Robert Stangeland

Stangeland, Robert
Robert (Alan) Stangeland. Teacher, administrator, pianist, b Chicago 18 Nov 1930, naturalized Canadian 1969; B MUS (Miami) 1952, M MUS (Eastman School of Music [ESM], Rochester) 1953, DMA (ESM, Rochester) 1963. His early musical training was at the American Conservatory of Music (Chicago) and Knox College (Galesburg, Ill), followed by studies at Miami U (Oxford, O) and the ESM with Cecile Genhart and others. He was a gold medalist in the National Guild of Piano Teachers Recording Competition in 1963. He taught piano, theory, and history 1955-9 at the University of Wyoming, 1959-65 at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and 1965-66 at Louisiana State U (Baton Rouge). He returned to the University of Alberta in 1966 and served as Chair of the Department of Music 1969-78 and 1979-86. During his tenure there he was instrumental in the development of undergraduate and graduate degree programs including the B MUS, M MUS, and D MUS, and in strengthening the field of piano performance. He has given many recitals, has appeared as soloist with North American orchestras, and has performed on radio and TV. He has lectured on piano literature and technique in public and on the radio. He was vice-president of the Alberta Music Conference 1971-4, chair of the board of directors of the Western Board of Music (WBM) 1981-2, was president of Canadian University Music Society 1981-3, and began to serve as an examiner for the WBM in 1959. He has been an adjudicator for the CBC National Radio Auditions in 1982, 1984 and 1985, for the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1983 and 1987, and for the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations (CFMTA) concerto competition in 1985. He was appointed professor emeritus upon his retirement from the University of Alberta in 1987.

Writings
'A pedagogical study of the Chopin études,' DMA thesis, Eastman School of Music, U of Rochester 1963

'Forerunners of the keyboard étude,' Canadian Association of University Schools of Music Journal, vol 1, Jan 1972

'The art of piano teaching: do we practice it?' Piano Quarterly, 86, Fall 1974.

'Some structural elements in Opus 11 of Scriabin,' Canadian Association of University Schools of Music Journal, vol 5, Spring 1975

'Trill techniques,' Piano Quarterly, 97, Spring 1977

'Music in the academic setting: opportunities and responsibilities,' Canadian Music Educator, vol 19, Autumn 1977

'Piano technique: what is it,' Piano Quarterly, 110, Summer 1980

'Schools of technical thought: fallacies and truths,' ibid, 115, Fall 1981

'Physique and technique,' ibid, 117, Spring 1982

'Coordination versus intense focus in piano technique, 'ibid, 118, Summer 1982

- and Sasonkin, M. 'Music education: another view,' Music in Alberta, vol 3, Spring 1974

Author R. Dale McIntosh