FACULTY — Manhattan School of Music DIRECTOR — Magic Mountain Music Farm PROFESSOR OF VIOLIN — New York University

BURTON KAPLAN is Professor of Violin and Viola at the Manhattan School of Music and New York University. During his continuing 30 year tenure at MSM, he taught the courses Practicing for Artistic Success and Orchestral Excerpts, and conducted The Manhattan Chamber Symphony. In addition, he is Director of Performance Power™, an organization dedicated to teaching a system for harnessing and integrating the powers of mind, body and spirit in the practice room and on the stage. In these capacities, he has influenced the growth of several thousand pre-professional and professional musicians. As Conductor and Music Director of the Manhattan/Downeast Chamber Orchestra, and the Empire State Youth Orchestra he has performed at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall to exceptional reviews -- "Mr. Kaplan has fashioned the orchestra into a disciplined, precisely honed ensemble, one that plays with a crisp biting attack and an obvious relish of making music in a vigorous extroverted manner." (NY Times) In addition, the orchestra under his direction has performed at the White House and won the American Symphony Orchestra League's National Youth Orchestra Competition. In 2000, he was the conductor of the All State Symphony Orchestra of the New York State School Music Association.

During more than three decades, Mr. Kaplan has served on the faculties of The City University of New York and the State University of New York; and as Director of Education of The Downeast Chamber Music Center and The Third Street Music School Settlement in New York City. His career includes international appearances as a lecturer on instrumental pedagogy, sight-reading and music practicing. He was the first instrumental teacher in the world to use video feedback in teaching (1967). He has patents on devices for learning stringed instruments and a unique tone enhancing "Shoulder Horn" for violin and viola. Mr. Kaplan is the author of The Complete Music Sight-Reader Series and The Musician's Practice Log. His latest book, Practicing for Artistic Success; The Musician's Guide to Self-Empowerment in the Practice Room, will appear in April, 2003. In addition, he served as a member of the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell and the Pittsburgh and American Symphonies under William Steinberg and Leopold Stokowski. His solo performances were cited for "Musicianship of a highorder" and "extra (out of the ordinary) events." (NY Herald Tribune).

Read an article from Strad, November 1993 — "Go Tell it on a Magic Mountain"

Read excerpts from Strings, February-March, 2001 — "Personal Practice Planning"

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