The piano performance requirements consist of a minimum 4 semesters of either a 30-minute lesson (MUP 109 Applied Piano) or an hour lesson (MUP 119 Applied Piano). Students are also expected to attend and perform in weekly Studio Piano Performance classes, and to play a recital (MUP 495 Half Recital, with a minimum of at least one memorized 10-minute solo work; or MUP 496 Full Recital, for those opting for the Bachelor of Music in Performance with a Piano Pedagogy emphasis or other degree program.)

• Piano Pedagogy (2 semesters)
• Advanced Pedagogy (1 semester)
• Piano Literature (2 semesters)
• Keyboard Skills
• Keyboard Performance Practices

Our three courses address all aspects of teaching piano. We explore past and current methods and materials for all ages, from pre-school through senior citizens. We emphasize the many factors that influence music learning and achievement including not only intellectual, but also physical, environmental, cultural and psychological. Traditional teaching techniques are covered but with added encouragement to stimulate students' creativity through developing improvisation and harmonization skills. In teaching the whole child we emphasize helping the child to develop life skills such as concentration, self-discipline and goal-setting as well.

During the three semesters there is opportunity to work with today's high technology available to keyboard teachers. We also learn the history of piano pedagogy; read interviews with great pianists and famous teachers; touch upon basic physical and psychacoustical processes, including an introduction to the ear and the brain and how they affect music perception.

Hopefully the aspiring teachers who complete our program will give their students a means of using their piano skills for a lifetime of enjoyment, at the very least.

One of the requirements for those taking the pedagogy sequence is teaching a minimum of two private applied elementary level students starting in the first semester, and continuing throughout; these applied lessons are taught in conjunction with weekly cosultations and periodic observation by the Pedagogy instructor. Most of our students teach through the SFA School of Music's Music Preparatory Division program which serves over 200 area children. After the supervised intern period connected with pedagogy study, the students may earn income for teaching students through the Preparatory Division.

In addition to the private teaching, over the course of the three semesters the pedagogy students observe all levels of Class Piano and Functional Piano offered in the School of Music. They are required to teach one unit at each level.

Each student is capable of teaching Class Piano in any school system or in higher education by the end of this sequence.