Hazel Skaggs


Hazel Ann Ghazarian Skaggs was an American author, composer, and music educator who specialized in piano pedagogy. She published under the name Hazel Ghazarian.
Ghazarian was born in Boston to Armenian parents, Seeran Bardezbanian and Hagop Ghazarian. She married Paul Skaggs. She earned a pedagogy diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music; a B.A. and M.A. in psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an artist diploma from the American College of Musicians. She also studied at the Universities of Colorado, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Her teachers included Dr. Clarence Adler, Howard Goding, Ernst Levy, and Gladys Ondricek.
During her years at New England Conservatory, Ghazarian wrote short stories for the Boston Post and many professional journals. She contributed to The Art of Teaching Piano. She was a deacon in the Armenian Presbyterian Church and enjoyed folk dancing as a hobby.
She belonged to and held office in several professional organizations, including:
The Professional Music Teachers Guild of New Jersey established the Hazel Ghazarian Skaggs Memorial Piano Competition which continues today. The Piano Teachers Congress presents Hazel Ghazarian Skaggs Awards to outstanding students. 
Ghazarian’s music and writing were published by the Boston Music Company, Carl Fischer Music, Century Music Publishing Company, Schroeder & Gunther Inc., Summy Birchard, and the Willis Music Company. She composed some songs for soprano. Her articles and compositions for piano included:

Articles

  • “A Hypothesis and a Look Inward”
  • “A Plea for the Transfer Pupil”
  • “Decentralization in Music is Necessary!”
  • “Group Piano Teaching”
  • “How Can We Save the Beginner?”
  • “Is the Make Up Lesson Necessary?”
  • “Teachers Are Not Born”
  • “What About Student Recitals?”

Piano