Ellen George takes on the
responsibilities of a professor
as well as a Ph.D. student
Donna Kopmar
Staff Writer
Ellen George is a beginning, intermediate, and advanced piano instructor. It is her second time working at Pierce. She has worked here for this school year and in 1997 to 2004. Her goal is to teach full-time in music history.
Where did you work before you came here?
I was working on my Ph.D. and I still am a student. That’s my main job.
What did you want to do when you were little?
When I was really little I wanted to be an interior decorator. But that obviously changed.
What made you want to be a piano instructor?
I started teaching right after college after I got my bachelor’s in piano performance. So it’s just something that I fell into and started and have been doing ever since.
What do you do during your free time?
I’m still working on my Ph.D. I’m working on my dissertation, which is a 200-page or more paper on a topic that no one else has written about in my field. It’s the culminating work of a Ph.D. student. I began working on it last November and I hope to be finished by March of 2013.
What would you do if you retire?
If I were completely retired I would travel throughout Europe.
What would be your dream vacation?
Traveling through Europe.
What does a grade represent to you?(I.E. attendance, comprehension, memorization.)
Attendance is really important in piano because I can see students are there and progressing with their skills in piano. Also important are their written assignments and performing in front of other people.
If you could change/improve one part of the curriculum what would it be?
I’m pretty happy with this course. I would probably incorporate a little more performance and playing more classical pieces.
What do students do that bug you the most?
Not come to class.
What makes your course different from those of other professors who teach it?
This class is very skill oriented. I have taught music appreciation and that is more about content and lecture oriented. Piano is more hands on.
How do you feel about teaching at a community college instead of a university?
I like teaching here because it’s a community of students and adults. I’ve enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life. Plus our international student body is great and I enjoy getting to know where they are from and who they are.
What do you like most about working at Pierce?
I love working with the staff and faculty. People really care here.