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 The
University of South Carolina School of Music has a long and distinguished
history of research and teacher training in the area of piano pedagogy.
All piano faculty members at the School of Music are involved in
the education and mentoring of student teachers and are committed
to high standards in the balance of traditional piano teaching coupled
with the latest advances in keyboard technology and instructional
materials. Pedagogy faculty are committed to fostering a unity of
higher-level performance skills with pedagogical thought and application.
Pedagogy faculty are committed to mentoring student teachers and
to providing varied opportunities for student teachers to work with
children and adults both privately and in groups. Pedagogy students
regularly observe faculty and other students in instructional arenas
including beginning-level private and group classes, college-level
group piano classes, college-level secondary lessons, and applied
teaching at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels. In addition,
pedagogy faculty conduct research in teaching very young children
and children with disabilities. Piano
Pedagogy Forum, the first and only on-line piano pedagogy journal,
is currently housed at the University of South Carolina School of
Music. Published twice yearly, this journal contains scholarly articles
on piano performance and pedagogy, and their related subjects. Recent
guest clinicians at USC and in the Columbia area include, Martha
Mier, Catherine Rollin, Marvin Blickenstaff, John Weems, Nancy Weems,
Kenon Renfrow, E. L. Lancaster, Kevin Olsen, Barbara Lister-Sink,
Jane Magrath, Gayle Kowalchyk, Maurice Hinson, Dennis Alexander, and Mona Rejino.
 The
University of South Carolina offers an Undergraduate
Degree Emphasis in piano pedagogy, and the degrees Master
of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts
in piano pedagogy. Each of the graduate degrees carries a recital
or thesis/dissertation track. Candidates are admitted to the recital
or thesis/dissertation tracks at the discretion of the piano faculty.
Interested candidates should contact the School of Music early to
secure an audition time. Graduate Assistantships are available in
the areas of group piano, pedagogy instruction, pedagogy library,
and piano accompanying. Graduate Assistantships are highly competitive
and candidates should apply early to be considered for these positions.
Student teaching opportunities are crucial to the success of pedagogy
degree candidates and many opportunites are available for varied
experiences in the USC Preparatory Program, the evening adult group
piano courses, and through observed teaching of college-level secondary
piano students. Select graduate students are often asked to aid
in mentoring beginning undergraduate student teachers.
 The
University of South Carolina School of Music also houses the Piano
Pedagogy Center and Pedagogy Library. The Piano Pedagogy Center
houses the pedagogy classroom, Steinway Grand Piano, Yamaha CVP-85A
Clavinova, video recording and playback equipment, television, CD
and audio playback equipment, overhead projection unit, dry-erase
boards (blank and staff), and audio recording equipment. Piano Literature
and Pedagogy courses are held in this classroom as well as piano
lessons conducted by the pedagogy program student teachers. The
Pedagogy Library includes several thousand books, instructional
print materials, recordings, computer and MIDI instructional materials,
videos, educational aids, journals and items of historical interest.
Items are available to students for research, teaching, and class
projects.
 Pedagogy
faculty are committed to providing students with education and practical
applications of music technology in the piano teaching disciplines.
The state-of-the-art Music Technology Center provides training
and applications in the latest in music technology products and
software. Access to internet resources is available for class use
and students should follow mature user guidelines. Faculty regularly
offer courses in using music notation software, sequencing, and
other various music education software. On-site staff are available
to assist students with projects. The Music Technology Center is
located in the Music Library and is available for use by students
during regularly scheduled hours.
Audition Requirements
Bachelor of Music Candidates: 15-minute live audition consisting
of 2 works of contrasting styles from the standard piano literature
performed from memory. Auditioning students will be asked to complete
a short sight-reading examination at the audition.
Master of Music Candidates: 30-minute live audition consisting
of works of contrasting styles from the standard piano literature
performed from memory. Candidates for graduate assistantships in
piano accompanying will be asked to complete a sight-reading examination
at the audition.
Doctor of Musical Arts Candidates: 30-minute live audition
consisting of works of contrasting styles from the standard piano
literature performed from memory. Candidates for graduate assistantships
in piano accompanying will be asked to complete a sight-reading
examination at the audition.
