NEPTA Speaker Series: Dennis Alexander

Dennis Alexander has taught every level of students over his long career as a pedagogue, University professor, and composer. Today, he only works with adult students at all levels, and these students range from beginners through advanced levels. This session will give teachers all kinds of ideas on how to motivate, inspire, and keep those adults coming back for lessons week after week. Favorite repertoire collections, technology aids, sight-reading materials and psychological approaches for working with adults will make this session a real favorite for many teachers.

Since his original affiliation with Alfred Publishing Company in 1986 as a composer and clinician, Dennis Alexander has earned an international reputation as one of North America's most prolific and popular composers of educational piano music for students at all levels. Professor Alexander retired from his position at the University of Montana in May 1996 where he taught piano and piano pedagogy for 24 years. Upon moving to California, he taught privately in addition to serving on the faculties of Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge. He currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he maintains an active composing and touring schedule. He currently publishes with Hal Leonard Corporation, the largest sheet music publisher in the world.

Professor Alexander is a native Kansan, having graduated from the University of Kansas where he was a student of Richard Reber. In 1972, he was invited to join the faculty at the University of Montana and served as piano department chair in addition to his teaching duties in applied piano, class piano and piano pedagogy. In 1987, he made his New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall with violinist Walter Olivares and continues to be active as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. He has served as a collaborative artist for numerous internationally recognized soloists, instrumentalists, and chamber groups. A former president of the Montana State Music Teachers Association, he is a popular clinician at state and national music teacher conventions. In 2009, he was invited by MTNA to conduct the intermediate level master class at their national convention in Atlanta and was invited to do so again in 2022 for the conference in Minneapolis. Professor Alexander was a judge for "Musiquest", a national piano competition in India and has toured twice to the far East where he performed recitals and workshops in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea.

Over the years, numerous organizations and state associations have commissioned him to write compositions. Many of his compositions are included in the National Federation of Music Study Clubs Festival required list and his music is being performed by students throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Asia, and Europe. One of Mr. Alexander's most significant contributions to the repertoire is "24 Character Preludes" in all major and minor keys which includes a CD with Dennis Alexander as soloist. In 2015, he was honored by the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy with the "Lifetime Achievement Award". He is also a co-author of an exciting and innovative piano method entitled "Alfred's Premier Piano Course". A chamber music work, entitled "Dance Suite" for piano, violin, and cello was commissioned by MTNA in 2013. His "Nocturnes for Piano", Bks. 1 & 2 were selected as the recipient of the prestigious 2020 MTNA/Frances Clark Pedagogy Award. Mr. Alexander's personal website, www.DennisAlexander.com has become a favorite with piano teachers and features recordings, videos, teaching tips, and much more!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

First Parish of Watertown Unitarian Universalist, 35 Church Street, Watertown, United States