LA GRANDE — A free lecture for pianists, piano teachers and the public is planned for Saturday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m. to noon at Eastern Oregon University’s Groth Recital Hall, One University Boulevard in La Grande.

The lecture, presented by Dr. Barbara Baird, is titled “Finding Musical Expression in the Music We Play.” The event is organized by the Blue Mountain District of the Oregon Music Teachers Association, in partnership with the Oregon Community Foundation and the Nellie Tholen Fund.

No pre-registration, membership or fee is required to attend. For more information, email Jan Miller at j.d.miller@frontier.com.

About the program

The talk will focus on Baroque music and how to play it “in a way that shows stylistic awareness, and yet in a way that accommodates the instrument being used,” according to a press release. “Looking at keyboard repertoire from the Baroque, attendees will learn the basics of how to read beyond the notes in the score to better understand and present the character and personality of the music.”

About Dr. Barbara Baird

Baird recently retired from the music faculty of the University of Oregon, where she taught organ, piano and harpsichord for over 35 years. A critically acclaimed performer, she has played throughout the United States, as well as in Germany, France, Holland, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil and Australia.

A frequent adjudicator and clinician, Baird regularly conducts workshops and master classes for keyboardists, particularly on Baroque and Classical period performance and keyboard pedagogy. She also enjoys working with young pianists who are learning the art of making music.

About OMTA

The Oregon Music Teachers Association, according to the press release, “is dedicated to fostering excellence in music education. We strive to develop productive relationships with schools, organizations, businesses, and the media to promote music everywhere. We seek to elevate the status of the private music teacher and to encourage and recognize student achievement in music.

OMTA an affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association, the oldest professional music teachers association in the United States. For more information, visit www.oregonmta.org.