January Program
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January 10, 2025 | Robert Edwards: An overview of the history of Ragtime through present
Topic Description
Ragtime was America's first unique musical style. From its beginnings as frolicsome variations on European dance music and marches, it flowered into its own grand style, and influenced music around the world in important ways. Robert Edwards will explore the beginnings of Ragtime through its flowering in the early 20th century and its influence on other musical genres throughout the century. We'll discuss and hear piano music of Scott Joplin, Joseph Lamb, James Scott and other original masters, as well as contemporary, living composers who write in the ragtime style, such as Billy Joel and William Bolcom.
Bio
Robert Edwards, originally from Grand Rapids, studied at The University of North Texas, earning a degree in Piano Pedagogy, followed by a Master of Classical Piano Performance. While in Texas he worked with special needs students, along with teaching private piano lessons, planning and playing for worship services at several Dallas churches, directing church choirs, actively performing chamber music, performing for and adjudicating piano competitions and helping establish The Singapore Slingers, an 18-piece Early Jazz orchestra.
He combines his interest in Ragtime and Traditional Jazz with his fondness for early film by composing and performing scores for silent films, which he’s performed at The Dallas Museum of Art, the Modern Museum of Art and Kimball Museum in Ft. Worth, Tx, the infamous Texas Theatre in Dallas, and aboard The Queen Mary 2.
Robert moved back to West Michigan in 2021, and feels he’s really home again. He teaches piano lessons from his home studio in the Creston neighborhood of GR, is involved with numerous local musical ensembles as solo pianist, vocalist and collaborative musician, and is delighted to meet with and share his love of Ragtime with the GR Piano Teachers' Forum.