Matt Ward, percussion
D.M.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook (in progress)
M.M., State University of New York at Stony Brook
B.M., Manhattan School of Music |
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Born and raised in Albany, New York, Matt Ward
moved to New York City to attend Manhattan School of Music.
After college, he stayed in New York to pursue a performance
and teaching career.
“The biggest aim in my teaching style is to expose children
to all different types of music, so that they have an open appreciation
for music regardless of whether or not they become professional
musicians,” says Matt of his teaching approach. Matt prefers
to begin teaching kids when they are 9 years or older, believing
that the attention necessary for the study of percussion instruments
isn’t developed until children are a bit older. Matt also
enjoys working with adult students, and particularly appreciates
“the more specific focus that older students have. Most
adults tend to use music as a way of expressing themselves outside
of their chosen professions.”
A few of the composers that Matt particularly respects are Bela
Bartók, Gerard Grisey, and Dmitri Shostakovich. “Each
of these artists have truly defined their own voice and have
contributed something musically that is entirely unique.”
Matt’s favorite type of performance is chamber music “because
of the closeness you can feel within a small group.” Matt
includes his major teachers as a huge influence on him as a
musician and finds that “now my interaction with children
inspires me to become a better teacher so that I can have the
same effect on them.”
Matt joined the Bloomingdale faculty in September 2004, but
had previously played in many concerts at the school in collaboration
with other faculty members. “Some of my best performances
have taken place at Bloomingdale.” In his free time, Matt
enjoys watching movies. He and his wife welcomed their first
child, William Jackson, in February 2005. |
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