RETIREDSuzuki Association of the Americas Piano Teacher Trainer |
Dr. Doris
Leland Harrel earned B.M. and M.M. degrees in piano from the Julliard
School of Music and the Doctor’s Degree in piano performance from the
University of Texas at Austin. Her long career as a pianist-teacher has
included appointments to the faculties of several colleges and
universities, including the Universities of Texas as Austin, San
Antonio, and Tyler, as well as Southwest Texas State University in San
Marcos.
Following extensive training in Suzuki pedagogy, she taught a large
class of students ranging in age from three and one-half to eighteen in
her private studio in San Marcos. Many of those students became
consistent winners in piano competitions throughout Texas.
As a Suzuki teacher-trainer she has served in that capacity at workshops
and institutes in Arizona, Florida, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Illinois,
Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, California, Washington, Minnesota,
Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and several locations in Texas. At
present she conducts long-term teacher training programs in Houston and
in Central Texas-Austin, San Antonio, San Marcos region. In January of
1993 she served as teacher-trainer for the Santiago, Chile, and Lima,
Peru, Suzuki Teachers.
Dr. Harrel is the author of “A Plan for Better Sight Reading”, published
in the spring 1978 issue of Piano Quarterly. The article described
experiments in reading improvement with the use of a tachistoscope.
She has been active in professional I organizations in addition to the
Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has served as President of the
San Antonio Music Teachers Association, and in 1988 was named “Teacher
of the Year” by Austin Area Music Teachers’ Association.
Dr. Harrel was Chairperson for the Piano Sector of the 1994 Teachers’
Conference of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. At the 1996
Conference, she was Master Teacher for students in Books III through
VII.
In May 1995, the Austin District Music Teachers’ Association nominated
Doris Harrel for the Outstanding Pre-College Teaching Achievement Award
of the Texas Music Teachers’ Association.
