir à l’humanité ? La musique improvisée est fréquemment une entité de partage, le récital de soliste restant l’exception. C’est à l’occasion de ce moment privilégié que les rares élus, dont la relation à l’instrument sur lequel ils jouent est à chaque fois nouvelle, accèdent au statut de héros en valorisant énergie, action et savoir humain. De Jelly Roll Morton, autoproclamé « inventeur » du jazz à l’improvisation totale de l’ère post-bop, en passant par les pianistes de stride et Art Tatum, la représentation du romantisme revêt des aspects protéiformes allant de l’émancipation des aspects fonctionnels liés à la danse aux préoccupations programmatiques d’un Brad Mehldau se remémorant Schumann. / The aim of this thesis is to question the possible impact of romantic paradigms for soloist improviser pianists coming from the jazz scene. From the soloist virtuosity to the style and more generally to the romantic spirit, is it possible to find in their work a certain heritage, whether it is overtly admitted or not? However, 19th century classical music virtuosi and jazz pianists from the following century are so different that it seems natural to wonder whether the word ‘heritage’ is the proper one to use. Yet, the contribution of written classical music to improvised music pieces shouldn’t be overlooked, especially when examining thepianistic domain. Every improviser pianists have been faced with pieces from the classical, romantic or contemporary repertoire to some extent, at the very least during their piano studies which, for some of them, were extremely advanced. Through the Latin virtus connecting dexterity and transcendence – the prerogative of the Promethean hero stealing fire as a present for humanity - could it be possible to find in the playing of certain virtuosi the influence of the two great romantic geniuses, Chopin the intimist and Liszt the extrovert, whose characters were so different? Improvised music is frequently a moment of sharing (soloists’ recitals being the exception) and it is the moment when a few chosen ones can reach the status of heroes, emphasizing energy, action and human knowledge. From Jelly Roll Morton, self-proclaimed “inventor” of jazz music, the stride pianists and Art Tatum,to the complete improvisation of the post-bop era, romanticism is represented through many different protean aspects such as the emancipation of functional aspects connected to dance or again the programmatic concerns of a certain Brad Mehldau, reminiscing about Schumann.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the theoretical causes of the stylistic results of both compositions and spontaneous improvisations of jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk. The specific topics chosen for analysis include Klangfarben (sound colors), rhythmic displacement (the relocation or complete removal of expected rhythmic events), and economy of means (the judicious use of silence, simplicity, and economy). All of the above topics are addressed with regard to the composer's original works, his selected renditions of works by other composers, and his improvisations. The musical examples appear in transcription form, as some of them are unpublished. The topics are introduced in the first chapter, and individually addressed in subsequent chapters.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T16:25:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FranklinMuniz_ARTIGO.pdf: 667746 bytes, checksum: 0d276b168b6089a3a1ee04c82f831da3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-31 / This study presents a discussion and research on the fields of expertise and skills developed by professional ensemble pianists, evaluating their role and acquisition of the area‟s specific knowledge. It also proposes a definition to the terms correpetidor, collaborator and chamber musician. The first chapter deals with the role, importance and function of these ensemble musicians since its first performance manifestations in music history. The second chapter traces the outline of each field of activity showing the routines and skills inherent to each field. For conducting this study was submitted a semi-structured questionnaire to professional pianists in each area, which provided information about their work routines and developed skills. In the conclusion the author offers a curriculum for a graduate course addressing subjects that involve the skills discussed. / Este estudo apresenta uma discussão e investigação sobre os campos de atuação e habilidades desenvolvidas por pianistas profissionais de conjunto, avaliando suas funções e aquisição de conhecimento específico da área. Também propõe definições para utilização dos termos colaborador, correpetidor e camerista. O primeiro capítulo trata da atuação, importância e função dos músicos acompanhadores desde suas primeiras manifestações na história da música. O segundo capítulo traça o perfil de cada campo de atuação de pianistas de conjunto evidenciando as rotinas e habilidades inerentes a cada campo. Para a realização deste estudo foi encaminhado questionário semi-estruturado a pianistas atuantes das áreas, os quais forneceram informações acerca do seu trabalho e das aptidões comuns a esta classe de pianistas. Na conclusão o autor oferece uma grade curricular para um curso Lato Sensu de especialização contemplando disciplinas que envolvem as habilidades discutidas.

