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2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Piano Pedagogy Undergraduate Certificate

Piano pedagogy certification (in the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Grand Valley State University) will enable undergraduate piano majors and area piano teachers to focus on the skills necessary for successful piano teaching. Music majors who are not piano majors who are interested in honing their skills in piano teaching may also work towards this certification. Students learn how to teach beginner, intermediate, and early-advanced students. They learn how to teach precollege students, as well as music majors who take keyboard as their secondary instrument. They learn how to teach correct technique, how to develop musicianship and good sight-reading skills, how to select and teach repertoire, how to practice efficiently, and how to motivate. Students learn about the most important competitions and festivals in the state as well as in the nation.

  • To gain entrance into the program, an interview, and a performance of one memorized piano work with the piano pedagogy professor will take place.
  • This certification provides teachers with theoretical knowledge and practical experiences in accordance with state and national piano teaching guidelines.
  • The piano pedagogy coursework includes guided teaching experiences.
  • Students completing the piano pedagogy certification will have a record of this accomplishment appear on their academic transcript, and a certificate for their piano studio.

Piano Pedagogy Certification

The piano pedagogy certification is 12 credits; seven credits in piano pedagogy, two credits in piano literature, and three elective credits:

Elective Courses

Students may choose three credits from the following elective courses:

Other courses of interest:


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