
Dr. Al Benner
Music Instructor
[Theory, Composition,
Instrumental, Ensembles, Piano]
Philosophy Instructor
[Philosophy, Ethics]
Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts
Room 109A [Prudhomme Hall]
318-357-3231
ABenner@lsmsa.edu
Office Hours
MWF 10-11:00; TR 8-9:30,
12-1:00
Appointment Hours
R 2:15-3:00; F 2-3:00
For a listing of performances of my music in
2008, please click here.
To visit my favorite LSMSA Instructor, please click here.
Life Philosophy
Do what is right even if it is unpopular.
Take responsibility for your actions.
Don't let others think for you.
There is always a choice.
Be true to yourself.
“Excellence is not an action, but a habit.”
--Aristotle
"To educate a person in intelligence but not in
character is a crime to the human spirit."
--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my
imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
--Dr. Albert Einstein
Courses offered for Fall 2008
Click courses to see the
current syllabi.
I will be temporarily located in Prudhomme Hall for the next two years while our new Arts Building is being constructed.
Consequently, all classes will take place in Prudhomme Hall unless indicated otherwise.
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Beg. Piano
Class I |
Fundamentals of
Music |
|
Music
Composition |
Chamber
Ensemble |
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Major
Instrumental Study |
Adv. Music
Theory I |
|
Intro. to
Philosophy |
Wind
Ensemble |
To see past courses taught at LSMSA and last semester’s syllabi, please click here. To see projected courses for the 2008-09 school term, please click here.
Philosophy Courses
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
SS214 (Fall semester; ½ unit of credit)
Basic problems, arguments, and concepts of selected western philosophers
dealing with theology, knowledge, reality, and free will. We will look at
the writings of such philosophers as Hume, James, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley,
and Reid, among others.
INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
SS215 (Spring semester; ½ unit of credit)
This course will take a historical look at ethical theories from selected
western philosophers and apply those thoughts to constant and contemporary
moral problems. We will look at the writings of such philosophers as
Plato, Aristotle, Mill, and Kant, among others.
Music Theory and Composition Courses
FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC
MU101 (Fall semester; ½ unit of credit)
This class is designed for the student with very little, or no musical
experience—although it is also beneficial for those students who are involved
with music lessons. Students will study note identification, key
signatures, notation, major and minor scales, chord construction, intervals,
and basic music rudiments as defined by common practice music theory. The
class will also include a look at music history to understand how common
practice music theory developed.
INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC THEORY
MU201 (Spring semester; ½ unit of credit)
Continuation of skills begun in MU 101 leading to traditional music theory
defined as common practice theory. Students will continue learning chord
construction, identification, melody, tertian harmony, and simple
harmonization. Four part writing will also be introduced at this time.
Prerequisites: successful completion of MU 101 or consent of the Instructor.
ADVANCED MUSIC THEORY I
MU301 (Fall semester; ½ unit of credit)
Continuation of MU 201. There will be further development of common
practice theory. A more advanced look at chord construction will take
place as well as modulation into other keys. Emphasis will be placed on
music analysis—especially the chorales of J.S. Bach. There will also be
an introduction to music dictation.
Prerequisites: successful completion of MU 201 or consent of the Instructor.
ADVANCED MUSIC THEORY II
MU401 (Spring semester; ½ unit of credit)
Continuation of MU 301. The main concentration here will be on 20th-century
music theories and techniques by looking at the music of seven various
composers. Emphasis will be placed on more complex music analysis and
seeing where music has gone since the breakdown of common practice theory.
Prerequisites: successful completion of MU 301 or consent of the Instructor.
MUSIC COMPOSITION
MU213 (One semester; ¼ unit of credit)
Students will receive a 45 minute lesson each week in music compositional
techniques, including melody writing, harmonization, and counterpoint
techniques, among others, in preparation for performance of works created by
the students.
Prerequisites: current enrollment in a music theory course AND consent of
the Instructor.
2007-08 National or Regional Conferences Invites
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Oct. 18-19, 2007 Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA Office Held: Board Member; Commissioning Chair
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May 20-21, 2008 Dallas, TX Office Held: National Advisory Council; ComposerUSA Editor
Past and Future Visions (1991) for violin and piano Karen Lim, violin; Luca Bruno, piano Eisemann Center for Performing Arts; Dallas, TX |
To see past conference invites, please click here.
