MaryAnn Fritz (D.M.A. [piano pedagogy] and M.M. [piano performance] Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; M.A. [educational psychology] University of Nebraska-Lincoln; B.A. Drury College) loves teaching students of all ages and levels of achievement. She maintains a thriving private piano studio in Fort Worth, Texas, and her students are successful participants in piano and composition festivals, competitions, and recitals. In addition, she serves as Adjunct Professor of Piano at Dallas Baptist University, where she teaches private piano, group piano, and piano pedagogy. Dr. Fritz is passionate about holistic, healthy music-making, and has edited several books addressing these issues.

I love to inspire students to want to learn, to discover their innate ability to make music, and to develop that natural inclination into a skill that allows them to enjoy creating beautiful music. College music majors need to develop proficiency in piano that will support them as music educators, conductors, or performers. This includes learning repertoire, sight reading, and technique. Other students may not be interested in pursuing a career in music, but they still want to experience the joy of playing the piano. I choose music the student finds appealing, and we work together to make it a fun experience. Approaching the lesson in a spirit of adventure helps balance the rigor required.

I like to begin with an outline of where the student needs to be by the end of the semester - the jury requirements they will be expected to meet. Then I narrow the outline to reflect what will need to happen in each lesson in order for the student to meet those goals. As I begin working with students, it becomes apparent where I need to modify my outline, as some students will find particular aspects of playing the piano easier than anticipated, while others will struggle more. The goal is to support and enhance the skills students already have, while simultaneously working to help them develop skills in areas that are lacking.