Dennis Alexander

Nocturne No. 6 in A Minor - Nocturnes by Dennis Alexander

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Who is Dennis Alexander?

Dennis Alexander: The Complete Story of a Pedagogical Piano Maestro

In the vast landscape of American music education, few names resonate as profoundly as that of Dennis Alexander. With over 400 publications and recordings to his name, Alexander has earned an international reputation as one of North America's most prolific and popular composers of educational piano music. His work has shaped the musical development of countless students across the globe, bridging the gap between method books and the classical repertoire with compositions that are at once pedagogically sound and artistically compelling.

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Biography

Early Life and Formative Years

Dennis Alexander was born on December 10, 1947, in Dodge City, Kansas. He grew up in Copeland, a tiny farming community in southwestern Kansas with a population of just 200 people. It was in this modest environment that his love for music first took root—not through formal training, but through the family's Saturday evening ritual of watching the Lawrence Welk Show on television. Alexander recalls being "totally enamored" by the pianist Joanne Castle, who always appeared to be having immense fun while playing. That moment, he says, was when he decided he wanted to learn to play the piano.

His first piano teacher, Leila McCune, came from Mississippi and made an indelible impression on the young Alexander. He remembers her "coal black hair and the reddest lips & biggest smile" he had ever seen. McCune welcomed him with a warm Southern drawl and immediately declared, "We're going to have so much fun together!" She could play by ear and would improvise accompaniments that made his simple five-finger pieces sound wonderful and impressive—an experience Alexander describes as "magical".

Alexander went on to graduate from the University of Kansas, where he studied under Richard Reber. By the time he was a sophomore in college, working toward a Bachelor of Music in piano performance, he knew he wanted a career that combined performing with teaching.

Academic Career

In 1972, Alexander was invited to join the faculty at the University of Montana. He would remain there for 24 years, serving as piano department chair while teaching applied piano, class piano, and piano pedagogy. He retired from this position in May 1996.

Following his retirement from the University of Montana, Alexander moved to California, where he taught privately while also serving on the faculties of California State University, Fullerton and California State University, Northridge. He currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he maintains an active composing and touring schedule.

Performance Career

Alexander's performing career has been equally distinguished. In 1987, he made his New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall with violinist Walter Olivares. He continues to be active as a soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician, having served as a collaborative artist for numerous internationally recognized soloists, instrumentalists, and chamber groups.

His international reach extends far beyond North America. Alexander has toured twice to the Far East, performing recitals and workshops in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea. He has also toured Australia. In 2009, he was invited by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) to conduct the intermediate-level master class at their national convention in Atlanta—an honor he repeated in 2022 for the conference in Minneapolis. He also served as a judge for "Musiquest," a national piano competition in India.

A Former President

Alexander served as president of the Montana State Music Teachers Association and remains a popular clinician at state and national music teacher conventions.

Relationship with Publishers and Other Artists

Collaborative Works

Alexander has collaborated extensively with other prominent music educators and composers. He is a co-author of "Alfred's Premier Piano Course," an innovative piano method developed alongside Gayle Kowalchyk, E. L. Lancaster, Victoria McArthur, and Martha Mier. He has also collaborated with E. L. Lancaster on the "Premier Piano Course: Theory Books".

Chamber Music Collaborations

As a collaborative artist, Alexander has performed with numerous internationally recognized soloists and chamber groups. His 1987 Carnegie Recital Hall debut with violinist Walter Olivares stands as a particularly significant milestone. His chamber music composition "Dance Suite" for piano, violin, and cello was commissioned by MTNA in 2013 and premiered at the MTNA Conference that year.

Music Style and Pedagogical Philosophy

The Romantic Core

Alexander's compositional voice is deeply rooted in the Romantic tradition. He has often expressed his love for the nocturnes of Chopin, describing them as "among the most magical, inspiring, and creative pieces in the classical repertoire". This affinity for Romanticism permeates his work—he notes that the Romantic style is his "favorite" to write, and that it feels "more effortless" for him to create in this idiom.

Stylistic Versatility

Despite his Romantic leanings, Alexander's compositional range is remarkably broad. His series "Keys to Stylistic Mastery" features at least one piece in the style of each of the five major stylistic periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, and Contemporary. His "Performing in Style" collection offers original compositions ranging from Baroque to contemporary, featuring dances, marches, sonatinas, and other classic forms. His "24 Character Preludes" echo the sounds of Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Ravel, Gershwin, Prokofieff, and Copland.

