We have a long and distinguished history of research and teacher training in the area of piano pedagogy. Faculty serve as mentors to student teachers and provide varied opportunities for them to work with children and adults both privately and in groups.
Piano faculty members 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 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 and graduate levels.
Our faculty also conduct research in teaching very young children and children with disabilities. The Carolina LifeSong Initiative provides music lessons and experiences to students with disabilities and is the only program in the nation providing teacher training in this specialization through the doctoral level.
"Piano Pedagogy Forum," the first online piano pedagogy journal, is currently housed at the School of Music. Published twice a year, the journal contains scholarly articles on piano performance and pedagogy and their related subjects. The "Piano Pedagogy Forum" is the 2008 recipient of the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award from the Music Teachers National Association. USC also is home to the Piano Pedagogy Center containing the Pedagogy Library and facilities for classes and resources for research and other projects.
Sara Ernst is assistant professor of piano pedagogy. Her research includes investigating teaching effectiveness, the use of language in instruction, and successful parent-teacher interactions. She frequently explores pedagogical music of the 20th and 21st centuries and examines the pacing of instruction through the intermediate years.
Scott Price is professor of piano and piano pedagogy, directs the piano area and coordinates piano pedagogy. He is creator and editor-in-chief of the online journal "Piano Pedagogy Forum," which won the 2008 Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award. He is founder of the Carolina LifeSong Initiative, which provides music experiences for students with special needs.