The Keyboard Studies Program at Northern Arizona University offers a professional, supportive atmosphere for the piano student’s musical development. A highly committed piano faculty provides individual attention in a nurturing environment of academic rigor and creative challenge.
Degrees
Bachelor of Music in Performance:
Bachelor of Music Education with emphases in:
- Piano-Choral
- Piano-Instrumental
Bachelor of Arts
Master of Music in Performance
Master of Music in Piano Accompanying/Chamber Music
Performing Opportunities
The NAU campus offers many performance opportunities, including weekly master classes, piano ensemble/accompanying class, chamber music coaching and solo, studio recitals, and chamber music recitals. Opportunities to accompany singer and instrumentalists in lessons and recitals abound. The NAU Orchestra Solo Competition is held annually and winners perform with the orchestra in concert.
The vibrant performing arts scene at NAU helps to enrich the student’s musical growth. The NAU Horizons Concert Series, Faculty Artist Series, and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra present a myriad of prominent artists on campus, many of whom are then presented in master classes. Recent participating artists include pianists Andre Watts, Martin Katz, Jeffrey Swann, Enrique Graf, Paavali Jumppanen, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Olga Kern, Christopher Taylor, Francisco Alvarez, Marian Hahn, and Carolyn Bridger as well as mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne, violinist Ani Kavafian, the Chicago String Quartet, and clarinetist Eddie Daniels.
Teaching Opportunities
Students may gain valuable experience and financial remuneration through teaching in the NAU Preparatory School. The school offers lessons to young children, non-music NAU students and the Flagstaff community.
Auditions and Scholarships
Auditions requirements for admission and scholarships are:
- 3-4 memorized selections, including a work by Bach (or of Baroque period),
- Movement(s) of a classical sonata (Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart),
- Romantic and/or Twentieth-Century work.
- 4-octave scales and arpeggios played in a steady tempo with correct fingerings
- Sight-reading
Scholarships are available for a limited number of qualified pianists by audition.
Faculty
Frank Scott , Director of Keyboard Studies, Piano
Rita Borden, Coordinator
of Accompanying, Piano
Elizabeth George, Class
Piano, Organ
Laura Lizut, Class Piano
Chen-Ju (Janice) Chiang, Staff Piano Accompanist
Jeffrey Swann, Adel Artist-in-Residence