Our piano faculty are committed to helping you grow as musicians and pianists, and to prepare for a wide range of careers. You will perform with faculty who perform as soloists, chamber musicians and with orchestras, both nationally and internationally. You will have access to our two Steinway D Concert grand pianos, over 13 Steinway 6 and 7 foot grands, and 15 grands by Yamaha, Mason and Hamlin, Bösendorfer, Baldwin, and Kawai.
Lessons
Weekly lessons form the core of your pianistic study, with your teacher adapting their methods to your needs; from exploring repertoire, to addressing musculo-skeletal health, to helping you find your artistic voice. You will learn how to practice efficiently, solve technical problems and communicate musically.
Collaborative Piano
In the first 2 years, you will work with and be coached in one-to-one collaborations, both instrumental and vocal. In your junior and senior years, you will tackle larger chamber music works, working with coaches from all of the instrumental areas.
Performance Opportunities
Weekly studio classes serve as a gathering place for all piano students, providing an opportunity to perform, and to give and receive feedback. Discussions about memorization and anxiety often take place here. The Conservatory Concert Hour performances will give you exposure to a wider audience, as will chamber music, composers’ and degree recitals.
Double Major
Many accomplished pianists have interests in other areas, and many choose to do a double major. Previous students have double-majored in music and speech/language pathology, pre-dentistry, as well as other areas.
Keyboard Literature and Pedagogy
Two semesters of keyboard literature provide a broad perspective on the repertoire for piano, while a course in piano pedagogy trains students for the piano teaching profession.
Our Graduates
Our alumni have won the Music Teachers Association of California (Northern California) Concerto Competitions, as well as the state competition. They have gone on to pursue graduate degrees at the Eastman School, Peabody Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, University of Michigan, and the University of Southern California. Other alumni work with musical theatre in New York, as rehearsal pianists, coaches and music directors.
Recent and future guest artist include:
- Gabriela Martinez, pianist
- Noa Kageyama, performance psychologist (Juilliard)
- Gabriela Lena Frank, composer
- Omri Shimron, pianist
- Scott Holden, pianist
- Terrence Wilson, pianist
- Jon Nakamatsu, pianist