WVU Piano Pedagogy Emphasis

Undergraduate and Graduate

WVU offers B.M. and M.M. degrees in Piano Performance with emphasis in Piano Pedagogy. Both programs offer a variety of courses and comprehensive experience in individual and group piano instruction.

The Piano Pedagogy programs are designed to prepare students to teach piano successfully in an independent studio or a community music program. The M.M. program also includes preparation for college-level group and applied piano instruction. Topics covered include the following:

Teaching students of all ages
Teaching students at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels
Teaching in private- and group-lesson formats
Evaluating recommended music, methods and materials
Using technology to enhance music teaching
Developing well-rounded curriculum for pre-college students
Teaching students how to help their pupils develop a healthy and efficient technique as well as musical and stylistic playing
Reviewing research on learning theory, memorization and other topics of importance to piano teachers
Operating the independent studio as a successful business

In addition, all undergraduate piano performance majors are required to complete one year of instruction in piano pedagogy. The two-semester course, Methods and Pedagogy, consists of one weekly lecture session and one lab session (which includes observation and supervised student-teaching in group and private lessons). Once the student completes this two-semester pedagogy sequence, he/she may be eligible to teach in the WVU Community Music Program, a preparatory program that includes approximately 250 piano students of all ages and levels, as well as preschool music classes, theory/musicianship classes, an orchestra, and a variety of other music instruction.

WVU offers a variety of other piano pedagogy courses. The Piano Class Methods and Materials course focuses on teaching collegiate piano classes for non-keyboard music majors as well as classes for non-music majors. The core of this class involves learning how to teach functional skills such as sight reading, harmonizing, and transposing. Students also learn about the history and present status of group piano instruction; survey and evaluate music, methods and materials; and study successful teaching strategies, communication and interaction patterns in class piano teaching. Students also observe and teach under supervision in collegiate piano classes for non-keyboard music majors.

Other courses include the History of Keyboard Pedagogy and Technique, where students learn about keyboard treatises and pedagogical teachings from 1600 to the present, and Keyboard Performance and Pedagogy Modules, 5-week seminar classes for graduate students taught by all members of the WVU Keyboard Faculty and devoted to a variety of topics. Students select Module sections on topics of special interest to them, with courses such as Career Development for Pianists, Debussy Preludes, History of Jazz Piano, Keyboard Problem Solving, and Contemporary Technical Approaches, among many others.

In addition to the courses described above, pedagogy students at WVU may also have the opportunity to complete a Teaching Apprenticeship with a local independent piano teacher, and may also enroll for an undergraduate or graduate research project related to piano pedagogy. These research projects are required for students pursuing degrees with emphasis in piano pedagogy and are optional for other piano performance majors. Topics for these projects are selected with the advisor based on the interests and needs of the student.

For questions about Piano Pedagogy programs, contact Dr. Lucy Mauro (Lucy.Mauro@mail.wvu.edu)

Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs

Performance Curriculum: B.M. Piano Pedagogy Program
Admission only by approval of the piano faculty. Required for graduation: proficiency level nine, senior recital, and three solo performances on upper-level recitals.

Required Courses
Major Area of Performance
MUSC 118 Applied Music Piano …...........................................................................32
MUSC 488 Recital …..................................................................................................2
Chamber Music (At least two semesters must be
performed on a keyboard instrument.) .......................................................................4
Major Ensemble ….....................................................................................................2
Total ….....................................................................................................................40

Music Supportive Courses
MUSC 189 Convocation (six semesters) ....................................................................0
MUSC 177 Introduction to Music Listening ….............................................................1
MUSC 270-271 Music Literature ….............................................................................6
MUSC 200 Conducting …...........................................................................................2
MUSC 161, 163, 261, 263 Aural Theory ….................................................................8
MUSC 162, 164, 262, 264 Written Theory …..............................................................8
Total …......................................................................................................................25

Pedagogy Courses
MUSC 382 Music Education …...................................................................................3
MUSC 492 Directed Music Studies: Pedagogy Project …..........................................2
MUSC 430 Piano Class Methods and Materials ….....................................................3
MUSC 431 History of Keyboard Pedagogy and Technique …....................................3
MUSC 432-433 Methods and Pedagogy (Piano) .......................................................4
MUSC 434-435 Repertoire (Piano) ............................................................................4
Total ….....................................................................................................................19

GEC Requirements
Total …......................................................................................................................37

Electives
Chamber Music ….......................................................................................................2
Theory Electives ….....................................................................................................6
Music History Elective …............................................................................................3
Total ….......................................................................................................................11

Grand Total ….........................................................................................................130

M.M. Piano Pedagogy Program

MUSC 700 Performance (major performance area) ..............................................................8
MUSC 771 Music Research and Bibliography …...................................................................3
MUSC 689 Master’s Recital …...............................................................................................2
MUSC 630 Studies in Keyboard Performance and Pedagogy …...........................................6
MUSC 592 Guided Studies (Teaching Internship) .................................................................4
One graduate-level theory course or one graduate-level music history course ….............2-3
(theory courses: MUSC 460-462, 463, 464, 465-466, 468, 761, 762, 763, 764
history courses: MUSC 470-476, 591K, 670, 731, 791)
Music electives …................................................................................................................4-5
Ensembles …..........................................................................................................................2
Total …..............................................................................................................................31-33