Dear Editor:
This month, Dr. Robert Bedford celebrates 50 years of teaching and performing at West Chester University with an all-Chopin piano recital.
As his student, I was fortunate to hear his first eight recitals where I assimilated much from his particular brand of Juilliard-trained expression.
In fact, I became the first student at WCU to earn a master of music degree in piano performance.
Through the years, core educational and pedagogical principles I learned from Dr. Bedford transferred to my own university teaching duties in music, visual arts, communication, history, language, and many other academic subjects.
Now retired, I look back at those early years and realize that his instructional approach was a comprehensive one and is highly adaptable to the teaching of diverse subject matter.
I congratulate my venerable professor and friend on reaching this impressive half-century milestone. I thank him for what I have attained professionally.
I especially wish him many more successful years as “The Grand Wizard” of fusing instruction in piano and Alexander Technique, a unique fusion found at precious few American academic institutions.
I hope that current piano and Alexander Technique students realize they will be well-served by appending Dr. Bedford’s insightful instructional perspectives to any future professional endeavors.
West Chester University remains fortunate to have such a talented individual in its professorial ranks.
Robert Loiselle (B.S. B.M. M.M., WCU 1967-1974) North Bend, OR email @ falconriff@gmail.com