Through a comprehensive training program and varied performance opportunities, the piano program at the DePaul School of Music offers undergraduate, graduate, and certificate students a wide-ranging learning and performing experience as a soloist and collaborative musician. The curriculum includes individual applied lessons and the full range of piano specialization courses and masterclasses with faculty and visiting artists.
The training is rigorous and includes yearly solo recitals for undergraduates and two recitals a year for graduate and certificate performance majors. All styles and periods of music are covered thoroughly throughout the years of study, with special attention given to technique. Students' weekly lessons are recorded and available for continued listening immediately following the lesson. Students are also encouraged to sit in on each other's lessons to further their learning.
Faculty
The Piano Studio
The piano program at DePaul strives to educate musicians with diverse skills. Participation in large ensembles, such as the DePaul Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble 20+, DePaul Chamber Orchestra, and DePaul Wind Ensemble, is part of the curriculum, along with participation in the chamber music program and the collaborative piano classes. The piano faculty's goal is to prepare students for the variety of professional lives expected of students after graduating, no matter which path they choose: soloist, chamber musician, collaborative artist, orchestra musician, or a mix of them all.
A weekly studio class gives all students a terrific performance opportunity. During the class, students learning is further expanded by giving and receiving feedback, discussing all subjects relevant to piano practice and performance, and trying out a repertoire for juries and recitals. Participation in DePaul's yearly concerto competition is strongly encouraged.
The piano program offers a variety of specialization courses to enhance the student's education further. Some of these courses are The Art of Piano, which explores topics pertinent to the piano and the music world, and Piano Pedagogy, where students get first-hand experience honing their pedagogy skills through lectures and direct teaching practice.
Rigorous training is combined with a friendly atmosphere, and every experience, be it a success or failure, is taken as a learning experience. Collegiality is a must at DePaul, and playing for each other outside lessons, in the interest of better preparation, is a common practice. Students are strongly supported by our faculty in all their musical projects, even those that are outside DePaul. Networking is of utmost use and necessity in the piano world, and students benefit from frequent public inquiries regarding openings in churches, music schools, private lessons, and recitals.