Special Performances and Commissions
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Performances Psalm 117 (2007) for SATB choir and piano Red
River Chorale; Alexandria, LA;
Changes (1990) for woodwind septet (flute, oboe, English horn, 2 clarinets, bassoon, contrabassoon) Louisiana Sinfonietta;
Baton Rouge, LA; December 9, 2007
Illumination (1991) for string orchestra (Louisiana Sinfonietta Tenth Anniversary Commission) Premiered January 12, 1992
A Concert of Distinguished Alumni Composers Louisiana Sinfonietta;
Baton Rouge, LA; The LSU 61st Festival of Contemporary Music
L to R: Dr. David Penri-Evans, Dr. Stephen
Lias,
Commissions [organist and coordinator, Harvard's Memorial Church] to write a new sacred motet (an anthem for 4-part SATB choir) for the Choral Fellows ensemble of the Harvard University (a select 16-person professional choir) for use at daily worship services and other events for which the ensemble sings.
to write an arrangement for the Hudson Valley Brass Quintet of Handel’s “March” from the Occasional Oratorio to be played at the graduation ceremonies of the State University of New York at New Paltz on May 19 & 24, and at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on May 28.
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Louisiana
Sunshine (2004) Theme and Variations based upon by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell © 2004 by Peer International Corp.
Commissioned collaboratively by Louisiana's seven professional orchestras through the Louisiana Association of Symphony Orchestras (LASO).
Young People’s Discovery Concert Series “One Louisiana—One Song” Kermit Poling, conductor; Shreveport Civic Theatre [Jan. 26, 2005; 9:30 am; Jan. 27-28, 2005; 9:30 & 11:00 am] Lake Charles Symphony Orchestra William Kushner, conductor; Rosa Hart Theatre [April 10, 2005; 3:00pm] Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra Stuart Chafetz, guest conductor; Baton Rouge River Civic Theatre [April 11-13, 2005; 9:30 & 11:00 am] [April 12, 2005; 11:00 am—Carnegie Hall’s LinkUP! Program] Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Stu Chafetz, conductor [April 6, 2005; Greater Covington Center , 9:30 & 11am] [April 26, 2005; Mahalia Jackson Theatre, 10 am] [April 28, 2005; Slidell Municipal Auditorium, 9:30 & 11:00 am] [May 4, 2005; Pontchartrain Center, 10:00 am] [May 5, 2005; St. Bernard Civic Center, 10:00 am] Myron Turner, conductor; Neville High School “Sound Safari” [May 11, 2005; 10:00 am & 1:00 pm] Side-by-Side Educational Concert Joshua Zona, conductor; Coughlin Saunders Performing Art Center [April 24, 2006; 9:30 am]
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The LSMSA Music Ensembles are treated as professional
performing groups. Consequently, inclusion in these groups is by audition
only. For more information about the LSMSA Music Ensembles and/or
other instrumental performing group opportunities at LSMSA, please
click here. The main String and Wind Ensemble
concert was on May 11 at 3:00 pm at Magale Recital Hall on the NSU campus.
LSMSA String/Chamber
Ensemble
The director for the String/Chamber Ensemble is Dr. Al Benner.

String Ensemble Spring 2008
Tiffany Chen, Michael Lee, Autumn Billings, violins; Daniel Jang, cello
LSMSA Wind Ensemble
The director for the Wind Ensemble is John Dunn. Please
click here to go to
his webpage and to access further information about the Wind Ensemble.
Dr. Benner remains part of the Wind Ensemble in a collaborative capacity.
Past concerts for Chamber,
Wind and String Ensembles
Additional Concert
Opportunities provided for LSMSA students
LSMSA
Ensembles Original Compositions, Arrangements, and Transpositions
LSMSA's All-State and
District II Ensemble Members
Composition Opportunities
provided for LSMSA students
Ensemble Concert Invitations
Past Student Assistants to
the Chamber Ensemble Director
Individual Student Recitals
Major Instrumental, Composition and Piano Students
Click here to see past recital programs.
At times, various students of Dr. Al Benner give a Junior or Senior Recital. For the 2007-08 school year, there was the Senior Recital of Daniel Jang (cello) on May 10 in Treen Auditorium on the LSMSA campus. Check back here during the year for further details.
Distinction Projects
To see past abstracts of completed distinction projects, please click here.
At times, various students of Dr. Al Benner complete the requirements to graduate with distinction. This is a rare occurrence for usually no more than about a dozen students a year complete this process throughout all the disciplines.
Louisiana Composers' Consortium
Total Concerts performed so far: 29
The goal of the LCC is to promote Louisiana talent throughout the state by playing works of living Louisiana composers and other guest composers who are significant figures in 20th century music. The LCC, which was founded in 1999 by Dr. Al Benner, also promotes current and recent Louisiana School faculty, students, and alumni. It is a way of not only giving something back to the Natchitoches and surrounding communities, but also to present fresh music and to show that contemporary music can also be fun to hear. To learn more about the LCC or to see past concerts, please click here.
The next LCC concert is scheduled for the Fall, location TBD. Please check back for more details when they become available.
Learn more about me
For some little known facts about Dr. Benner, click here.
Family Photos

Albert Nicholas Halloween