Melodic Inventiveness and Pedagogical Sophistication

Critics and educators alike praise Alexander's compositions for their "melodic inventiveness and pedagogical sophistication". His pieces are characterized by beautiful, singable melodies that engage students while simultaneously teaching essential technical and musical concepts. The Nocturnes books, for example, are designed to serve as "great preparatory material for the Chopin nocturnes," filling a specific pedagogical need.

Chord Progressions and Music Harmony

Alexander's harmonic language is a distinctive blend of traditional tonality and sophisticated chromaticism, carefully calibrated to be both musically satisfying and pedagogically accessible.

The II-V7-I Progression

One of the hallmark harmonic concepts in Alexander's pedagogical works is the ii-V7-I chord progression. This progression, fundamental to jazz and popular music as well as classical harmony, is introduced in the later levels of the Premier Piano Course. The inclusion of this progression reflects Alexander's commitment to preparing students for a wide range of musical styles.

Diminished Triads and Harmonic Color

Alexander's method books also introduce diminished triads, expanding students' harmonic vocabulary beyond basic major and minor chords. This attention to harmonic color and variety is evident throughout his compositional output.

Descending Bass Lines

A signature harmonic device in Alexander's music is the use of descending bass lines. In "Spring Promises," for instance, the first movement "A Garden's Promise" features "a lyrical melody line over a chord progression that includes a descending bass line," portraying "the beauty of the flowers that begin to appear with the warmer weather". This technique—reminiscent of Baroque passacaglia and Chopin's harmonic writing—adds depth and forward momentum to his compositions.

Chromaticism and Color

Alexander's Nocturnes showcase his sophisticated approach to harmony. He describes the middle section of Nocturne No. 11 in D Major as having "lots of running 16th note passages full of chromaticism and color". This use of chromatic harmony, while maintaining clear tonal centers, gives his music a Romantic richness that students find appealing.

Key Associations

Alexander has a distinctive approach to tonality, associating different keys with specific moods, colors, and characters. He notes that D Major is his favorite key, a preference influenced by repertoire from the standard classical canon, including pieces from the Anna Magdalena Notebook. This sensitivity to key color is characteristic of composers with a strong Romantic sensibility.

Influences

Chopin

Alexander's most significant influence is undoubtedly Frédéric Chopin. The Nocturnes are explicitly conceived as preparatory material for Chopin's masterworks in the genre. Alexander describes the Nocturne No. 11 in D Major as having "some big, dramatic passages—very similar to what Chopin does in a number of his nocturnes".

Verdi and Opera

Alexander is also a devoted fan of opera. He made it a point in college to accompany singers, which led him to become "a real fan of opera". The inspiration for his Nocturnes books came while driving home from a Metropolitan Opera live broadcast of Verdi's La Traviata, with "those gorgeous Verdi arias still swimming around in my head".

The Great Composers

Through his "24 Character Preludes," Alexander pays homage to a wide array of composers, including Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Ravel, Gershwin, Prokofieff, and Copland. This breadth of influence speaks to his deep engagement with the entire classical tradition.

Legacy

Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2015, Alexander was honored by the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" in recognition of his extraordinary service to the music teaching profession.

MTNA/Frances Clark Pedagogy Award

His "Nocturnes for Piano," Books 1 & 2, were selected as the recipient of the prestigious 2020 MTNA/Frances Clark Pedagogy Award.

International Recognition

Alexander's music is performed by students throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Asia, and Europe. Many of his compositions are included in the National Federation of Music Study Clubs Festival required list.

Pedagogical Impact

Perhaps Alexander's most enduring legacy is his impact on piano pedagogy. His compositions have provided generations of students with accessible yet artistically meaningful repertoire. His method books have shaped how piano is taught across the globe.

Major Works

24 Character Preludes

One of Alexander's most significant contributions to the repertoire is "24 Character Preludes" in all major and minor keys, which includes a CD with Alexander as soloist. This collection is designed for late-intermediate to early-advanced students and contains "a wealth of pedagogical challenges". The pieces feature imaginative titles such as "Bravissimo!," "Castle in the Mist," "Celestial Lullaby," "Corps de Ballet," "Dreamcatchers," and "Fleeting Spirits". "ZigZag," a piece included in this collection, is composed in the meters of 5/8 and 4/8.

