CPTP180: Melody Bober in Conversation

Do you compose your own music? Do you explore music composition with your students? Composers truly bring me in awe with their work and I am so honored to be interviewing a very well-known artist who I’ve wanted to have on the show forever. 

I thought it would be fun to end Season 3 of the podcast with another one of my Composer Spotlights, which feature conversations with some of your most cherished composers and arrangers, delving into their background, teaching and thoughts on creativity and composition, how they’ve come to be doing what they're doing, and how they create their amazing works that we love so much.

My guest today, Melody Bober, is well-known to every music teacher and almost needs no introduction. She is an inspiring composer who creates motivational piano pieces that foster her students’ understanding and love for music. With more than 20 years of music-teaching experience, a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance, she is in great demand at conventions and workshops for piano teachers across North America. And today she's going to share her experience and expertise in music composition. It's a super inspiring interview and I can't wait to share it with you.

Transcript

If you'd like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below.

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In this episode, you’ll learn

• [06:53] A week in the life of Melody Bober.
• [08:10] The time Melody puts into composing and arranging music.
• [08:48] Her experience in piano lessons when she was young.
• [10:15] Melody’s students in the community center.
• [12:09] The difference of the lessons she had when she was young versus the lessons she gives her students now.
• [13:25] Helping students explore composition.
• [14:33] The reason she became a teacher.
• [15:20] The age she first started composing.
• [16:50] Looking back on her early compositions.
• [17:50] The story behind her name.
• [18:47] The process of how she became a published composer.
• [21:20] The pedagogy of her pieces at the forefront of her mind while composing.
• [23:19] Piano student levels in the United States.
• [24:55] Her approach for composing.
• [26:01] What makes an engaging student piano piece.
• [27:44] Important things piano teachers should include in their lessons to encourage creativity and explore composing.
• [29:06] Her favorite compositions among all her compositions.
• [30:08] The series’ that has gained more feedback than others.
• [31:55] How she got the skills to write in so many styles.
• [35:57] How teachers who are not so strong in composition can encourage students to compose their own songs.
• [38:05] Thinking of titles for her compositions.
• [40:14] How she writes her own music.
• [40:45] Other composers she admires.
• [41:30] The music she plays during her down times.
• [42:55] One takeaway that she wants everyone to know.

Links Mentioned

• Melody Bober LinkedIn
• Melody Bober 

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Thank you for Tuning In!

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Do you compose or teach composing to your students?

What is your approach to composing music? Do you encourage creativity to your students through composition?