Walnut Creek Teacher Finder

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Barbara Becker

Phone: 925-954-8808

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Barbara is an award-winning, commissioned composer. She was composer in residence in 1993 at the University of Wisconsin (Madison) where her musical narrative, “I Am Not Virginia Woolf,” was performed by faculty. She has been the on-going composer-in-residence for the Contra Costa Chapter of the Music Teachersʼ Association of California (MTAC) and, for many years was the columnist on improvisation for MTACʼs state magazine. Additionally, she is listed in Maurice Hinsonʼs, Guide to the Pianistʼs Repertoire (Alfred) as a composer of 20th and 21st-century piano music.

Barbara Becker and music have been together since her earliest childhood. By age four, she had spontaneously begun playing by ear and arranging nursery rhymes on the piano. It was discovered she had been born with perfect pitch. Private lessons continued through high school; summers at the prestigious National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan; a regular at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts. Admission to the Conservatory at Oberlin College in Ohio started her college career which ended at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Education

Studied piano privately in high school, attending the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan during the summers.

First 3 undergraduate years were spent at Oberlin College, Ohio majoring in music education, minoring in piano.

Graduated Roosevelt University, Chicago with same major and minor. Completed state teaching certificate.

Post graduate study in composition with Karel Jirak and Julian White.

Post graduate study in choral conducting with Margaret Hillis.

Post graduate study in piano ensemble with Ken Bruckmeir for ten years at Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA.

Post graduate study in the Kodaly method at Stanford University and Holy Names College with Mary Helen Richards.

Post graduate study at the Liszt Ferenz Institute in Budapest, Hungary.



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