Keyboards

Why study piano, organ or harpsichord at EMU?

We understand how music has shaped your life thus far. We are committed to helping you unlock your potential to become the whole musician you've dreamed of becoming.

EMU music offers:

  • Opportunities to study with professors who are active performing artists regionally, nationally and internationally
  • Teachers who are committed to high standards and individualized attention at weekly lessons and studio classes
  • Significant performance experiences in student recitals, studio recitals, degree recitals and outreach performances at community venues
  • Multiple collaborations with soloists, chamber musicians and small and large ensembles
  • Additional coaching at guest artist master classes and joint studio classes
  • First-class guest artist performances
  • Cutting edge improvisation studies, including the annual Improvisation Symposium
  • Excellent instruments, including two Steinway B's in the Alexander Recital Hall and a Steinway D in Pease Auditorium, two concert organs, an exquisite French double harpsichord, and several other practice harpsichords and organs.
  • EMU is actively striving to become a Steinway School.
  • A friendly, supportive atmosphere among peers in the studios

Piano

Developing your personal artistry is key to piano studies at EMU. Piano majors all receive one-hour weekly private lessons from a tenured faculty as well as a one-hour studio class, where students perform for each other. Additionally, our many keyboard guest artists provide master classes.

Students are expected to practice a minimum of two hours per day for two credit lessons and four hours a day for four credit lessons. Students must pass a gateway jury to study piano at the upper level. Students are encouraged to study piano literature and take piano pedagogy courses in early childhood piano and studio piano so that they become effective music educators. EMU early childhood piano pedagogy courses are based on Music Learning Theory.

EMU is actively seeking to become a Steinway School, which means that over 90% of our pianos will be manufactured by Steinway & Sons, internationally recognized as the premiere provider of the most expressive and versatile instruments in existence. We recently took delivery of a new Steinway O for our piano major practice corridor. Watch the video.

EMU Organs

  • Aeolian-Skinner Organ Opus 1348, 1960 in Pease Auditorium, 3 Manual Electo-pneumatic, 81 Ranks
  • Gabriel Kney Organ, 1982 in the Organ Recital Hall, Room 125 Alexander Music Building, 3 Manual Tracker, 43 Ranks
  • Noack Organ Opus 30, 1966 in the Honors College Auditorium, 2 Manual Tracker, 13 Ranks
  • Ruhland Organ, 1974 in Practice Room 131 Alexander Music Building, 2 Manual Tracker, 3 Ranks
  • Kuhn Organ, 1958/59 in Practice Room 129 Alexander Music Building, 2 Manual Tracker, 12 Ranks
  • Schantz Organ, 1976 in Practice Room 127 Alexander Music Building, 2 Manual Electro-pneumatic Unit, 5 Ranks
  • Off-campus Organ, Faith Lutheran Church – Moeller II/13 (EP)

Harpsichords

  • Keith Hill II - German Baroque (2000)
  • Challis II (c. 1940)
  • Sutherland Spinet I

EMU Keyboard Professors