Gilbert DeBenedetti
5860 Marlborough Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 421-3930
E-mail: deben"at"pitt.edu (insert the usual "at" sign)
Home Page:http://www.pitt.edu/~deben/
Experience
- Member, Development Committee for the Advanced
Placement (AP) Music Theory Examination. Committee is responsible for creating the exams (2004 - present).
- Music Faculty, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.
Teaching: Class Piano, Music Theory,
Introduction to Western Art Music, History of the Symphony, and History of
Jazz (1992 - present).
- Music Faculty, Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Public
Schools. Teaching: Music Theory and Solfege (1981, 1986 - present).
- Independent Private Piano Teacher (1985 - present).
- Private Piano Teacher, Chatham College Music and Arts Day Camp (1985 - 1998).
- Private Piano Teacher, Chatham College Laboratory School of Music (1985 - 1991)
- Class Piano Teacher, Community College of Allegheny County (1986 - 1987).
- Teaching Fellow, University of Pittsburgh. Taught music theory and class piano. Also assisted in teaching a computer music course (1983 - 1985).
Education and Training
- Endorsed Workshop Consultant, Advanced Placement Music Theory, The College Board (2006).
Consultants present workshops which grant continuing education credits to teachers.
- Master of Arts in Music Theory and Composition, University of Pittsburgh (1985).
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music (Composition), Carnegie-Mellon University (1980).
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education, Carnegie-Mellon University (1980).
- Pennsylvania Level II (Permanent) Teaching Certificate (Music).
- Master of Science in Psychology, Carnegie-Mellon University (1976).
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Carnegie-Mellon University (1973).
Web Presence
- Creator and Webmaster for GMajorMusicTheory.org. Site includes pages on Music
Fundamentals, Harmonic Dictation and Analytical Listening.
- Musical Arranger and Webmaster for Free Piano Music!, over 4,000
hits daily. Google's first hit when "Piano Music" is searched.
Publications
- DeBenedetti, G. "Six French Songs" in: First Start French, by D. Schultz ( Memoria Press, Louisville, KY, 2007).
- DeBenedetti, G. "About AP Music Theory" Chapter One in: Teacher's Guide:
AP Music Theory, D. Lockart, Ed. (Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ, 2007).
- DeBenedetti, G. A Dozen Italian Diversions (Mel Bay, 2004). For classical guitar.
Available as a paid download.
- DeBenedetti, G. Fiesta Siesta Suite (Dayton: Lorenz/Heritage Music Press,
2000). A suite for elementary pianists.
- DeBenedetti, G. Bear with Me Suite (Dayton: Lorenz/Heritage Music Press,
2000). A suite of duets for two elementary pianists.
- DeBenedetti, G. The Christmas Songbook Treasury (Lincolnwood, IL: Publications
International, LTD., 1999).
- DeBenedetti, G. Backyard Buddies, Ocean Friends, and A Frog Day Suite
(Dayton: Lorenz/Heritage Music Press, 1999). Three suites
of four pieces each for young pianists.
- DeBenedetti, G. Piano Playing: Sunday Songs Made Easy (Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, Ltd., 1997). Fourth book in the "Made Easy" series.
- DeBenedetti, G. Piano Playing: Christmas Songs Made Easy (Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, Ltd., 1996).
- DeBenedetti, G. Piano Playing: Popular Songs Made Easy (Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, Ltd., 1995, second printing: 1996).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Teaching Tips: Lessons without wrong notes--guaranteed!"
American Music Teacher , December/January, 1994/95.
- DeBenedetti, G., "The Idea Corner," a regular column in the Newsletter of the
Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association, 1994 - 1995.
- DeBenedetti, G., Piano Playing Made Easy (Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, Ltd., 1992). First of four books in the "Made Easy" series.
- DeBenedetti, G. "Piano and Theory," Clavier 30/2 (1991).
- DeBenedetti, G. The Creative Pianist (Dayton: Lorenz/Heritage Music Press,1990). Four books which teach composition and theory to young, beginning pianists.
- DeBenedetti, G. "Daydream," "Lament," "The Great Cathedral," and "Weightlessness," (Dayton: Lorenz/Heritage Music Press, 1990). Sheet music for beginning and intermediate pianists.
