The landscape of piano repertoire looks nothing like it did 50 years ago, and Wynn-Anne Rossi helped shape that change. Today, I'm chatting with Wynn-Anne, an acclaimed composer with over 175 publications who has spent decades helping young musicians find their own creative voice. We talk about how she got her start composing as a toddler, how the industry has evolved since the 1980s, and how she brings composition into her own teaching. Wynn-Anne also shares her favorite resources for teachers who want to bring more composing into their studios.
How the piano pedagogy landscape shifted in the 1980s toward genres beyond classical training.
Wynn-Anne shared how her mom used the piano as an imaginative toy during her toddler years.
Why she believes non-traditional notation protects young composers' creativity.
The value of self-publishing and cooperatives for composers entering the field today.
How composing and teaching inform each other, even with her studio now down to 13 students.
Why writing for six-year-olds is as demanding as writing advanced repertoire.
The story behind Music by Me, her composition workbook series co-written with Kevin Olson.
How Creative Composition Toolbox uses simple, tool-based units to teach composing.
Why she keeps composition assignments to just three to five minutes of a lesson.
She emphasized encouraging quantity and momentum over chasing a perfect composition.
Wynn-Anne shared how inspiration can come from stories, scents, or favorite chords.
Wynn-Anne Rossi is an acclaimed American composer with vibrant educational outreach. She has a respect for all genres of music, and her diversity of experience and love of discovery reflect in her expressions as a composer and presenter. With over 175 publications, her compositions have been widely distributed online and in music stores. Wynn-Anne has a specialty for bringing the art of composition to young musicians. Her two comprehensive series which encourage young pianists to compose are Music by Me (FJH Music) and Creative Composition Toolbox (Alfred Music). For more information, visit www.rossi-music.com or Wynn-Anne Rossi Music on YouTube.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
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