Piano Pedagogy Concentration

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The Master of Arts degree with a concentration in piano pedagogy features a broad range of theoretical courses balanced by requirements that apply to piano teachers' work with students of all ages and abilities. The program places emphasis on practical aspects of teaching elementary, intermediate and advanced students to develop their musicianship and technical skills.

In this program, students will:

• sharpen and improve personal competence in performance on the piano;
• learn the principles of a healthy and effective technique and how to develop it in students;
• broaden understanding of music history, theory, and historic piano performance practices;
• develop a good working knowledge of literature for the piano, as well as specific piano teaching methods, sources, and editions available;
• gain insights into individual learning styles and performance psychology;
• gain pedagogical insights into the pedagogy of sight-reading, improvisation, keyboard theory, practicing, and expressive interpretation;
• discover new applications for existing expertise;
• expand organizational skills in areas of studio policy, goal-setting, and curriculum development; and
• discover the commanality of the goals and techniques shared by all music educators.

Piano Pedagogy Core Courses

Students are required to take the following 13 semester credits and write a thesis.

GMUS 601 Teaching and Learning (3 cr.)

GMUS 608 Foundations of Music Education (3 cr.)

GMUS 651 Dalcroze Musicianship (3 cr.)

GMUS 750 Musicianship and Ensemble (1 cr.)

GMUS 875 Introduction to Thesis Writing (3 cr.)

GMUS 876 Directed Research (0 cr.)

To be scheduled with thesis advisor.

GMUS 890 Thesis (1 cr.)

To be scheduled with thesis advisor. 

Piano Pedagogy Field of Concentration Courses

Students take 13 required credits in the piano pedagogy field of concentration and 6 elective credits. Through the required concentration courses, students expand and refine the information needed to work successfullly with pianists of all ages. Elective courses offer students opportunities to further define and hone the breadth and depth of their expertise. Summer classes meet MWF, 9 a.m.-Noon; fall and spring classes meet TTR, 10-11:30 a.m.

Required Piano Pedagogy Courses (13 cr.)

GMUS 571 Advanced Applied Piano Studies (1 cr.: 3 semesters)

Offered every semester, to be scheduled with instructor.

GMUS 613 Advanced Theory for Pianists (3 cr.)

GMUS 771 Elementary Materials and Teaching Techniques (3 cr.)

GMUS 772 Intermediate Materials and Teaching Techniques (3 cr.)

GMUS 800 Supervised Teaching (1 cr.)

Recommended Piano Pedagogy Elective Courses (6 cr.)

GMUS 571 Advanced Applied Piano Studies (1 cr.: 2 semesters)

Offered every semester, to be scheduled with instructor.

GMUS 615 Performance Practices (3 cr.)

GMUS 619 Keyboard Literature (3 cr.)

GMUS 752 Curriculum, Pedagogy and Instructional Techniques I (1 cr.)

GMUS 773 Advanced Teaching Techniques (3 cr.)

GMUS 800 Supervised Teaching (1 cr.: additional semester)

Other Requirements:

Piano Recital

• Length – minimum of 30 minutes
• Content – a portion of the recital may be an artistic performance of intermediate repertoire
• When – at the completion of required piano studies; student must be taking lessons during or immediately before the semester the recital is given.
• Prerequisite – Student must satisfactorily perform the entire recital in a hearing for the piano faculty no later than one month before the planned recital date.