383: Introducing Fresh New Music from Alfred!

The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with three talented composers from Alfred Music: Elizabeth Swift, Connor Chee, and Angela Marshall. Join us as we delve into their unique backgrounds, explore their latest compositions, and discover how they are bringing fresh, engaging, and culturally rich music to students and teachers worldwide. Connor Chee, a renowned Navajo composer, celebrates his cultural heritage with his collection, Sand Paintings, blending traditional Navajo melodies with classical techniques. Angela Marshall, an educator and author, introduces Take the Stage, a collection designed to make young beginners the stars of their recitals with fun, performance-oriented pieces. Elizabeth Swift takes us on an adventure with Saga Land, inspired by video game music, aiming to captivate and motivate teenagers to play expressively. This episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and beautiful music you won't want to miss.

• Tim introduces three composers whose new collections are being released by Alfred Music.
• Discussion with Connor Chee about his new collection, Sand Paintings.
• Connor shared about his background, being a renowned Navajo composer, blending classical music with traditional Navajo elements.
• How "Sand Paintings" was inspired by the healing nature of traditional Navajo sand paintings.
• Angela Marshall shares her journey as a composer, author, and educator, discussing her collection, Take the Stage, designed for young beginner pianists.
• Her creative process and how she integrates creativity and variety into her compositions.
• Goals of Take the Stage: Create an engaging, performance-oriented pieces for young students.
• Elizabeth Swift discusses her new collection "Saga Land," inspired by video game music and aimed at motivating teens to play the piano.
• She shared a brief overview of her background and her transition from classical training to composing engaging, expressive music for students.
• Goals of Saga Land: Immerse students in a storytelling experience through music.
• Using titles and narratives to enhance students' engagement and creativity in learning.
• Importance of providing accessible, diverse, and engaging musical resources for students and teachers alike.

Guests' Links Mentioned

• Connor Chee Website
• Connor Chee Facebook Page
• Connor Chee YouTube Channel
• Angela Marshall Website
• Angela Marshall Facebook Page
• Angela Marshall Instagram Page
• Elizabeth Swift Website
• Elizabeth Swift Facebook Page
• Elizabeth Swift Instagram Page

Today’s Guest

Connor Chee

Connor Chee is a renowned Diné (Navajo) composer and pianist celebrated for his evocative blend of classical music with traditional Navajo elements. His compositions often draw inspiration from his cultural heritage, seamlessly weaving together Diné melodies and classical piano techniques. A recipient of multiple awards, Connor's work has been featured in prestigious concert halls and festivals across the globe. His albums, praised for their emotional depth and technical mastery, showcase his unique ability to tell stories through music. Beyond his performances and recordings, Connor is dedicated to music education and cultural preservation, sharing his knowledge and passion with the next generation of musicians

Angela Marshall

Angela Marshall has built a multifaceted career as a composer, author, and educator. She has published a range of works, including educational piano solos, instructional music books, and numerous novels written under the name A.G. Marshall. Angela's extensive teaching experience spans online and in-person instruction at private studios, universities, public schools, and charter schools, where she has taught piano, composition, and voice. Angela holds a Master of Music Education with an emphasis in piano pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. Her Alfred solo "Romanza" won the prestigious Lynn Freeman Olson Composition Award and was an NFMC Federation Festivals Bulletin selection. When she’s not writing or teaching, Angela enjoys dancing and traveling the world.

Elizabeth Swift

Elizabeth Swift is a composer and piano teacher based in greater Cincinnati, Ohio. While rooted in classical training, Elizabeth integrates a variety of musical styles in her compositions, fostering a rich and eclectic musical experience for a diverse range of students. Elizabeth studied Piano Performance and Music Education at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. In addition to composing, she is passionate about teaching her students to compose, improvise, and interpret music in a way that reflects their unique creativity and individuality. Drawing inspiration from her adventures in travel and camping alongside her husband, four children, and two dogs, Elizabeth infuses her teaching and composing with a sense of adventure and exploration.

Today's Sponsor

Alfred Music, the leader in music education for over 100 years, produces educational, reference, pop, and performance materials for teachers, students, professionals, and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument, style, and difficulty level. Alfred Music is located in Colorado, with offices around the world, including Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Since 1922, Alfred Music has been dedicated to helping people learn, teach, and play music. Alfred Music currently has over 150,000 active titles and represents a wide range of well-known publications —from methods like Alfred’s Basic Guitar, Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Premier Piano Course, Sound Innovations, and Suzuki, to artists like Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, to brands like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, and Billboard. In addition to its own titles, Alfred Music distributes products from over 150 companies, including Advance Music, Belwin, Edition Peters, The FJH Music Company Inc., Faber Music, Jamey Aebersold Jazz, and LudwigMasters Publications. Alfred Music is now also paired with MakeMusic, which is part of Peaksware Holdings, LLC portfolio of companies, to transform how music is composed, published, taught, learned, and performed by bringing together the leaders in educational music publishing and music technology. Visit their website at https://www.alfred.com/.

Exclusive Discount for Podcast Listeners

Exclusively for TopCast listeners, go to alfred.com/podcast and use code TopMusic at checkout to save 30% on these titles and everything else on alfred.com.

Thank you for tuning in!

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