Today’s guest, Annette Morgan, is a former student of Rildia Bee O’Bryan Cliburn. In today’s interview, Mrs. Morgan shares her experiences in Mrs. Cliburn’s studio as well as the story of Van Cliburn’s rise to fame after he won the first Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, in 1958.This episode is dedicated to the memory of Ann Saslav, a well-respected pianist herself, who was the catalyst for Annette Morgan’s presentation to East Texas Music Teachers Association and for today’s interview.Ann Saslav interview with Tyler Morning TelegraphAnn Saslav obituary 

Mrs. Cliburn, piano teacher

Rildia Bee O’Bryan was born October 14, 1896. She was a student of Arthur Friedheim who was a student of Franz Lizst. She could have has a successful musical career but she gave up that opportunity at the request of her parents who were concerned about a young woman traveling the country.Mrs. Cliburn was a very positive teacher but she was also a very disciplined teacher. She expected her students to be disciplined as well.She hosted two music club gatherings in her studio each month where students would perform for their peers. She would accompany the solos of her students, which made them feel more confident in their playing.Mrs. Cliburn expected her students to learn the rudiments of music theory and sight reading. She expected them to master and memorize their pieces. As her students advanced she would teach them all the standard classical piano literature.She assigned exercises and etudes to teach a specific musical concept and prepare students to literature that also used that concept.She expected a beautiful tone, originating from the upper body with fingers curved and relaxed but firm. With a strong technical foundation in place, she also taught her students to incorporate musical expression. She would encourage her students to imagine they were singing the musical line and then transfer that musical line to the piano.Mrs. Cliburn never compared her students to her son, Van. She expected them to be and do their best without comparison to anyone else.

Read more about Rildia Bee O’Bryan Cliburn at the Texas State Historical Association website. 

The Legacy of Van Cliburn

Mrs. Cliburn first noticed her son’s talent when she heard him playing a previous student’s piece by ear. She thought it was her student still playing and she went to tell him it was time to go home. It was not her student,