Presentations

Rebecca Shockley is available for in-person or virtual presentations on a variety of pedagogical topics, including the following:

 

Mapping Music: for Faster Learning and Secure Memory

An introduction to the basic principles and procedures for mapping music, showing how the technique can be used to help students of any instrument learn music efficiently and memorize with greater security. Examples from piano repertoire at various levels  serve to illustrate typical applications, such as melodic and harmonic mapping, mapping the overall form, mapping the rhythm, and mapping problem passages. Participants will also have the opportunity to use mapping to begin learning a short composition.

 

Beyond Mapping: Practice Strategies for Efficient Learning

These strategies can help in revealing the basic patterns and structure of a piece so that learning becomes easier and practice more efficient. They include melodic and harmonic reductions, identifying patterns for practice, and alternative ways of counting, each illustrated by examples from piano repertoire. Combining these with mapping can provide a comprehensive approach to learning.

 

Multi-Key vs. Middle C? Playing by Ear vs. Sightplaying? A Personal View of How Piano Pedagogy Has Evolved over the Years

This presentation will explore the many changes in piano instruction and teacher training over the past 60 years. These include new instructional materials, specializations, collegiate programs, expanded views of technique, applications of psychological theories, and new technologies.

 

Dorothy Stolzenbach Payne: Remembering a Legendary Cincinnati Piano Teacher

In this lecture, Becky reviews the life and career of her mother, a well-known pianist and teacher in Cincinnati. She will share stories and photos of Mrs. Payne, her family, her students, and the many musicians she got to know, as well as the origins of the Keyboard Club.

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Percy Grainger: Pianist, Composer, Eccentric Genius, and My Mother's Close Friend and Mentor

Percy Grainger led an extraordinary life as composer, conductor, teacher, brilliant pianist, and collector of folk tunes. Although he was famous for his unorthodox habits (he was a vegetarian who hated vegetables), he was undeniably a genius who left a rich legacy of music and original ideas on teaching and performing, which had a lasting impact on my mother and her career. This presentation will include stories and photos from his life, including his many visits to our home.