BOLIVAR, MO – SBU Senior Professor of Music Dr. William Brown will be the featured author of the University Libraries’ Fall 2009 Author Series Event held at the Hutchens Library at 7:00 p.m., October 30. The library is located in the Jester Learning and Performance Center on the SBU campus in Bolivar, Missouri.
 
Dr. Brown’s book, Menahem Pressler: Artistry in Piano Teaching, provides an insightful presentation of Pressler's approach to performance and teaching.  The event will begin with refreshments and music at 7:00 p.m. and the program will start at 7:30 p.m.  Dr. Brown will be available to answer questions and autograph books at 8:30 p.m.  The SBU Bookstore will have the book, published by Indiana University Press, available for purchase.
 
Dr. Brown, has written a practical book for piano teachers, including in it Pressler's technical exercises as well as hundreds of descriptive images, technical helps, fingerings and hand redistributions for many works of the pianist's repertoire.  Pressler has been on the piano faculty at Indiana University for over 50 years.
 
In discussing the book, Books in Print states,  “… As a soloist, master class teacher, and pianist of the world-renowned Beaux Arts Trio, Menahem Pressler can boast of four Grammy nominations, two honorary doctorates, more than 80 recordings, and lifetime achievement awards presented by France, Germany, and Israel. Former Pressler student William Brown traces the master's pianistic development through Rudiakov, Kestenberg, Vengerova, Casadesus, Petri, and Steuermann, blending techniques and traditions derived from Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, and J. S. Bach.”
 
According to Joel Harrison, Artistic Director of the American Pianist’ Association, Brown’s book is a, "...A fine reference tool for the pianists not so fortunate as to have studied with Mr. Pressler, and for those who did, a means to reflect upon and deepen their understanding of this remarkable musician."
 
Dr. Brown, dean of the Casebolt College of Music & Fine Arts, is currently serving as interim provost of Southwest Baptist University.  He and his wife Kathy reside in Bolivar, Missouri.
 
For more information about the University Libraries’ Fall 2009 Author Series Event call 417-328-1604 or 417-328-1619.
 
###
 
Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 13 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 14 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past three years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
 
SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918. Visit the SBU Office of Marketing & Communications online at www.SBUniv.edu/news.
 
Subscribe to news updates at www.Twitter.com/SBUnews