Nocturnes for Piano, Books 1 & 2

These 14 Romantic-style solos represent perhaps Alexander's most celebrated achievement. Book 1 contains eight nocturnes for early-intermediate to intermediate pianists. Book 2 contains the remaining six at intermediate to late-intermediate levels. The collection "specifically bridge[s] the gap between method book literature at level 3 or above, and Chopin's early advanced nocturnes".

Alfred's Premier Piano Course

As a co-author of this innovative piano method, Alexander has helped shape how beginning pianists are taught. The Lesson Book combines "unusually attractive music and lyrics" with comprehensive instruction in note reading, rhythm reading, sight-reading, and technical workouts.

Dance Suite

Commissioned by MTNA in 2013, this chamber work for piano, violin, and cello was premiered at the MTNA Conference. Inspired by dance music, the suite begins with a tango in the first movement, with the first melodic notes of the tango used in the second movement—a brilliant waltz.

Introduction and Toccata

Composed to celebrate MTNA's 150th anniversary, this piece opens "with a lyrical and expressive prelude that builds into a thrilling, virtuosic finale—an exhilarating showcase for the advancing pianist".

Concertante in G Major

Commissioned by the Montana Music Teachers organization for their state convention.

Fanfare Toccata Rondo

A two-piano work commissioned by Goshen College.

Works on Film

While Dennis Alexander is primarily known for his educational piano music, he has contributed to film and popular music through his arrangements. He has been involved in the "Premier Piano Course Pop and Movie Hits" series, which features arrangements of popular songs and movie themes. These collections include pieces such as the "Batman Theme".

Discography

Alexander has numerous recordings to his name, many of which feature his own performances of his compositions. His website features video releases including:

• Performance Book 5 ("Caprice," "Watercolor Impressions," "Blues Toccata")
• Performance Book 6 ("Serenade de Seville," "Reverie")
• "24 Character Preludes"

His "24 Character Preludes" collection includes a CD with Alexander as soloist.

Most Known Compositions and Performances

Signature Pieces

Alexander's most widely recognized compositions include:

• Nocturnes, Books 1 & 2 — His most celebrated pedagogical works, serving as preparation for Chopin
• 24 Character Preludes — A comprehensive collection exploring all major and minor keys
• Introduction and Toccata — Commissioned for MTNA's 150th anniversary
• Dance Suite — His major chamber work for piano, violin, and cello

Notable Performances

Alexander's Carnegie Recital Hall debut in 1987 with violinist Walter Olivares remains a career highlight. He has performed extensively as a soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician across North America, Asia, and Australia.

Documentaries and Media

While no feature-length documentary specifically focused on Dennis Alexander appears to exist, he has been featured in numerous educational videos and clinician presentations. His personal website, www.DennisAlexander.com, has become "a favorite with piano teachers and features recordings, videos, teaching tips, and much more".

Alexander has been the subject of various interviews and Q&A sessions, including the "Composer Q&A: The Inspiration Behind Dennis Alexander's Nocturnes" and the "Piano Author Q&A: Spotlight on Dennis Alexander". He has also produced video series on the Nocturnes books featuring performances and practice tips.

Alexander has presented numerous workshops and master classes that have been recorded and shared with the teaching community, including his 2022 MTNA Alfred Showcase on "Engaging Teen and Adult Piano Students".

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Dennis Alexander stands as one of the most significant figures in North American piano education of the past half-century. From his humble beginnings in a small Kansas farming community to his international reputation as composer, pedagogue, and performer, his career exemplifies the power of music education to transform lives. With over 400 publications, numerous prestigious awards, and a global reach that spans continents, Alexander has created a body of work that will continue to inspire and educate pianists for generations to come.

His music—rooted in the Romantic tradition yet spanning all stylistic periods—combines pedagogical sophistication with genuine artistic merit. His Nocturnes prepare students for Chopin; his Character Preludes introduce them to the full spectrum of classical styles; his method books shape how beginners learn; and his chamber works enrich the repertoire for advancing musicians.

As Alexander himself might say, his career has been the "perfect combination" of teaching and performing—a combination that has enriched the lives of countless students and teachers around the world.

Listen to Dennis Alexander's music on Spotify

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