HOME      ABOUT US        COMPOSERS       RECORDINGS        DEALERS       CONTACT US      ALISON BARR’S early musical training was under John Markarian, Music Director of the Westwood, Massachusetts, Public Schools and in the Extension Program of New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. In those two venues, she studied piano, completing the NEC Certificate Program; flute, music theory, choral singing, accompanying and ensemble playing. Her higher education credentials include the degree of Bachelor of Science in Music Education (Instrumental and Choral Music with a concentration in Piano Performance) from the University of Maine at Orono and the degree of Master of Music in Piano Performance from Boston University where her applied teacher was Anthony DiBonaventura.    Ms. Barr owns and operates independent studios in Hanover and Brookline Village where she teaches fifty students of all ages and levels. She holds the Music Teachers National Association National Certificate and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Music Teachers License. Also, she currently serves as Artist- in- Residence at Hanover High School where she accompanies and assists in the Choral and Piano Lab Programs. She has also held positions as Choral Director at both Norwell and Duxbury High Schools. In the winter of 2003, she presented a full-length piano recital at the James Library in Norwell. For the past seven years, she has served as Music Director for Summer Arts at Derby Academy in Hingham, a music theater and performing arts camp.    Ms. Barr served as State President for both the Maine and Massachusetts Music Teachers Associations and as Independent Music Teachers Forum Chairperson for Music Teachers National Association. She has developed a series of humorous and engaging lectures in music appreciation entitled, "Joyful Listening!" which she has offered in the Boston area and at the Avocational Adult Piano Workshop held in Kromeriz, Czech Republic in August, 2002 and 2003. Another workshop is scheduled for the summer of 2006 at Williams College.    Ms. Barr’s publications include "Successful Studio Teaching" and numerous articles in "Clavier," "American Music Teacher," and "Keyboard Companion," Two of her articles on choral accompanying in high school programs have been accepted for publication in upcoming issues of "Massachusetts Music News." She is a frequent lecturer, adjudicator and accompanist for festival choruses, including Junior and Senior SEMSBA (2003 and 2004) and SE Junior District (2005).    Ms. Barr’s passions include tennis, gardening, swimming, weightlifting and writing. Her son, Ben, graduated from Hanover High School in 2004 and is attending the University of Hartford, and her husband, Brad, works for the U.S.’s National Marine Sanctuary Program.