MOBILE, Ala. – The Alabama School of the Arts at the University of Mobile invites piano students and teachers to “Sound Weight,” a pedagogy workshop taught by Barbara Laurendine, a nationally certified teacher of music.
“Sound Weight” explores how weight controls the sound value produced and promotes dynamic life in the music. The hour-long workshop is free and open to all piano teachers and students.
The workshop will be held Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. in the newly renovated Moorer Auditorium in Thomas T. Martin Hall on the University of Mobile campus. The campus is located off I-65 Exit 13 at 5735 College Pkwy., Mobile, Alabama, 36613.
“Piano teachers attending the workshop will learn how to help their students understand how to produce many facets of sound to correctly interpret many facets of style. Students who attend will learn what it means to produce a correct sound. We will focus on thinking ahead and listening to the sound produced,” Laurendine said.
ASOTA Piano Festival VI
The workshop is part of the 6th annual Alabama School of the Arts Piano Festival VI, a year-long series of master classes and workshops, recitals by guest artists and faculty, and special performances by university students and Elite 88, UM’s piano ensemble.
All Piano Festival events are free and open to the public and are held in Moorer Auditorium. The full schedule can be found on the university calendar at umobile.edu, or call the Alabama School of the Arts at 251.442.2383.
Music Teacher of the Year
Named “Teacher of the Year” in 2001 by the Alabama Music Teachers Association, Laurendine taught piano at the University of Mobile while founding and directing the highly successful Summer Music Camp for 18 years.
She was named one of “Mobile’s Most Influential People in the Arts” by Mobile Bay Monthly and received the Greater Mobile Arts Award for Outstanding Educator in the Field of Music for 2005. In 2001 during its national convention in Washington, D.C., The Music Teachers National Association established the Barbara Laurendine Foundation Fellowship Award in recognition of her contributions to the field of music instruction.
Currently, Laurendine maintains a private studio for both preparatory and adult piano students in the Mobile area.
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university with a vision of “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose,” founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university offering on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres. For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.