Clara Boyett Hassen, a native of southeast Texas, began her piano study at the age of seven. She is currently a third year doctoral student at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, and holds a master's degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance from Baylor University. She graduated suma cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where she also earned a certificate in piano pedagogy. 

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Clara is an active teacher, with over nine years of experience teaching private lessons and group classes to pianists of all ages and levels. She served as a student instructor for the Stephen F. Austin State University Music Preparatory Division for three years while earning her bachelor’s degree. While at Baylor University, Clara held a graduate assistantship in piano pedagogy where she taught applied piano for secondary students, a group piano course, and worked with Baylor’s Piano Lab Program for community students. In Fall 2016, Clara received an MTNA Project Grant to fund the Austin Avenue Piano Lab, a group piano outreach class for 1st and 2nd graders in the Waco community that she founded and directed with colleague Hayden Coie, NCTM. She also maintained a large community studio in Waco that varied greatly in age and experience level. Clara taught a Group Piano for Adult Beginners course for the Baylor University Continuing Education Department in the summer of 2017. She served as a graduate teaching assistant for the University of Oklahoma School of Music, where she teaches class piano and applied piano, and served as research assistant to Dr. Jane Magrath. Clara was on faculty as an adjunct instructor of piano at Randall University, teaching group and applied piano. 

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An active member of the Music Teacher’s National Association, Clara was the 2018-2019 president of the OU MTNA Collegiate Chapter. She served as vice president of the Baylor University Collegiate Chapter in 2016-2017. Presentation experience includes presenting a session at the 2019 Music Teacher's Association National Conference in Spokane; sharing a research poster at the 2018 Music Teacher's National Association conference in Orlando; giving both a poster presentation and session at the 2018 MTNA Collegiate Chapter's Symposium; sharing a research poster at the 2017 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in Chicago; presenting a collegiate chapter session and research poster at the Music Teacher's National Association 2017 Conference in Baltimore; leading sessions at the 2016 TMTA convention in Dallas and the 2014 TMTA convention in Houston; and presenting a poster presentation at the 2016 MTNA National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Upcoming engagements include a poster presentation at the 2018 GP3 Conference at Oberlin. Research interests include effective practice strategies and performance anxiety. Clara has also presented master classes for the Nacogdoches Music Teacher's Association and participated in the TMTA master-master class with clinician Alicia Shirley.

Clara published articles in both American Music Teacher and the MTNA e-Journal in 2019. She was named runner-up in the Clavier Companion Collegiate Writing Competition, and her article entitled "Developing Confident Performers: The Teacher's Role in Combating Anxiety" was published online in January 2018. In Spring 2017, Clara was invited to co-author an article with Hayden Coie, NCTM entitled, "Two Sides to Every Story: The Relationship Between Professional Organizations and Collegiate Students" for the Texas Music Teacher Journal. Clara is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in piano through MTNA, and is also a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda music honors society and the College Music Society.

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Clara studies piano with Dr. Igor Lipinski, with past teachers including Krassimira Jordan, artist-in-residence at Baylor University, Dr. Andrew Parr (SFASU), and Linda Parr (Nacogdoches). Pedagogy professors include Dr. Jane Magrath, Dr. Barbara Fast, Dr. Lesley McAllister, and Dr. Mario Ajero. 

Clara lives in Shawnee, Oklahoma with her husband Josiah. She enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Clara currently maintains Hassen Piano Studio in Shawnee.