In the 18th to the 20th century piano music history, a prominent position is held by composers inspired by flamenco, the traditional music of Andalusia. Flamenco, due to its strong and dynamic character, serves as a symbol of Spanish culture. Because of the uniqueness and the rich tradition of Andalusian music, this particular piano repertoire has distinctive musical characteristics (dance rhythms, cante jondo melodies, Phrygian mode, imitation of guitar playing), making it especially appealing and beneficial for students. Additionally, familiarity with Spanish culture can contribute to the cultivation of students’ intercultural awareness. Since this repertoire is not widely known in the Greek educational system (Tsiairas, 2022), the workshop aims to familiarize participants with its interpretation and teaching.

The workshop consists of two parts. In the first part, the presenter showcases three compositions by Spanish composers, created in the late 20th century (1975 - 1989): Piece 2 from the collection Introducción al piano contemporáneo: 20 piezas de mediana dificultad by Manuel Castillo (1930 - 2005), Andaluza III “Canción de la Luna Blanca” from the collection Cuadernos de Adriana by Antón García Abril and Tiene la Tarara from the collection Piezas infantiles sobre temas populares españoles by Ángel Oliver (1937 - 2005). The three aforementioned composers are representative of Spanish music, as they have composed a significant number of music works marked by their personal style (Marco, 1993). The three pieces presented correspond to different levels of difficulty, as defined in the Piano Curriculum for Music Schools (ΦΕΚ 2858/Β/28-12-2015). Their presentation is accompanied by teaching proposals on technique, interpretation, and memorization. Interdisciplinary and creative activities are included to foster students’ overall development, with many activities also utilizing the internet.

In the second part, participants are given three pieces inspired by flamenco, composed by popular American composers of educational repertoire, to design their own teaching proposals while working in groups: Nights in Spain by Catherine Rollin (1952), Holiday in Spain by William Gillock (1917-1993), and El Toro by Mike Springer. The workshop concludes with group presentations and an exchange of opinions among participants.

• Interdisciplinary approaches in music education
• Historical and cultural perspectives and contemporary educational practices

The pianist Michalis Tsiairas graduated at a young age from the Serres Conservatory, earning a Piano Diploma and Degrees in Harmony, Counterpoint, and Fugue. He continued his studies at the University of Macedonia with Tatiana Papadopoulou and the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid with Guillermo González. He completed postgraduate and doctoral studies at the Ionian University in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. He has attended many master classes with renowned artists and has been awarded scholarships and awards in piano competitions. He has performed many concerts and has given a series of teacher training lecture-recitals at various music schools. He teaches piano at the Music School of Thessaloniki.