Cette thèse permet de mettre en lumière divers aspects de l’interprétation pianistique contemporaine. Pour cela, trois concours internationaux ont été choisis – Chopin de Varsovie, Long-Thibaud de Paris et Tchaïkovski de Moscou – de façon à exposer au mieux, à travers des épreuves de ce genre, la situation de l’art pianistique à une échelle mondiale sous des rapports divers : social et historique en relation avec chacune de ces compétitions, technique dans la chaîne compositeur-interprète-auditeur, et artistique sur la base de l’étude des interprétations des finalistes durant la période 1985-2010, sans oublier les enjeux de l’évaluation dans ce cadre.L’analyse générale de la situation actuelle a mis en évidence l’utilité de ces concours dans la vie musicale contemporaine. Si les valeurs esthétiques du monde actuel ne stimulent pas réellement la formation de personnalités d’une grande force et d’une réelle profondeur, un certain nombre de signes positifs semblent toutefois se dégager de ces manifestations. / The scientific work reveals various aspects of contemporary piano performance. Three international piano competitions were chosen – Chopin in Warsaw, Long-Thibaud in Paris and Tchaikovsky in Moscow – because it is through events like these ones that is exposed to its best the situation of pianistic art on a global scale. Given the complexity of our questions, we have shared our research in several areas: social and historical related to each analyzed musical competition, technical according to the chain composer-performer-listener, and artistic based on the study of interpretations of the finalists during the period 1985-2010, preceded by issues evaluation in this context.The general analysis of the current situation has highlighted the need of these competitions in contemporary musical life. If the aesthetic values of the modern world do not actually stimulate the formation of deep and strong personalities, a number of positive signs, however, seem to emerge from these events.

Notre recherche porte sur une analyse comparative des interprétations de la Sonate en si mineur de Liszt. Nous avons analysé vingt-cinq enregistrements de pianistes regroupés en cinq écoles :hongroise, française, russe, américaine et allemande. Nous avons comparé les déviations des interprètes par rapport à la partition et les divergences entre les différentes interprétations, en sélectionnant sept paramètres qui nous ont permis de caractériser chaque interprétation. Une double analyse a été effectuée : « à l'oreille » et à l'aide d'un logiciel informatique. Notre recherche a démontré l'importance de plusieurs facteurs d'influence complémentaires : l'enseignement reçu, l'époque où l'on vit et l'on crée, le tempérament et l'individualité artistique. Au terme de notre recherche, nous avons démontré l'existence de spécificités qui se manifestent au sein de chacune des écoles pianistiques nationales, et également de particularités caractérisant le mode de jeu des différentes générations. / Our research focuses a comparative analysis of the performances of Liszt's Sonata in b minor. We analysed twenty-five recordings by pianists grouped into five piano schools : Hungarian, French, Russian, American and German. We compared the deviations of the performers from the score and the differences between the individual performances, based on a selection of seven parameters that allowed us to characterise each of them. A double analysis was made: "by ear" and with the aid of acomputer. Our research has shown the importance of several complementary factors of influence : education, the period during which the pianists lived and created, the artists' temperaments and their artistic individualities. At the end of our research, we demonstrated the existence of specific features within each of the national piano schools, and also of some features that characterise the performing style of each generation.

