Piano at Penn State

Penn State’s keyboard students have the best of all possible worlds – opportunities and experiences that can only be found at a large university, plus a smaller supportive environment within the School of Music. All piano majors receive hour-long private lessons with faculty members and attend regular studio performance classes. Specialized courses for pianists include piano pedagogy, keyboard literature, and accompanying/chamber music courses.

All students gain performance experience through recitals and masterclasses, and participation in a wide array of chamber music and ensembles. Students have the opportunity to perform on one of two Hamburg Steinways in the Recital Hall for their solo recitals and other performances. In addition, the instruments in faculty studios include a Yamaha Disklavier and Steinway Spirio, which enable remote masterclasses, technology-integrated pedagogy, and creative exploration with cutting-edge tools.

Piano students may apply to the program that best fits their goals from our comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs. Students can double major or take advantage of the wide variety of minors and certificate programs available.

We take pride in creating an atmosphere that fosters musical excellence while offering students challenging and inspirational experiences. Our programs offer individualized attention and the opportunity to work with an outstanding faculty of artists, teachers, and scholars. We encourage you to visit campus, observe classes and ensembles, attend performances, and meet faculty and students.