COE professor to present free lecture and piano performance on March 3
Marla Morris, Ph.D., plays the piano.
Georgia Southern professor Marla Morris, Ph.D., is combining music and education during “Educating the Inner Ear,” a free lecture and piano performance set for Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, 847 Plant Drive.
Morris, a professor of curriculum studies in the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading for 17-years now, explained, “The lecture is on the importance of arts and aesthetics for educators, students and the community.”
During the lecture, which is derived from her most recent book, “Curriculum Studies Guidebooks: Volume 2 Concepts and Theoretical Frameworks,” Morris will discuss how the arts, education and instruction intersect, and will also perform on the piano during the lecture.
“The arts can be used in any subject,” she explained. “They are not just a separate subject matter for specialists, but instead should be viewed as an enrichment. Enrichment is used in teaching every day.”
Morris was once on track to becoming a professional musician and studied piano at Carnegie Mellon, but ultimately developed tendonitis in her right hand. Not knowing what would be next, Morris says she “let life happen,” leading her to earn a bachelor’s in philosophy from Tulane University, a master’s in religious studies from Loyola University, and a doctorate in education focusing on curriculum studies from Louisiana State University.
Morris had given up playing the piano due to her injury, but decided she could no longer stay away from the ivory keys in 2010. She performed her first concert in nearly 20 years at the Telfair Museum in Savannah, Georgia. Since then, she has performed at the Goodman recital hall at the Kaufman Center and at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City and gives concerts from her home. She is excited to take the stage at Georgia Southern’s Performing Arts Center for the lecture.
“It’s a beautiful space with a great piano, and I get to be right here at the school with my students,” Morris said.
The event is free and open to the public.
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