Ce travail est une étude sur le style et les références présentes dans l’œuvre pour piano solo de Nikos Skalkottas (1904-1949). Il (ré)intègre pour la première fois le compositeur dans le milieu des pianistes qu’il a connu pendant ses années berlinoises (1921-1933), en inscrivant l’œuvre dans son contexte et l’ensemble des références auxquelles elle renvoie. Une méthodologie analytique émerge de ces mises en relation, destinée à faciliter le travail de l’interprète et à révéler les composantes stylistiques du corpus. Une importance particulière est portée sur le raffinement du timbre des pianistes berlinois dans l’entre-deux-guerres, mis en valeur par le « son coloré » des Bechstein historiques. Cette observation devient le point de départ d’une série d’analyses graphiques, montrant le rôle de la texture et du timbre en tant qu’éléments compositionnels chez Skalkottas. Les analyses, destinées à être utilisées par les interprètes, dévoilent une interaction de la texture avec le schéma formel. Elles sont complétées par l’étude des pièces, groupées par pôles de référence pour l’ensemble du corpus. Ces références s’étendent de la musique baroque et de Beethoven au jazz dansant et à la musique légère, tout en incluant des éléments provenant de la musique grecque. Les deux approches choisies s’appuient sur des sources mises pour la première fois au service de ce répertoire et s’avèrent complémentaires. Elles ont comme but d’offrir aux pianistes des clés pour son interprétation, de le rendre plus accessible et de faciliter sa propagation. / This thesis is a research into the style and influences on the solo piano works of Nikos Skalkottas (1904-1949). For the first time the composer is considered in relation to the pianistic milieu he was acquainted with during his Berlin years (1921-1933) and his oeuvre is examined in the light of its various references. A specific analytical methodology emerges from these influences, aiming at facilitating the performer’s work and revealing the stylistic components of the pieces. The refinement of the timbre in the playing of Berlin pianists in the interwar years, enhanced by the “coloured sound” of the Bechstein historical pianos, acquires a special importance. It leads to a series of analyses and graphs, showing the role of texture and timbre as compositional elements in Skalkottas’s piano music. The graphs, meant for the use of pianists, reveal an interaction between texture and form. This is complemented by the study of the piano pieces grouped according to their references; they extend from baroque music and Beethoven to dance jazz, light music, and Greek music elements. Both approaches can be justified from the study of primary sources, used for the first time in relation to this repertoire, and are complementary. By offering pianists new tools for its interpretation, the aim is to facilitate the access to this music and help its further promotion.

As epidemiologic research demonstrates health concerns for hand problems among pianists, scientists are measuring historic piano keyboards and realizing that much of the piano literature was composed for and played on pianos with smaller keys compared to what is used on the modern piano. Having to play this literature on a larger keyboard is especially difficult for small-handed piano students and professionals. Fortunately, smaller keyboards are now available for use with standard pianos - and research shows that this ergonomic adjustment does reduce piano-related hand pain for small-handed musicians. Major universities are now offering this option to students, but only a few music schools possess these keyboards and not many people know about them. There are no known research studies to address people's awareness and attitude toward ergonomically scaled piano keyboards (ESPKs). The purpose of this study was to assess perception and attitude toward ESPKs and help to raise its awareness. To examine pianists' perception, two surveys was composed. First one was conducted on UNT campus in which ESPKs are available for their students, and the second survey was carried out on schools of music in the United States. The results reveal that substantial number of people already know about the existence of ESPKs, but they are not totally aware specific information about ESPKs. Subjects who are aware of ESPKs report significantly higher positive attitude compared to those have not known about ESPKs. Results from this study may have implications for health education initiatives within NASM schools of music.

As opportunities to perform as a soloist diminish, more pianists consider chamber and orchestral playing as an alternative solution. By so doing, ample performance opportunities are introduced. Although most university music programs offer ensemble courses for pianists and have begun to offer degrees with an emphasis in accompaniment, their curriculum lacks instructions specifically designed to train and prepare pianists for playing in large ensembles, especially wind bands. This dissertation addresses the difficulties, which one might encounter in large ensemble collaboration, and recommends useful suggestions for acquiring functional skills to solve these difficulties. Pianists can attain professional status by acquiring the functional skills presented in each chapter. The goal of this study is to provide pedagogical support and direction for novice pianists in the larger ensemble collaboration.

