|
The American pianist and music educator, Jonathan Keener, started playing the piano at about the age of 6. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia (2003-2007); and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance, Pedagogy and Literature from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia (2007-2011). He also holds License as Teaching English as a Second Language from Eastern Mennonite University (April 2007).
As a performer, Jonathan Keener is an accomplished pianist, having won various piano competitions and performed as soloist with orchestra on four occasions. He has received master-class instruction from Menahem Pressler, Janina Fialkowska, Eugene Pridonoff, Barry Snyder, and Ludmilla Lazar. In addition to solo performing, he is an avid chamber musician, having performed collaboratively on many occasions in the USA and in China. He is and an active collaborator, performing with students and professionals alike, both at colleges and music festivals.
Jonathan Keener is a passionate music educator with over 10 years of teaching experience, having taught all levels of private piano lessons and classes in music theory and music appreciation at the college level. He is qualified to teach all levels of piano, as well as music history, music theory, keyboard skills, and English as a Foreign Language. In addition, he has a deep interest in making classical music accessible to those with little knowledge of the genre, through teaching music appreciation courses, giving pre-concert lectures, blogging, and writing program notes.
Jonathan Keener has served as Doctoral Teaching Assistant at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia (August 2007-May 2011); Teaching Assistant at Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina (June 2010-August 2011); Piano Teacher (Preparatory Music Program) at Eastern Mennonite University (2005-2012); Adjunct Professor at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia (August 2011-May 2012); several posts at MasterWorks Festival Winona Lake, Indiana (Community Relations & Publicity: September 2012-August 2013; Collaborative Pianist: June 2013-July 2015; CPAF Administrator: Septembere 2013-Apr 2016); Adjunct Professor at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana (December 2014-May 2016); Adjunct Professor at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana (August 2014-December 2016); Head of Piano Departmen at Yage Community School of the Arts in Kunming, China (since February 2017). He also taught at Woodberry Forest School in Virgnia. Opening up students’ world to the magic of music is a driving motive in his teaching. Music is a gift, and Jonathan desires to help his students discover this gift.He currently lives in Winona Lake, Indiana. |
