University of Texas at El Paso

Department of Music

Piano Area

          About the Program

                                                                         

Piano studies at the University of Texas at El Paso offer a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy, and Music Education with an Emphasis on Piano.  UTEP also offers a Master of Music in Piano Performance.  All degrees are designed to combine a strong, traditional music education with development of skills necessary for today’s musicians.  With excellence and high standards as a foundation, the faculty offers comprehensive study through private lessons, solo and chamber music performances, and master classes, as well as instrument pedagogy and literature courses. 

Chamber Music

The UTEP Department of Music offers the opportunity for pianists to develop as chamber musicians.  Piano duos, trios, quartets and quintets as well as duo playing with other musicians are organized at the beginning of each semester.  Service awards are given to those piano students who collaborate not only with other soloists, but with UTEP’s large ensembles as well.

 

 

Piano Pedagogy

Understanding the importance of piano teaching, the UTEP Department of Music requires all pianists to take the piano pedagogy courses.  This interactive class is a mixture of examining historical traditions and encouraging the academic development of a personalized teaching style.  UTEP also offers the piano pedagogy degree for those who wish to establish their own piano studios and gain the rewards for having a self-employed business.  The Department of Music encourages its piano students to investigate professional organizations that support piano pedagogy, such as the Music Teachers National Association.

 

 

Music Education with an Emphasis on Piano

Unique to the UTEP Department of Music, Piano Majors can receive the Bachelors of Music Education and teach in the public schools.  With more and more piano labs being installed in the El Paso Vicinity school districts, this curriculum allows a pianist to pursue their pedagogical interests at the elementary, junior high and high school levels.  Piano majors combine their pianistic goals with either the vocal education program (choir) or the instrumental education program (band).

The importance of successful solo performance is a high priority for the Piano Area at the Department of Music.  In addition to repertoire and technique growth, faculty work with students in the topics of musical communication, stage presence and performance anxiety to provide a challenging yet positive arena for performance.  Weekly studio master classes are held to provide supportive commentary and tips for achievement in music performance.  The Piano Area also provides bi-monthly recital opportunities.

 Guest Artists and Master Classes

 Realizing how important it is to receive constructive feedback from various points of view, the UTEP Piano Area regularly 

 invites guest artists to perform and offer master classes.  This exchange allows students to experience other performers’

 interpretations and approaches toward the performance and teaching of piano works.  Past artists have included pianists

 Orion Weiss, Nohema Fernández , Libor Novacek, Tatiana Vetrinskaya , Michael Esch and John Nauman.

 

Community Support and the El Paso Vicinity

UTEP has a strong relationship with the community.  There are multiple venues for young pianists to gain experience as performers and teachers and to attend music concerts of the highest caliber, as El Paso is home to the El Paso Symphony, El Paso Opera and El Paso Pro-Musica organizations.  A local piano guild called Ivories on the Border connects El Paso ’s piano aficionados with current and alumni piano students of UTEP, providing support and                                 interaction between the Department of Music and the El Paso Vicinity.