The Legacy of E. L. Lancaster: His Contributions to Piano Pedagogy and the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma

Abstract

E. L. Lancaster (b. 1948) is a leading figure in the field of piano pedagogy, whose career spans more than five decades as a teacher, pedagogue, author, editor, clinician, and leader in music education. Throughout his distinguished career, he has made lasting contributions to piano pedagogy through his innovative teaching, extensive publications, and influential leadership in higher education and the music publishing industry. At the University of Oklahoma (OU), where he served on the piano faculty for eighteen years, Lancaster established and shaped four graduate degree programs in piano pedagogy, which became among the most respected in the country. These programs included Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Master of Music Education with an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy, Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, and PhD in Music Education with an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy. Beyond his contributions at OU, he authored or co-authored more than 400 widely used publications, including Alfred's Group Piano for Adults (1994), Music for Little Mozarts (1999), and The Premier Piano Course (2005), and served as Senior Vice President and Keyboard Editor-in-Chief of Alfred Music Company, where he guided the development of keyboard publications for more than two decades.This study explores the life and professional achievements of E. L. Lancaster, focusing particularly on his contributions to piano pedagogy and the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma. Drawing on historical research, interviews with Lancaster and his former students and colleagues, and a range of archival materials, this document presents a detailed biography of Lancaster’s personal life and professional accomplishments, his impact on the piano pedagogy program and the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma, and his legacy as shared through the reflections and voices of those who studied and worked with him. Chapter 1 provides an overview and justification for the study, outlining its purpose, need, limitations, procedures, and organization, as well as a review of related literature. Chapter 2 presents a biography of E. L. Lancaster, highlighting significant events in his personal life and major milestones in his professional career, along with a brief overview of his publications. Chapter 3 offers an in-depth study of the piano pedagogy program at the University of Oklahoma, with particular attention to Lancaster’s establishment of the master’s and doctoral degrees in piano pedagogy, the development of their curricula, and his broader contributions to the School of Music. Chapter 4 features Lancaster’s legacy through the voices of his former students and colleagues, presenting their reflections on his teaching, mentorship, and leadership. Chapter 5 includes a summary of the study and offers suggestions for further research. This document also includes a series of appendices that provide supplementary materials supporting the study. Appendices A, B, and C contain comprehensive lists of Lancaster’s publications, journal articles, and the doctoral dissertations he supervised at the University of Oklahoma. Appendix D presents a selected list of Lancaster’s workshops and presentations, and Appendix E includes the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval letter for this research. Finally, Appendices F through J provide information about the interview participants and the interview guides used for Lancaster, former faculty colleagues, former directors of the School of Music, and former graduate students at the University of Oklahoma. Through this research, the present study documents Lancaster’s legacy and contributions and serves as a valuable resource that can inform, guide, and inspire current and future generations of pedagogy students, researchers, and educators.