Department of Piano

The Department of Piano offers comprehensive professional training to talented musicians, along with the exceptional opportunity to study at one of the nation’s foremost public research universities. Performance opportunities are plentiful and strongly encouraged, along with many possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Pianists receive thorough preparation for careers as soloists, chamber musicians, accompanists and teachers through individual instruction, ensemble coaching, chamber music studies, and a rigorous course of piano literature and musicianship classes, including access to performance practice, fortepiano, and harpsichord instruction. Fellow students are smart, focused, and supportive, creating a rich environment for artistic growth and creative thought.

Faculty

Members of the piano faculty are distinguished musicians and devoted teachers who expertly guide and encourage students to achieve their greatest potential. As active practitioners of their craft and celebrated pedagogues, they offer weekly private lessons and seminars to all their students.

Matthew Bengtson

Associate Professor of Music

Fortepiano, Piano

Amy I-Lin Cheng

Assistant Professor of Music

Collaborative Piano, Piano Chamber Music Coordinator

Katherine Collier

Eugene Bossart Collegiate Lecturer

Collaborative Piano

John Ellis

Associate Professor of Music

Arthur Greene

Professor of Music

Christopher Harding

Chair of Piano and Professor of Music

Department Chair

Aya Higuchi Hagelthorn

Lecturer

Piano Pedagogy

Martin Katz

G. Koldofsky Distinguished University Professor; Earl V. Moore Collegiate Professor in Music; Artur Schnabel Collegiate Professor in Piano

Collaborative Piano

Vadim Monastyrski

Visiting Professor of Music

Logan Skelton

Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Music

Degrees

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Music

BM in Piano Performance

Bachelor of Musical Arts

Graduate

Master of Music

Specialist in Music

Doctor of Musical Arts

Performance Opportunities

From large ensembles in celebrated concert halls to chamber groups in intimate recital spaces, performance opportunities across all disciplines abound, with nearly 900 student performances each academic year. Whether your focus is on early, classical, or contemporary music, whether your passion is for jazz, electronic, or world music, there is an ensemble—or in many cases, multiple ensembles—to suit your interests, including specific opportunities for percussion, piano, and organ & carillon. For students in theatre & drama, musical theatre, dance, and opera, opportunities abound in both professionally produced and student-run presentations.

smtd performance opportunities

Organ

Organ Performance

Students perform and study with their peers in studio classes and perform for the public in solo student recitals and studio recitals. In addition, the Organ Department organizes several recitals each term in local churches in the communities surrounding Ann Arbor and Detroit.

Carillon

Carillon Performance

The University of Michigan has two world-class carillons. Half-hour recitals are given on weekdays throughout the academic year and are open to the public to view. Intermediate and advanced carillon students may perform for the campus regularly on these recitals.

Early Music Ensembles

Early Music Ensembles

Students interested in historically oriented performance have opportunities to explore music from across the centuries, performed on authentic period instruments and high-quality replicas.

Ensembles

Ensembles

Organ students have opportunities to perform with the University of Michigan orchestras, bands, and choral ensembles, and can gain extensive experience in continuo playing on organ and harpsichord with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra.