The education of pianists at the Eastman School of Music emphasizes the development of a large performance repertory along with the pianistic skills that will prepare students as solo artists and collaborative musicians. In addition to traditional works from the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, pianists are encouraged to explore early keyboard music, contemporary, and experimental literature. Frequent performance opportunities in a variety of venues include concerto performances, solo recitals, chamber recitals, master classes, and studio classes.
The dedicated support of the piano faculty provides Eastman piano students with flexibility, security, and musicianship that will carry over into their professional careers. Guest artists and lecturers in the department have included Murray Perahia, Paul Lewis Emanuel Ax, Paul Badura-Skoda, Gordon Back, Alicia de Larrocha, Philippe Entremont, Leon Fleisher, Richard Goode, Gary Graffman, Angela Hewitt, Warren Jones, Robert Levin, Ivan Moravec, and Pascal Rogé.
The piano department is also committed to developing the skills of pianists whose majors are in areas other than performance, such as composition, music education, and music theory. From the bachelor’s through the doctoral level, instruction and guidance are tailored to the specific career goals of non-performance majors.
