The keys to her future; student piano recital shows at Kimbrough

From staff reports

The word ‘pedagogy’ may sound intimidating, but to WSU junior Carlie Berry it’s a future career.

Pedagogy is an academic word for “the method of teaching,” and Berry’s work toward a bachelor’s degree in piano performance places an emphasis on that ability.

“My passion is teaching,” Berry said, “and not just in music.”

Before she can earn a bachelor’s degree though, Berry must first perform a required junior year piano recital, which will take place at 8 p.m. tomorrow in Kimbrough Hall, and is free for everyone to attend.

Berry said she first started taking lessons when she was six years old and was encouraged by her parents to continue when they saw she had an interest in it.

While in high school, Berry said she visited WSU multiple times for competitions and summer piano camps, where she met her future piano instructors, Karen and Jeffrey Savage.

“It was really the faculty I got to meet that drew me to WSU,” she said. “As a music major I spend a lot of individual time with teachers, so it’s important.”

The selection of songs for the recital cover a wide range of classical styles, and were chosen by her instructors as a way to challenge her growth as a pianist, Berry said.

“I’ve been working on some of this music for a year and a half,” she said.

Audience members will hear Berry perform compositions from Bach, Haydn, Schubert, and Ravel.

Schubert mostly wrote for vocal accompaniment, and his “Impromptu in G Flat” reflects that in its sound, Berry said.

“It’s one of those pieces I hope people can just sit back and relax,” she said.

After obtaining her bachelor’s degree Berry plans to continue on into graduate school.

“Classical music is so huge, and even four years spent studying it is just a drop in the bucket,” she said.

 Reporting by Dustin VandeHoef