Problemställning: Muskuloskeletala besvär hos professionella pianister (Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders - PRMDs) är ett vanligt förekommande problem och besvären är oftast smärtsamma, långvariga och funktionsnedsättande. Pianister drabbas i hög grad av skador i övre extremiteterna. Tidigare studier efterfrågar en gemensam konsensus med tydliga definitioner över de riskfaktorer som ingår i PRMDs hos pianister. Det rekommenderas valida och reliabla mätinstrument samt prospektiva studier för att säkerställa prevalensen. Syfte: Syftet var att konstruera ett frågeformulär på engelska för användning att kunna identifiera prevalensen av PRMDs och dess frisk- respektive riskfaktorer hos professionella pianister i Sverige, Nederländerna och Grekland. Metod: För att säkerställa att alla relevanta riskområden skulle inkluderas i frågeformuläret genomfördes intervjuer med tre experter inom området och intervjuerna analyserades sedan med innehållsanalys. I nästa steg konstruerades ett frågeformulär på engelska och frågorna som skapades baserades dels på intervjudata och dels på information litteraturstudier. Frågor och områden hämtades från validerade och tidigare kända frågeformulär och nya konstruerades. Frågeformuläret pilottestades sedan på fyra respondenter och modifieringar genomfördes. Resultat: Tio områden identifierades utifrån innehållsanalysen. Resultatet överrensstämde med tidigare studier när det gällde flertalet riskområden. Tre områden Prevention, Arbetsmarknad - Ekonomi och No pain No gain kunde delvis och under olika benämningar återfinnas i den tidigare litteraturen. Mästare – Lärling och Organisation var helt nya. Fem områden som tidigare nämnts var Övningsrutin, Psykosocialt, Kroppskännedom, Diagnos och Kroppskonstitution-könsskillnader- ärftlighet. Frågor som utformades själva av författarna angående de nya områdena gav inte några större synpunkter vid pilottestning. Slutsats: Nytillkomna och tidigare nämnda frisk- och riskfaktorer för bestämning av PRMDs och dess besvärsprevalens gällande professionella pianister finns nu utvecklade i ett frågeformulär på engelska där helhetsperspektivet betonas djupare än tidigare. Fortsatt utveckling kvarstår och de ingående frisk- och riskfaktorerna bör undersökas närmare. / Presentation and aim: Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) are well known problems among instrumentalists and is the cause of pain and dysfunction. Professional pianists often suffer from injury in the upper extremities. Previous studies recommend a consensus regarding risk factors associated with PRMDs in pianists. Prospective studies with valid and reliable instruments are suggested in order to examine the prevalence. Aim: In order to identify health- respective risk factors and prevalence among pianists in Greece, Netherlands and Sweden, the aim with this master thesis was to design a questionnaire in English. Method: To make it possible to include all relevant areas in the questionnaire the authors made interviews with experts in the field. The interviews were analysed with content analysis. The questions in the questionnaire were based on data from literature studies and from the interviews. Also by retrieving valid and reliable well known questionnaires, new questions where developed by the authors themselves. Eventually the questionnaire was validated in a pilotstudy. Result: The result from the content analysis corresponded with previous studies regarding most of the problem areas. Three areas Prevention, Labour market - Economy and No pain No gain were in some aspect corresponding with the literature. Two areas were completely new Master – Apprentice and Organisation. Five areas where previously identified Practice routine, Psycho social, Body awareness, Diagnosis and Heredity – Body constitution – Sex differences. Other questions made by the authors where not commented in the pilot test. Conclusion: A questionnaire for identification of health and risk factors in PRMDs and for determination of prevalence in professional pianists with a deeper multidimensional perspective was designed. Further development is needed and the health and risk factors should be more extensively examined. / QC 20101020