5 minutes with ... Maurice Hinson.(Professional Resources)(Interview)

Maurice Hinson is senior professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's School of Church Music in Louisville, Kentucky, where he teaches piano, chamber music, piano literature and piano pedagogy. Hinson is internationally celebrated for his many awards, articles, references, editions, videos, recordings, master classes and lecture/recitals. AMT's Arthur Houle had a few questions for Hinson.

As a child, were you a "difficult" piano student or the "wild-horses-can't-keep-me-from-the-piano" type? The latter. I began picking out tunes on the piano and playing by ear around age 5. I played and sang Sunday-school tunes and all the pop tunes of the day, including Three Little Fishes.

Who inspired your terrific anthologies? Irwin Freundlich, my piano literature teacher at Juilliard. In 1963, he requested I update his Music for the Piano, co-authored by James Friskin. Friskin's wife, however, did not want alterations, and Irwin later indicated he was too busy, so it befell me to write the entire book (Guide to the Pianist's Repertoire)--so I did!

Do you have a favorite composer? Composition? Cooking spice (maybe a Vivaldi seasoning)? My favorite composer is whoever I'm playing or editing, which is currently Mozart. I have no truly favorite work, but one favorite is Cesar Franck's Prelude, Chorale and Fugue.

Please share the most memorable experience in your distinguished teaching career. Working with a brilliant student, Frank Carter, who performed a graduate recital and then memorized a complete second recital of Chopin--just because he loved Chopin! He earned a performer's certificate for his efforts, won the concerto competition, etc.

How about your most embarrassing experience? While accompanying a visiting Hungarian ...