Expertise:
Musical perception and cognition
Hobbies/Sports:
Talking about and exploring cognition
Education Degrees:
Master of Music in Piano Performance, University of Michigan School of Music (1980); Bachelor of Music, St. Louis Conservatory (1976)
Charity:
Cancer Research; Cardiac Research; Food for the Homeless; Various Charitable Endeavors
Number Of Years In Profession:
37
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to her persistence and focus on becoming better and better at one thing and wanting to be of service to others.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession because she loved music more than anything else from an early age. She pursued music in college and while in college, began teaching other musicians to train their ears. She was hooked and knew that she wanted to continue to teach.
Extended Bio Profile:
Ms. Ploger is a pianist, composer, and expert on musical perception and communication. She has developed the "Ploger Method" to help musicians develop and enhance their skills. In addition to directing the musicianship program at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music, Ms. Ploger co-founded and directs the Institute for Music Perception in Manchester, Mich. She studied with the renowned Nadia Boulanger in Paris and Fontainebleau between 1978 and 1979. She has performed at workshops in the U.S. and Europe, and has more than 30 years of experience in musical perception.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Running the musicianship program; Teaching her "Ploger Method" for musicianship; Training and directing the other teachers to teach this material, which is a core course for the bachelor of music degree; Teaching advanced courses to juniors and seniors and performing the musicianship intensives that she developed; Conducting her musicianship intensives as a means of providing professional musicians with a way of becoming fluent in every aspect of aural perception and awareness; Teaching postgraduate students sponsored by the Blair School of Music; Composing; Painting
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Ms. Ploger hopes to teach more people to do what she does, and to continue to help others.