Brenda Dillon
piano pedagogue . clinician . author . arranger . group piano and recreational music making specialist
“As Project Director for the Piano Manufacturers Association International and the National Piano Foundation, Brenda served on their board for more than twenty-five years. Because the members of these organizations respected her knowledge and experience and trusted her, she capably represented the teaching community at this influential table.”
Brian Chung, Senior Vice President of Kawai America Corporation
“Brenda has done more to align the interests of educators, manufacturers, retailers and industry associations than any single person in the music community. The bridges that she has built among these entities remain firmly in place today as a result of her work. She has helped to bring the experience of playing a keyboard instrument well beyond its natural and traditional boundaries to reach more adult students and recreational music makers than ever before.”
Terry Lewis, Chairman, Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute
Brian Chung, Senior Vice President of Kawai America Corporation
“Brenda has done more to align the interests of educators, manufacturers, retailers and industry associations than any single person in the music community. The bridges that she has built among these entities remain firmly in place today as a result of her work. She has helped to bring the experience of playing a keyboard instrument well beyond its natural and traditional boundaries to reach more adult students and recreational music makers than ever before.”
Terry Lewis, Chairman, Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute
About BrendaAcademic:
After graduating with two music degrees from the University of North Texas (Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music), Brenda Dillon began her teaching career.
In addition to her organizational involvement, Brenda began presenting workshops at state and national conferences. Her group piano workshops led to invitations from educational organizations, as well as music industry seminars. Before leaving community college teaching for music industry, she served as Dean of Fine Arts at Brookhaven College. Music Industry: Brenda’s formal association with industry began when she became Project Director for the National Piano Foundation. NPF is the educational arm of the Piano Manufacturer’s Association International (PMAI). She and her husband (Don Dillon, Executive Director of PMAI and NPF) collaborated on the following endeavors:
Other projects included:
After The 21st Century Piano Project confirmed that 54% of piano purchasers purchased their instrument for themselves to learn to play the piano, NPF initiated leadership in the development of Recreational Music Making programs and began sponsoring RMM seminars at the state and national level. Brenda organized these seminars and selected numerous presenters to assist with this endeavor. In addition to teaching RMM classes, Brenda began doing extensive teacher training throughout the U.S. She also developed materials, wrote articles and authored three books published by Hal Leonard and co-authored an RMM Handbook for Piano Teachers published by Alfred. (See menu for ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS and RECREATIONAL MUSIC MAKING) Brenda’s more recent RMM presentations include:
Additional activities include:
NCKP Award: Brenda received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in 2011. The recipients of this award (L-R) include Brenda Dillon, Elvina T. Pearce, Martha Baker-Jordan and Frances Larimer.
The awards were presented by Marvin Blickenstaff (L), Past President of The Frances Clark Center and Sam Holland, Executive Director of The Frances Clark Center. |