Grammy winner leads music workshop in Bethel Park
After a few tentative starts, the young pianist launched into an original composition, impressing the handful of people constituting her audience.
Among them was a gentleman who had been playing the instrument since half a century before she was born, listening intently.
“Here, try this,” he suggested following a round of applause for her, tapping on a few keys to jazz up a portion of her song. She gave it a try and smiled, ready to integrate the new part next time she performed.
George Winston smiled, as well, with the satisfaction of knowing he’d helped yet another blossoming musician.
You may recognize his name from the Grammys, as he’s a frequent nominee and won the 1995 award for his “Forest” album. Or from his extended series of instrumental best-sellers, including the triple-platinum “December.”
HarryFunkMultimedia Reporterhfunk@thealmanac.nethttps://thealmanac.net/content/tncms/avatars/1/54/1d2/1541d2b0-76f8-11e7-8717-57b252e7be12.c3c204fabe438b35fae5a2a852073b79.png
George Winston plays “Variations on the Kanon by Johann Pachelbel.”
But the George Winston who visited Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park on Oct. 24 was the antithesis of the self-important superstar, frequently cracking jokes, often at his own expense, as he conducted a workshop full of helpful hints about how to play the guitar, harmonica and, of course, piano.
Most of the 50 or so folks in attendance were clients of Wesley Family Services’ Creative Arts Program and members of their families, some of whom stayed after the workshop to talk with Winston, have their pictures taken with him and, in a few cases, play a bit of music. In turn, he greeted everyone as if he or she were a good friend.
Wesley, which recently underwent a merger with Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, offers support through a variety of means for people of all ages. The creative arts program provides music therapy for young people with behavioral, social, psychological, communication, physical and cognitive functioning issues.

Harry Funk / The Almanac
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Katie Harrill helps ensure that George Winston’s sheet music is correct.
Program supervisor Katie Harrill, who arranged for Winston’s visit to suburban Pittsburgh, has been working with him to help ensure that the sheet music for his piano compositions matches what is supposed to be performed.
“I’ve used his music in sessions with the children as relaxation music for years. So I bought the one book, and I was so excited to play it,” she recalled. “But I found errors.”
Winston cited currently technology, or lack thereof, as reason for the anomalies.
“That was back in the early 21st century, and the way computers are with lines, it just drags the notes onto places,” he said. “She pointed out the errors and got them corrected for the next printing.”
Harrill’s initial experience with Winston and his publisher, Hal Leonard Corp., led to her having further opportunities along similar lines.
“We worked on a second book, and we did what we normally do,” Winston explained. “And then, after the computer did its thing, we got it to Katie.”
The process continues, with a friend of his transcribing the music and Harrill taking a closer look at everything.
“Then we’ll make more changes,” Winston said. “Then we’ll get it to Hal Leonard. And then, before printing the book, they get it to us again. We didn’t do that before, because I just thought, well, it’s a computer. It’s got to be correct.”
His workshop involved no high technology, just a vintage Martin seven-string acoustic guitar to start. He demonstrated techniques such as the use of harmonics – making a chiming sound by pressing lightly on a string, instead of fully against the fingerboard – and open tuning, which automatically forms a chord.
Winston also discussed harmonica-playing methods before switching his focus to piano, at times reaching into the body of the baby grand to manipulate the strings in conjunction with the keys.
All the while, he cited his musical influences, from Thomas “Fats” Waller and Roy “Professor Longhair” Byrd to “Linus and Lucy” composer Vince Guaraldi, whom Winston has honored by covering two albums’ worth of his material.
As is the case with Winston’s performances on his albums, his demonstrations at the workshop were purely instrumental.
“I don’t even sing in the shower,” he told audience members, adding ironically for their amusement: “In fact, I don’t even shower.”
Hey, musicians are allowed to be comedians, too.