A note from the Director...

Welcome to the exciting world of Butler Piano Associates (BPA), where the art of piano performance is nurtured and celebrated.

What follows is directed to present and future students of BPA and we hope that what you discover here will enlighten and excite you. As a student and member of this organization, you will enjoy all the rights and privileges of BPA and are encouraged to frequently visit the website where you will find answers to your many questions and concerns.

At the end of our study, if nothing else we should love music, especially piano, be avid listeners, informed musicians and concert-goers. To that end, many books, CD's, and concerts are recommended whenever possible. All students in BPA should be regular concert-goers and attend concerts at the university, Assumption Chapel, the Art Gallery and the Windsor Symphony and wherever else good classical music is available. Hockey players play hockey, go to hockey games and have heroes. Musicians are no different and must hear a great deal of music if their dedicated practice is to be meaningful and purposeful.

We at Butler Piano Associates look forward to seeing you at our lessons, concerts and master classes. We are very excited about our new venture and believe that your relationship with us will have a truly significant impact on the standard of pianistic excellence in the Windsor-Essex area.

Respectfully,

E. Gregory Butler,
Executive Director, Butler Piano Associates

HISTORY

BPA was founded in May, 2006, by Dr. E. Gregory Butler, Professor Emeritus of Piano of the School of Music of the University of Windsor and Director of Butler Piano Associates.

Dr. Gregory Butler hails from Belleville, Ontario, where he began his piano studies at the age of five and at then joined the studio of renowned Toronto pedagogue, Mona Bates. Following high school, Butler attended the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester from which he graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature. While there, he studied with Jose Echaniz and Eugene List. His doctoral dissertation explores the Five Piano Sonatas of Canadian composer, Harry Somers.

Butler's playing, which has won him many Canada Council Grants and numerous Canadian and American competitions, has taken him to every major city in Canada and many in the United States, including an appearance at the White House. Of significance were successful debut recitals in Carnegie Recital Hall, New York and Wigmore Hall, London, England. These concerts presented the American and British premiers of Harry Somers' Third Piano Sonata.

Throughout his performing career Gregory Butler has been dedicated to the performance of Canadian piano literature, always including representative works in his solo concerts. His recording of the Complete Solo Piano Music of Court Stone is but a small reflection of this commitment.

Dr. Butler's students continue this legacy in the study and performance of Canadian piano literature. Moreover, a number have distinguished themselves in competitions and performances throughout the world. Many of his former students hold significant teaching positions at recognized institutions across North America. Butler's dedication to teaching, his students and their accomplishments were recognized in his being granted the Ontario Registered Music Teacher's Association Special Teachers' Award for Excellence in Musical Achievement. Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario recently awarded Dr. Butler its highest academic tribute, an honorary diploma in Applied Arts and Technology, "in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the teaching profession and excellence of musical achievement."

The culmination of many years of piano performance and teaching has led to the design and philosophy behind Butler Piano Associates (BPA). Students will have the opportunity to enhance their presentation and performance skills while becoming sound musicians.

STUDIO PHILOSOPHY

The learning outcomes of Butler Piano Associates result in a competent pianist thoroughly grounded in theoretical subjects and, ultimately, equipped to make significant musical choices. As a student of an associate of BPA, all aspects of your musical education will be appropriately directed by your teacher. We believe that hourly lessons are the only way to go if all the musical issues are to be addressed. Butler Piano Associate teachers meet weekly to discuss pedagogical concerns and are continually upgrading themselves in materials that better serve their students. Every lesson deals with the aural, visual and tactual skills dictated by the curriculum and guaranteed, if followed, to produce successful results.

LESSON STRUCTURE

One hour lessons per week with your Associate Teacher
Individualized curriculum designed for each student
Randomly scheduled Master Classes with Dr. Butler
Continually monitored process by both associate teacher and Dr. Butler
Mandatory attendance. Missed lessons must be rescheduled
Fiscal year extends from September 1 to August 31st

Tier I

No audition required
Structured musical direction
Refining and developing technique
Overview of theory and practice
One Master Class with Dr. Butler after five months and final evaluation each June
Students can proceed as far as Grade VI piano examinations
No theory, competitions or festivals will be encouraged

Tier II

Performance very much encouraged and supported
Audition required through master class with Dr. Butler
Festival performances, competitions and examinations are encouraged
Individualized coaching and development
Enhanced discipline and performance-oriented program
Frequently scheduled Master Classes with Dr. Butler

MASTER CLASSES

The structure of these classes combines both peer performance review with professional assessment and direction. Students are randomly scheduled in these 2 hour sessions over the course of the program. Master Classes will be accessed through each student's Associate Teacher and will be scheduled to accommodate the performance requirements of the students.

