Skip to Content

Piano Pedagogy: Music, D.M.A.

School of Music

Join what is considered the nation's best comprehensive piano performance program with a rich history of research and teacher training in preparation for your private or faculty-level piano teaching career.

Advance your knowledge and skills with special study and research into the art and science of piano teaching at all levels of aptitude in the only comprehensive piano pedagogy program in the United States. Expand your musical background and explore areas such as music history, music theory and research. Our mentoring faculty are committed to your success.

Program Highlights

  • Laurels icon.

    Renowned Program

    Our degree is widely considered the top piano pedagogy program in America for students to become piano pedagogy faculty.

  • Ribbon award icon.

    Distinguished School

    Since 1969, the School of Music has consistently retained the distinctive National Association of Schools of Music accreditation.

  • Connected items icon.

    Supportive Community

    Foster your creative learning, skill development and personal exploration through Spark: Music Leadership at Carolina.

  • Lightbulb emitting light icon.

    Unique Opportunities

    Work in the Carolina LifeSong Initiative, a center for keyboard instruction designed for student with disabilities.

What You’ll Study

The curriculum includes doctorate-level performance skills, knowledge of piano repertoire and understanding of appropriate pedagogies. Learning is enriched with teaching students and adults in our distinguished Center for Piano Studies, group laboratories and Carolina LifeSong Initiative. Enjoy an abundance of teaching resources in the Piano Pedagogy Resource Center.

Program WebsiteDegree DetailsAdmissions Info

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Performance

    Presenting oneself creatively through a specific medium to an audience

    Critical Thinking

    Analyzing and evaluating information to make informed decisions or judgments

    Attention to Detail

    Being meticulous and thorough in all aspects of a task or project

  • Public Speaking

    Delivering a message or presentation to an audience effectively and persuasively

    Teaching

    Foster learning by conveying knowledge, skills and concepts to students

    Collaboration

    Working with others to achieve a common goal or objective

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Learn how alumni use degrees with outcome data from Gamecock GradStats, a service of the University of South Carolina Career Center.

Potential Careers

  • Faculty
  • Researcher
  • Private Instructor

Job Titles of Alumni

  • Adjunct Faculty
  • Assistant Professor of Music
  • Chair of Vocal Programs
  • Conductor of Philharmonia
  • Piano Pedagogue
  • Music Teacher

Average Alumni Salary

Five to 10 years after graduation without additional education $70,568

Workplace Settings

  • Education

Employers of Alumni

  • Charleston Southern University
  • Nashville Songwriters Association International
  • Palm Beach Symphony
  • The Music Academy of North Carolina
  • Northern Ohio Youth Orchestras
  • Furman University

You may also like

Related Degrees

  1. Four people standing together smiling at the camera.
  2. Graduate student conducting the band in a music class.
  3. Large choir singing at practice.
  4. A teacher singing with a young group of students.
  5. Group of graduate students posed together at a conference.
  6. A close up of a music stand with sheet music and someone pointing to a note.
  7. The courtyard in front of Wardlaw College with a statue of a man on a horse surrounded by benches.
  8. Group of students posed with the Cocky statue.
  9. View of Granada from the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.
View all degrees
©