Bathsheba Marcus Conley, piano
D.M.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook (in progress)
M.M., State University of New York at Stony Brook
B.A., College of Arts and Sciences, New York University |
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Pianist Bathsheba Marcus Conley was born and
raised in New York, New York.
She began playing piano at the age of five and violin at age
six. “I
don’t really remember a time when I wasn’t playing
an instrument.
Although I studied both piano, violin, and then viola through
my early
years in college, I was always most drawn to the piano—its
depth of sound,
variety of colors, and of course the vastness of the repertoire.”
Bathsheba works with students of all ages, adapting her style
to match the
goals and personalities of each student. “I try to recognize
each
student’s motivation for learning and also understand
how he or she
learns. Some students are more intellectual, some more intuitive
and it’s
my job to enhance their natural strengths and help to improve
their
weaknesses.” While she believes that technique is essential
to a pianist
of any age, Bathsheba also begins developing a student’s
musical instincts
right away. “No matter what age one starts to learn an
instrument he or
she starts because of a love for music. I think it is never
too early to
begin talking with a student about shaping a phrase or creating
contrast
with dynamics and articulation. Technique is important, and
I place great
emphasis on it, but musicality and expression is where the fun
begins.”
Bathsheba believes it is important not only to mold her approach
to each
student, but also to grow with the student as he or she becomes
older and
more advanced. “A six year old student will not be the
same person at age
eight or ten. As children grow older their interests evolve
and their
personalities may change. As a teacher I continually evaluate
how I need
to focus my approach to allow for my students’ development,
in order to
keep them enthusiastic about music and piano.”
Although she primarily works with students who are six and older,
Bathsheba is open to working with students as young as four
and five. “I
have taught some five year olds and their excitement and curiosity
is
always fun to watch. With younger students I incorporate clapping
and
creative activities, like writing stories to go with a song.
I do find
that knowledge of the alphabet is essential to students I work
with. They
don’t have to be readers yet, but since I introduce note-reading
immediately, knowing the abc’s is important.” Bathsheba
does work with
adults asking them “to try to abandon the self-consciousness
that comes
with adulthood and embrace the freedom that comes with exploring
something
new.”
As a performer, Bathsheba enjoys both chamber music and solo
works from
all musical periods. She counts all her teachers as influential
in her
development. Still finishing her D.M.A., and also on the administrative
staff of Bloomingdale, Bathsheba doesn’t have too much
free time. But
when she can, she enjoys spending time with her cat and dog,
traveling,
and indulging in her self-admitted addiction to reality television. |
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