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I enjoy a versatile career as a pianist and dedicated teacher in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. I enjoy giving pedagogy workshops, masterclasses, adjudicating festivals and competitions and examining for the Royal Conservatory of music both locally and across Canada. I am a frequent faculty member at the SOSI Institute where I teach in the Young Artist Program. I am thankful to be part of the wonderful musical community in the K-W area, where I have performed as a soloist, with orchestra, and as a duo and collaborative pianist.
I received my ARCT diploma in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory while in high school. I began teaching piano at the age of 14 and immediately knew that the art of teaching is my calling. I attended Western University for my undergraduate degree and then completed both my Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in piano performance and pedagogy on full scholarship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It was a privilege to learn from Gwen Beamish, Louis Nagel, and Logan Skelton during my years at university.
As a graduate student I had the opportunity to perform in the Prague International Masterclass Series in the Czech Republic, and also participate in a course incorporating The Alexander Technique and piano performance with Nelly Ben-Or, professor at the Guildhall School of Music in London, England. I love to continue learning and refining my skills and so I have frequently attended summer programs at Adamant Music School in Vermont, US. During these programs and professional development opportunities I have performed in various recitals as a solo and duo pianist, masterclasses, and have had several lessons with artist teachers such as the renowned Menahem Pressler.
I have been teaching piano at Laurier since 2007. I also enjoy co-teaching the Wellness and Pedagogy course. Prior to my appointment at Wilfrid Laurier, I was an Adjunct Lecturer in the Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program at the University of Michigan.
I regularly perform as part of the dynamic piano duo Blondes on 88 alongside pianist Rebekah Jordan-Miller, Director of the Laurier Academy of Music and Arts (LAMA). Together, we have presented engaging workshops, recitals, and creative enrichment programs for students and audiences of all ages throughout the community. United by a shared passion for piano pedagogy, collaboration, and innovative music-making, we are deeply committed to fostering connection, creativity, and meaningful community engagement through the arts.
I am a Past-President of KW-ORMTA which strives to foster a lifelong love of music in students and provides fellowship and professional growth opportunities among fellow music educators. I thoroughly enjoy mentoring young teachers and providing professional development opportunities for teachers in the Community Music School of Waterloo Region.
My doctoral research focused on the Alexander Technique and how it can help to develop an integrative approach to technical choreography, injury prevention, and finding more comfort and ease while playing. I am both fascinated and overwhelmed with the amount of literature dedicated to the development of piano technique. There are numerous contradictions in the various methods and theories on how to play the piano. I am passionate about tackling these issues head on to help students develop some concrete principles on which to build their technical foundation which take into consideration how the body and mind work together in the complex art of playing the piano. I am in demand as a workshop clinician and guest speaker for various teacher groups and other universities. My workshop, entitled Music in Motion, helps to equip pianists with a fresh approach to the instrument involving dynamic choreography and increased body awareness.
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ORMTA Contribution to Teaching Award, awarded for dedication to the music teaching community (May, 2020)
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Horace A. Rackham Dissertation Grant, University of Michigan, awarded to perform Bartok’s Third Piano Concerto with orchestra.
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Alice Kern Award, University of Michigan, awarded for excellence in undergraduate teaching
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University Gold Medal, Western University, awarded for highest standing in graduating class.
Piano students at Laurier have many opportunities to perform and develop their own unique style as a musician. Studio classes meet regularly to give students experience performing for one another and to offer and receive constructive feedback. Your studio class becomes your family during your years of piano study at Laurier! We also host guest performance classes, keyboard workshops, and student noon hour concerts in the recital hall.
I have had the privilege to work with many outstanding students and I am proud of all their accomplishments. Some of my students have moved on to Masters programs in performance or have become the pianists, educators, music therapists, and composers of the future in their communities. I’ve had other students choose to use the versatility of a music degree to go on to law school or business school. My current and former private students have received scholarships at various festivals and won top prizes at competitions including the OMFA Provincial Concerto Competition, OMFA Instrumental Competition, ORMTA Provincial competition, University of Waterloo Concerto competition, Crescendo International Youth Competition, and performed with orchestra as a winner of KW Kiwanis Concerto Competition. Numerous students have also been selected to perform in ORMTA Provincial Finals, OMFA Provincial Finals, CMC National Finals.
It’s hard to believe that I have been teaching at Laurier for nearly two decades! Time flies when you are doing what you love, and Laurier is an environment where I have truly been able to thrive and grow as an instructor and colleague due to the wonderful community here. I strive to equip my students to perform and interpret music with confidence and ease, unhindered by excessive muscular tension and pain. I believe that through increased whole body awareness, critical listening, and experimentation, that their own unique creative voice is free to emerge! My greatest hope is that they experience joy in pursuing music and are inspired to cultivate lifelong curiosity and engagement with music. I encourage them to explore many styles of repertoire; each piece is an opportunity for self-discovery and growth as a musician.
"Marnie's instruction was exactly what I needed from my undergraduate degree. She allowed me to explore repertoire that inspired me, while also knowing when to reign me in if I got carried away. Her scientifically informed approach to piano playing not only unlocked (literally) my technique, but she also allowed me to find my voice as a performer and artist. I will forever be grateful to have had a teacher who advocated to get me performance opportunities, knew when we needed to meticulously dissect a passage, or when I just needed guidance and direction during such a confusing stage of life."
-BMus ’26 Graduate, Performance
“Marnie’s instruction had a profound impact on my development as a pianist. I started my degree playing early advanced repertoire, but her thoughtful approach to teaching pushed me to grow quickly, both technically and musically. She not only helped me tackle challenging works with confidence but also inspired me to bring greater artistry to my playing. By the end of my degree, I was performing pieces I once thought were far beyond my reach.”
-BMus ‘24 Graduate, History, Theory, and Critical Analysis
“Something unique that Marnie brings to the table is not only her practical experience with a wide variety of views on piano technique, but especially her in-depth knowledge of the Alexander Technique....... I am very glad of Marnie’s corrections and guidance in technique – she helped me through my first bout of pain from muscle misuse in first year, and I have not had any significant tension problems since.”
BMus '17 Graduate, Composition/Improvisation
“Marnie’s approach to technique is the most sophisticated and beneficial method I have ever encountered in all my years of studying piano..... Marnie’s masterclasses are very unique and informative. She provides an inviting space where her students can feel comfortable performing and sharing their ideas for improvement with one another. Marnie is very engaging, and makes sure to involve the entire class in every aspect of her masterclass, even when you are not the student performing..... She is creative, inspirational, compassionate, and has the ability to adapt her teaching methods to suit the needs and the learning ability of each one of her students.”
BMus ‘17 Graduate, Education
“Marnie’s piano pedagogy course drastically changed my perspective on playing the piano. Many aspects of proper piano technique I had trouble grasping or that I wasn’t even aware of are now at least within my mental conception, even if it will take some time to implement them in practice. In short, I now feel grounded and sure of myself at the keyboard.”
BMus ‘17 Graduate, Performance
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