• I want to teach musical independence: students must be able to learn new pieces without a teacher at some point during their piano study. Students need to understand the basic fundamentals of piano study as well as learn to give an accurate reading of the musical score. In the early years I emphasize learning to read and play in rhythm. In later years I ask for more details and refinement in their playing. All students must work in all styles of music as well as keyboard theory and technique.

Education:

• B. M. Degree in piano performance, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL studying with Amanda Penick Additional study with Dr. Max Camp, University of South Carolina – piano pedagogy.

Honors & Awards:

• Pi Kappa Lambda, national music honorary.
• Mortar Board – in recognition of scholarship, leadership, and service.
• Member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) as a nationally certified teacher of music (NCTM) and received permanent certification in 1995.
• Received the third Teacher of the Year Award from the Alabama Music Teachers Association (AMTA) in 1997.
• Was nominated for the Virginia Hammill Simms Memorial Award by the Huntsville Music Study Club in 2002.
• Received the Harold J. Wilson Music Educator of the Year Award in 2006 from the Huntsville Youth Orchestra.
• Was chosen as the Outstanding Educator Nominee for the Girl Scout Women of Distinction Award in Madison County by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild in 2007 and 2009.
• Received the 2nd Distinguished Service Award given by the AMTA at the State Conference in June 2015.
• May 3, 2017 received a Presidential Citation from the Huntsville Music Study Club in recognition of contributions in teaching, mentoring, encouraging and guiding young piano students in their musical pursuits in performing and teaching.

Summary:

• Frances Schwemmer maintains a private piano studio in Huntsville, AL where she has taught for more than fifty years. She teaches beginning piano students from ages 5 through advanced senior high school students. She enters students in the AMTA district and state auditions, having had consecutive state winners for the past 50+ years.
• She has participated on the state AMTA conference program for more than 25 years and has had student winners perform in the solo, concerto, chamber music, and original composition recitals for the state.
• She has been a clinician and an adjudicator for district and state-level competitions for piano in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and Tennessee.
• Many students have entered concerto competitions in Huntsville, the Shoals area, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery. Thirty-seven students have performed piano concerti with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra at their Young Peoples Concerts and 7 have performed with Huntsville’s Youth Orchestras.
• More than 48 former students have studied piano in college as their major or minor. Former students include many private piano teachers, several college teachers, several professional accompanists, many church musicians, an opera star and a female orchestra conductor!
• She has taught a Pedagogy Course for the Ars Nova School of the Arts, Huntsville in 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2005.
• She has had a student who was a senior in High School selected to perform on the National Public Radio program, “From the Top” in 2006.

• District VIII Auditions Chair – More than 30 yrs.
• State String State Auditions Chair – 15+ years
• Fourth Vice-President
• Clinician 5 terms
• Independent Music Teachers Forum Chair 9 terms

• Wrote program notes for the HSO programs – 5 years
• Co-authored a Docent Manual for HSOG Education committee
• Wrote program notes for the Young Peoples Concert booklet (many years)
• Huntsville Youth Orchestra Board – 3 years

• President - 6 terms
• Past President – 6 terms
• Secretary – Treasurer – 2 terms
• Historian – 3 terms
• Treasurer – 5 terms

• Vice President - 1 term

Many of my students have received academic scholarships to top schools across the nation and some are planning professional careers with music as their secondary area of concentration. Almost all music majors have received music scholarships and do not have to take any remedial coursework in their college music courses.