For Tier II students, all performance readiness will be tested in Master Classes before any access to examinations, festivals and competitions is permitted. This is to alleviate any concerns prior to the performance date and ensure student success.

All Master Classes are facilitated by Dr. Gregory Butler.

THEORY INSTRUCTION

Butler Piano Associates will begin theory offerings sufficient to accommodate the dictates of all conservatory grade and diploma certificates in October 2006. Please refer to the website for specific times and courses.

All theory, history and skills courses will be addressed in a rotation cycle convenient to all BPA students and guaranteed to complete all theory requirements within the various time frames stipulated by the Royal and Canadian Conservatories.

Theory instruction will be facilitated by Associate Teacher Mr. Michael Forde.

PERFORMANCE PRESSURE

Many parents and students are rightfully concerned about this matter. Butler Piano Associates is not about pressure at all. In fact, there are no guarantees except to provide quality piano instruction in a performance environment designed to give you and/or your child the best of learning outcomes. What is done with what is discovered at BPA depends on the multifaceted dimensions of the talent of the students and the willingness and tenacity to develop and grow. Butler Piano Associates insists on a strong and responsible work ethic and the support of parents and family in realizing musical goals.

The benefits of developing your child's performance and presentation skills will impact on their confidence and self awareness.

FEES

Piano Instruction
The hourly rates for BPA teachers range from $30/hr to $125/hr and are based on the level of expertise and background of each instructor. For more detailed information, please check the website and read the biographies of all associates.

Fees are normally paid to the teacher, in advance, either by the month, term, or year, whichever best suits the individual. Where exceptional circumstances prevail, accommodations will be arranged between the teacher and student.

Master Classes
These sessions are in addition to the hourly rate for BPA teachers and are currently set at $30 per student for each two hour class.

Theory Instruction

General Theory	$15 per 1.5 hour
Private Level Specific Theory	$25 per hour

PERFORMANCES, EXAMINATIONS, FESTIVALS and COMPETITIONS

Generally, new students do not participate in any public performance activity during their first year of study with a BPA teacher as there are frequently many technical matters to deal with and much new repertoire to learn. In all instances of public performance, artistic readiness determines involvement and is, as mentioned, assessed by Dr. Butler through the master class structure and in consultation with your associate teacher.

Any public performances that occur without this consultative process and approval may possibly result in the student's removal from Butler Piano Associates. No examinations, festivals or the like are ever entered unless all materials are learned, memorized and competently performed in master classes well before entry dates or application deadlines.

Moreover, no examinations can be anticipated until all skills, technical, aural and theoretical, are adequately prepared. Theory and History examinations need to be passed before the Royal Conservatory issues certificates, so it is expected that these requirements will have been met before any applied examinations are undertaken. Aural and technical skills are addressed in lessons and master classes months in advance of any examinations.

MUSIC PREPARATION

Butler Piano Associates recommends regular attendance at the Windsor Symphony, Detroit Symphony and other meaningful classical music performances. BPA encourages the purchase of CD's and books relevant to the level of pianistic study. All of these things will contribute to the students' growth as musicians and enhance, significantly, their personal development and sophistication.

CONCERT DRESS

All students must keep in mind that performances are to be taken very seriously. Appropriate concert dress is a must for all competing and performing students. The main idea is that your appearance should not distract the audience from your performance and from the music that you are recreating. Hence, the choice colour of black is what all musicians wear. This attire must be worn for all daytime performances, competitions, festivals and examinations. In the case of solo recitals and evening performances, more formal attire is expected, full-length black skirts for women, black suits for men.

Concert Dress Staples:

black pants
full length black skirts
black and white blouses
black dress shoes
black socks

Please be certain that these items are on hand each year, washed, dry cleaned and good-to-go as, when you least expect to, you will need them. Set performance clothes aside for performance only and after each performance, clean and prepare outfits for the next performance (you will be glad you did!).

PIANO EQUIPMENT

Like any good athlete, musicians need good equipment. While advances in the quality of electronic keyboards have been significant, all students of Butler Piano Associates must have, for their use, an acoustic piano. For most serious piano students, an upright piano of 53" in height or, better still, a grand piano of, minimally, 5'8" in length is required. The height and length all have to do with sound and your piano dealer will have much to say about these things.

Butler Piano Associates recommends Yamaha Pianos through Ouellette's Musical Instruments, 1490 Tecumseh Road East, and (519) 254-1192. Butler Piano Associates gains nothing from this recommendation but is secure in the knowledge that this is a very reputable supplier. Ouellette's Musical Instruments is also able to assist you with regular tuning and maintenance of your piano.

BPA also recommends that all students purchase a metronome, current history text and musical dictionary before their first lesson. Most, if not all of the music and text book recommendations can be purchased at Belle Air Music West, 1250 Tecumseh Road, East; (519) 258-1522.