The Contributions of Jane Smisor Bastien to Piano Teaching

Abstract

The impact of Jane Smisor Bastien (b. 1936) on the field of piano teaching is investigated in this document, both in terms of her teaching materials and with respect to her effectiveness as an independent teacher. Bastien has authored a wealth of piano materials that have been used throughout the world, and she is a beloved teacher and mentor to hundreds of students. Through her publishing and teaching, she continues to demonstrate her long-standing commitment and dedication to the music teaching profession.

Bastien began publishing educational piano materials with the Neil A. Kjos Music Company in the early 1960s and she continues to work with Kjos today. She is the sole author of numerous publications, and she has also written collections in collaboration with her husband, James Bastien (1934-2005), and her daughters, Lisa Bastien Hanss (b. 1964) and Lori Bastien Vickers (b. 1966). All of the Bastien materials (more than 300 separate titles) are still in print, and these materials continue to be used by students and teachers both nationally and internationally.

Interviews were conducted with approximately twenty-five former students, parents of students, and colleagues of Jane Bastien as well as with Bastien herself, her daughters, and Mark Kjos, head of Kjos Music Company. Those interviewed for this study spanned the course of Bastien's career. Bastien's pedagogical techniques, as revealed through these interviews and through personal observations, are presented throughout the document.

The six chapters of this document outline Jane Bastien's contributions to piano teaching. Chapter One is an introductory chapter that details the purpose, need for, procedures, limitations, and overall organization of the study. A related literature section offers brief synopses of theses and dissertations that were used at the commencement of this research. Chapter Two offers a biographical sketch of Jane Bastien. Chapter Three focuses on Bastien's perspective on earlier publications including both those solely authored by her and those co-authored with her husband. A description of Bastien's use of materials in her own studio is also provided in Chapter Three in an attempt to explain how her materials relate to her teaching philosophy. Selected methods and supplemental materials on which she collaborated with her daughters are discussed in Chapter Four. An explanation of Bastien's approach to the teaching of technique is also included. Chapter Five provides an in-depth focus on Bastien's teaching philosophy with specific emphases on motivation, the role of the teacher, parent, and student, practice strategies, and performance strategies. Bastien's personality and connection with students, her impact on colleagues, and her greatest contributions to the profession of piano teaching are also explored in Chapter Five. The sixth and final chapter provides a summary and an evaluation of Bastien's continuing impact on her students and on the piano teaching profession. Her former students describe her as a passionate teacher who has become a lifelong mentor. It is clear that she cultivates meaningful personal relationships with her students and that the effects of her teaching and mentoring continue to influence them throughout their lives. As author and pedagogue, Bastien's impact has been both significant and enduring, and her work continues to shape the musical experiences of students and teachers across the globe.