Performance Scholarships
Performance Scholarships are highly competitive and interested undergraduate
students should apply early for admission. Scholarships based solely
on talent, as demonstrated at a live audition, are awarded at the
discretion of the piano faculty. Piano students who receive a performance
scholarship must maintain status as a music major, a cumulative
grade point average of 2.5 or higher, must maintain a grade of "B"
or higher in applied lessons, and must fulfill ensemble and piano
accompanying requirements. Auditioning students are encouraged to
contact individual piano faculty when making decisions regarding
their choice of applied music teacher.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships are highly competitive and are available
in the areas of Piano Accompanying, Group Piano Instruction, Pedagogy
Instruction, and Pedagogy Library. Candidates should apply early
for consideration. Candidates for graduate assistantships in piano
accompanying will be asked to complete a sight-reading examination
at the live audition. This examination conists of sight-reading
vocal accompaniments, chamber music (piano part only), and orchestral
reductions.
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance;
Emphasis in Piano Pedagogy (132 credit hours).
General Education Requirements (42 credit hours)
- English (6 credit hours)
- Foreign Language and Non-Music Electives (11 credit hours)
- Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning (6 credit hours)
- Natural Sciences (7 credit hours)
- Humanities and Social Sciences (12 credit hours)
Major Requirements (90 credit hours)
- Music Theory/History Core (22 credit hours)
- Applied Music (32 credit hours)
- Ensembles (8 credit hours)
- Required Courses (5 credit hours)
- Theory and Literature (9 credit hours)
- Pedagogy Emphasis (12 credit hours)
- Music Electives (2 credit hours)
- Concert Attendace (6 semesters)
Students enrolled in the Piano Pedagogy Emphasis complete the pedagogy
course sequence (two semesters) and three semesters of group/private
supervised student teaching. Student teachers work intensely with
pedagogy faculty in evaluation of instructional materials and teaching
approcahes, developing teaching techniques, lesson planning, and in
classroom and studio applications of piano teaching. Student teachers
work with beginning students in private and group settings.
Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy (32
credit hours). Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent)
in piano performance. Music Diagnostic examinations are taken before
the first semester of study and determine placement in music history/theory
courses. One solo recital is required, and all degree candidates
must pass an oral comprehensive examination covering the major area,
music history/literature, and music theory.
Recital Track
- Music Bibliography and Research (2 credit hours)
- Piano Pedagogy (9 credit hours)
- Applied Studies (6 credit hours)
- Piano Literature and/or Pedagogy (3 credit hours)
- Solo Recital (1 credit hour)
- Music History (3 credit hours)
- Music History (3 credit hours)
- Music Electives (5 credit hours)
Thesis Track
- Music Bibliography and Research (2 credit hours)
- Advanced Music Research (2 credit hours)
- Piano Pedagogy (9 credit hours)
- Applied Studies (4 credit hours)
- Piano Literature and/or Pedagogy (3 credit hours)
- Thesis (3 credit hours)
- Music History (3 credit hours)
- Music History (3 credit hours)
- Music Electives (3 credit hours)
Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy
(48 credit hours + 32 credit hours from the prerequisite Master of
Music degree (or equivalent) in piano performance. Music Diagnostic
examinations are taken before the first semester of study and determine
placement in music history/theory courses. Following the first full
semester of study, the student must complete the written candidacy
examinations and must complete a candidacy recital before the piano
faculty. Following successful completion of the candidacy examinations,
the student will be fully admitted to the degree program. 18 credit
hours must be completed while in residence on campus over the period
of three consecutive semesters, and all requirements must be completed
within 8 calendar years of the date at which the degree is to be granted.
Prior to graduation, candidates must complete written and oral comprehensive
examinations, and must complete the Dissertation/Treatise Writing
Requirement. Foreign language reading proficiency must also be demonstrated
prior to graduation.
Recital/Treatise Track
- Advanced Music Research (2 credit hours)
- Piano Pedagogy (9 credit hours)
- Piano Pedagogy or Literature (3-6 credit hours)
- Applied Piano (minimum of 4 credit hours)
- 2 Recitals (6 credit hours)
- Dissertation Writing Requirement (6 credit hours)
- Cognate Studies (18 credits of approved studies)
Dissertation Track
- Advanced Music Research (2 credit hours)
- Piano Pedagogy (9 credit hours)
- Piano Pedagogy or Literature (3-6 credit hours)
- Applied Piano (minimum of 4 credit hours)
- Dissertation (12 credit hours)
- Cognate Studies (18 credits of approved studies)
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