- DeBenedetti, G. "Three Rounds," American Dalcroze Journal, 9 (1981): p. 6.
Conference Presentations
- DeBenedetti, G. "Harmonic Dictation on the AP Music Theory Exam" AP
National Conference, Orlando, FL (July, 2006).
- DeBenedetti, G. and McCreless, P. "Integrating Ear Training and Writing Skills in the AP Music
Theory Exam" AP National Conference, Houston, TX (2005).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Short Aural Examples for Identifying Meters" AP Music Theory Teachers' Conference, Yale University (2004).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Get your Free Music on the Web!" Music Teachers National Association , National Conference (2004).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Free Sheet Music from the Internet" Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association
Conference (2003).
- DeBenedetti, G. "The Perfect Piano Pieces for Stimulating your Students" Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association
Conference
(2001).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Creating Music at Composition Camps" Pennsylvania Music
Teachers Association Conference (1999).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Write Your Own Beginning Piano Music--for
Non-Composers" Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association Conference
(1997).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Putting the Music into Music Theory,"
Joint
conference of the West Virginia and Kentucky Music Teachers Associations (1994).
- DeBenedetti, G., panelist, "The Challenge of Students Who Don't Practice," Pennsylvania
Music Teachers Association Conference (1993).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Teaching Music Theory--A Creative Approach," Maryland State Music Teachers Association Conference (1992).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Using Musical Contexts for Teaching Music Theory," Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association Conference (1992).
- DeBenedetti, G. "The Creative Pianist: Music Theory through Creativity," Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Conference (1992).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Four Original Pieces," Meeting of the Pittsburgh Piano Teachers Association (1992).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Two Versions of the Fiddle Tune, 'Soldier's Joy:' Origins, Transmission and Identity." Musicology Study Group, University of
Pittsburgh (1984).
- DeBenedetti, G. "Composition of Computer-Controlled Electronic Music: Starburst." Mini-Conference on Music, Computers and Cognition, University of Pittsburgh (1983).
Other compositions and work in music
- Reader, Advanced Placement Music Theory
Examination. Grade students' free response answers (summers, 2004 - present).
- Assessor, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Assess music
teachers who are candidates for
NBPTS certification (summers of 2003 - present).
- Sonatina in G. Commissioned by the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association, Westmoreland
Chapter (2001).
- "March on Android Moon", "Arctic Nights" and "Dancing with the Greeks" First Prize,
Teacher's Composition Competition, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Piano Teachers Association
(2001).
- Clinician, Composing Camp with Gilbert DeBenedetti. Sponsored
by: Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association, Westmoreland Chapter (1998-2001).
- Clinician, Composing Camp with Gilbert DeBenedetti. Sponsored
by: Delaware State Music Teachers Association (1999).
- Judge, Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association (PMTA) Dorothy Sutton
Piano Festival (1997).
- Adjudicator, Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Eastern
Division Student Composition Competition. Judged compositions from the
eastern United States (1997).
- Pathways to Harmony. (A series of five workbooks progressing from
note letter names through first year college music theory. Currently in use at the
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and at the Pittsburgh High School for
the Creative and Performing Arts. In progress).
- Adjudicator, South Carolina Music Teachers Association-CPP/Belwin Student Composition Competition (1994).
- The Clearing (A contemporary piano sonata in three movements, 1993).
- Nostalgia Waltz (An advanced piece for piano, 1991).
- Seven Folk Songs for Two Recorders (Original arrangements of folk songs from the British Isles, 1988).
- Starburst (Computer controlled electronics, performed 1982, 1987)
- Ontogeny (Orchestral work which won a performance in C-MU's Concerto Competition, 1980).
- The People Know (Four voice choral fugue, "traditional style," 1979).
- A View from the Top (for brass quintet, performed 1979, 1984).
- Woodwind Quintet (performed 1978, 1983).
- Two Preludes for Piano (performed 1978, 1983).
Memberships
- Society for Music Theory (SMT).
- Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and its affiliate, The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA).
- Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and its affiliate, The Pennsylvania Music
Teachers Association (PMTA).
- Pittsburgh Piano Teachers Association, Past Chairman of the Teacher and Student Composition Contests.
GMajorMusicTheory.org.
Free Piano Music!
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