SUPER SATURDAY 2024

Workshop: “Music Theory for Organists”

 

A good understanding of music theory is can be helpful to an organist. In this workshop we will discuss music theory with reference to hymns and learn tips and trips to help understand the music better.

 

Lora Kelly, PhD

Lora Borgholthaus Kelly received her PhD in music education from the University of Utah. 
 
The focus of her research is adult music teaching and learning. She has sought diverse teaching strategies for adults of all ages and has interviewed higher education instructors nationwide to learn their teaching practices. 
 
As an educator, Lora believes in student-centered learning. As a music educator, she believes in gauging students’ attention in learning and moderating the instructional pace.
 
Lora earned a master of music degree in organ performance and history from the University of Utah. While there she studied with Dr. Kenneth Udy and performed Widor’s complete sixth symphony along with works by Bach, Barber, and Langlais.  
 
Her masters paper was on transcription errors found in varying publications of Charles-Marie Widor’s organ symphonies. She has also studied improvisation with Dr. Rulon Christiansen. 
 
Lora has been organist for many denominations, notably the United Church of Christ, First Church of Christ Scientist, and Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City.
 
Her undergraduate time was spent at Boise State University where she earned a bachelor of music degree, with emphasis in both piano and organ performance. 
 
Lora currently teaches music classes at Salt Lake Community College, among them: music theory, sight singing/ear training, songwriting, group piano, music appreciation, and music and culture. 
 
While a graduate student at the University of Utah, she taught Creative Connections (music in the elementary classroom), Integrating Arts into Academic Learning, and supervised pre-service elementary teachers. 
 
She is active in researching adult learning styles, music fundamentals for adult learners, and decolonization of music theory.
 
Lora and her husband John live in Layton, Utah, and are the parents of seven children.