Teaching

Holly serves as Director of Keyboard Studies at Lafayette College, where she teaches courses in piano-related topics as well as private lessons. In demand as an adjudicator, a guest lecturer, and for master classes, Holly has been a frequent contributor and regional leader of the College Music Society, MTNA, and Music By Women conference.

Previous to her appointment at Lafayette, Holly served on the faculties of Muhlenberg College, the University of Delaware, Susquehanna University, The University of Colorado, and Indiana University. Holly maintains an active private studio in addition to her collegiate teaching. In all, she has over 25 years of experience teaching students of all levels—from beginner to professional.

Masterclasses and Coachings

Time moves quickly and it is still amazing to me that I have been performing, teaching, and collaborating with composers for nearly three decades!

I often talk with piano teachers about pedagogy whether I am giving a presentation as an invited guest to a conference or teaching piano teachers in a one-on-one lesson. Conversations with composers focus on effective piano writing, which are often accompanied with a reading session of the composer’s work (either a completed composition or a draft).

Even before the pandemic, I would talk to students via FaceTime or Skype. One thing we have all learned this past year is that there are numerous ways to share ideas even if you are not able to see each other face to face.

Sharing one’s art is an incredibly vulnerable process. I deeply understand the apprehensiveness one feels especially in the early stages of creation as I often feel this myself. When working with composers, I show how notation can be interpreted; when working with pianists, I show how the score suggests different technical approaches. I find the exploration of both sides of this creative process absolutely fascinating.

If you would like to have a consultation with me about the music you are writing or performing, please contact me via email here. We will begin deciding what you need and how I can best be of help--you can think of the first conversation as if you are having a cup of coffee with a new friend. Rates for consultations vary according to your needs and experience, so our first conversation is very important for both of us.

Consultations like this are a lovely way to share ideas and consider a different perspective. And now, distance is no longer a concern. I have truly enjoyed the artistic connections I have with students and colleagues all around the world; and my three decades of teaching, giving clinics and master classes, collaborating with composers and premiering new music can encourage and enhance your artistry.

Classes and Coachings since 2016

2020

Muhlenberg College, Masterclasses (2) for Dancers: Interpreting Articulation, Nuance, and Expression in Music; Allentown, PA(Zoom Lectures)
Lafayette College, Masterclass for Composers: Preparing a World Premiere; Easton, PA
The Music School of Delaware, Multiple Lectures for Classical Café (In person, Wilmington, DE and via Zoom)
*Individual Sessions with Composers and Piano Teachers (via Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype) These sessions typically focus on a particular composition or pedagogical approach and are designed differently than a weekly piano lesson.

2019

Lafayette College, Master Class for Composers: Orchestrating Debussy’s Voiles; Easton, PA
Piedmont College, Guest Lecture: The Working Pianist; Demorest, GA (Given via Skype)
Lehigh Valley Music Teachers Meeting, Moravian College, Guest Lecture: Re-assessing Repertoire Choices: Understanding Why We Choose What We Choose; Bethlehem, PA
The Music School of Delaware, Multiple Lectures for Classical Café, Wilmington, DE
Community Music School of Lehigh Valley, Multiple Lectures for Classical Conversations; Allentown, PA
Individual Sessions with Composers and Piano Teachers (in person, FaceTime or Skype)

2018

Delaware Music Teachers Association, Jacobs Music, Guest Lecture: Re-assessing Repertoire Choices: Understanding Why We Choose What We Choose; West Chester, PA
The Music School of Delaware, Multiple Lectures for Classical Café, Wilmington, DE
Community Music School of Lehigh Valley, Multiple Lectures for Classical Conversations; Allentown, PA
Lafayette College, Master Class for Composers; Easton, PA
PMTA State Conference; Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Re-assessing Repertoire Choices: Understanding Why We Choose What We Choose; Indiana, PA
Individual Sessions with Composers and Piano Teachers (in person, FaceTime or Skype)

2017

University of Akron, Master Class/Reading Session with Student Composers; Akron, OH
University of Missouri-Kansas City, Class Presentation for Student Composers: Writing for Piano; Kansas City, MO
Music by Women Festival (1st Annual), Mississippi University for Women, Lecture-Recital: For Lisa—Finding Answers to Challenging Questions; Columbus, MS
The Music School of Delaware, Multiple Lectures for Classical Café, Wilmington, DE
Individual Sessions with Composers and Piano Teachers (in person, FaceTime or Skype)

2016

Oklahoma State University, Master Class/Reading Session with Student Composers; Stillwater, OK
Oklahoma State University, Guest Lecture: The Composer/Performer Collaboration; Stillwater, OK
University of Nebraska-Kearney, Master Class/Reading Session with Student Composers; Kearney, NE
Manchester University, Guest Lecture: Collaborating with Composers; North Manchester, IN
The Music School of Delaware, Multiple Lectures for Classical Café, Wilmington, DE
New Music Gathering; The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, Panel: Commissioning Composers; Baltimore, MD

Community and Guest Lectures

Artistic inspiration can come from a myriad of sources, and often from quite unexpected places. For years, I has been fascinated by what inspires artists, specifically composers, to create works that, in turn, inspire others.

It was to that end that I created a series of hour-long lectures/recitals, called “Classical Conversations,” which I have been presenting at community music schools and other venues. The free programs all share a common theme of musical inspiration.

The idea of classical conversation is that I wanted audiences to know that classical musicians are not just inspired by classical music. What I’m hoping for is that audiences will figure out how to listen to music that they’re unfamiliar with. Sometimes people are a little apprehensive about hearing something new. We do get stuck in our listening habits, and I really enjoy sharing unfamiliar music that needs to be heard in a comfortable setting.

Piano-related collegiate courses

Private Piano Lessons
Piano Studio Class
Piano Pedagogy
Sight Reading for Piano Majors
Collaborative Piano (all levels)
Piano Literature
Class Piano for Music Majors (all levels, at different types of schools)
Class Piano for non-Music Majors (all levels)

General collegiate courses

Statements of Identity in Modern Music
The Art of Performance
Contemporary Musical Activism
Survey of Music Literature
Music Theory (all levels, for Music Majors and non-majors)
Aural Skills (all levels)
Introduction to Music (all periods)