About Marilynn

My lifetime of music began as a 9 year old piano student in a college music conservatory. Several years later, I received a Bachelor of Music Education degree with piano emphasis. My career includes teaching public school music, directing church and civic choirs, piano performance, clinician, private piano teaching and composing. I began serious composing at the age of 50 and chose to publish my own works.

Passion for teaching and composing

My purpose in teaching is to help each student develop a love of music for a lifetime. My composing philosophy is to produce pieces that meet student interests and needs. I try to create a good learning experience that is exciting, motivating and challenging.

I recently received an e-mail from a young man who was a nine year student of mine starting at the age of seven. Now a college student, he wrote, "I was thinking about music tonight and I thought of you and all that you have taught me. I'm glad to see that everything is going so well for you. I just wanted you to know that I will always have a love for music and you are always going to be a very special person to me."

Supplementary solos, ensembles and piano duets of varying levels and styles make up my repertoire. The 50 to 60 students in my piano lab are my most severe critics as well as strongest supporters.

Recognition

I have been privileged to perform my compositions in Carmichael Hall and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. Also, I have presented showcases of my music in Nashville, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Austin, Houston, Arlington, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City.

National music magazines have recognized my music. Three of my compositions, Aberration, Water Colors and Little Red Shoes were reviewed and given one publication's highest rating, "Reviewer's Choice: music that may become part of the standard repertoire."

In the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Gazette's "Educator of the Week" program, I was the first non-traditional classroom teacher to be so honored. I was moved by this recognition.

I am a member of the National League of American Pen Women, Music Teachers National Association, Iowa Music Teachers Association and Beethoven Club. It is an honor for me to serve as a member of the Iowa Composer's Forum board of directors.

Currently, 22 of my compositions are included in the Iowa Music Teacher's Association syllabus.

Publishing journey

I am pleased to share what my husband, Dave, and I have experienced on our journey to establish a company to publish my music. We had to learn as we progressed, and learn we did. Marketing your compositions isn't easy. What works for me may not work for you, but perhaps my story can show what can be accomplished with determination. You must believe in yourself and then transfer that belief to others. First you must develop a quality product. In my case, supplementary piano solos. I didn't start serious composing until the age of 50. I was unsure of myself and my ideas, so I set out to have my music critiqued by students, teachers and other composers. I have developed warm relationships with contemporary composers, and appreciate everything they have taught me. The more we learn, the broader our artistic skills become.

My husband and I attended music clinics and conventions to determine what would be required to establish a publishing company to market my compositions. By this time, I had produced more than twenty pieces of various styles and levels of difficulty. I was already using my music in my piano lab of over 60 students.

We learned that creating a publishing house would be expensive, time consuming, and very hard work. It was a revolutionary idea at the time, especially for a 50-year-old woman composer. We accepted the challenge and off we went to seek our goal of finding a market for my work. I now offer nearly 100 compositions through my company, Marilynn Etzel Publications for Piano. Many of my pieces have been featured in national music magazines and catalogs, and have been given excellent reviews.

I'd like hear your thoughts

A love of music is the very essence of what teachers and composers strive to accomplish. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy my music. I would be pleased to hear from you.

Marilynn