Mario Flores鈥檚 instrumental students got a treat yesterday when acclaimed pianist Aaron Diehl stopped by campus and delivered an impromptu master class. 鈥淚t was a fantastic opportunity for our students!鈥 said Flores, who leads the 91大神鈥檚聽orchestral and jazz programs and teaches music here.
Diehl is a聽sought-after jazz virtuoso, playing with what the聽New York Times聽describes as 鈥渕elodic precision, harmonic erudition, and elegant restraint.鈥 He will perform tonight at the UMass Fine Arts Center with Grammy-winning vocalist C茅cile McLorin Salvant and fellow pianist Adam Birnbaum, playing songs by Jelly Roll Morton and George Gershwin.
鈥淲e had four students play and work with him,鈥 Flores said.聽Students brought a piano piece they were working on, either already learned or just聽beginning to master. Diehl listened and then provided feedback and聽suggestions about everything from expression of emotion to concrete advice about fingerings and hand position. 鈥淚t was a casual but professional learning moment for our kids,鈥 Flores said.