Bio
Aya Higuchi Hagelthorn is a Lecturer of Piano Pedagogy and serves as the Director of Collegiate Class Piano and Coordinator of the Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program at the University of Michigan. She is also a member of the College of Examiners at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Her musical journey has spanned Japan, Italy, Prague, and the United States, where she has been lauded for her solo and collaborative performances. An active researcher, she regularly presents her findings in piano pedagogy at various conferences. Her recordings of Chopin’s compositions feature in films, documentaries, and educational materials, and are available on MuseOpen.org and IMSLP.org.
Hagelthorn is committed to advancing music education by integrating innovative teaching methodologies with cutting-edge technologies. She bridges traditional performance practices with forward-thinking educational approaches in immersive learning environments. Her research interests include music technology integration, immersive learning, performance pedagogy, and digital media in music education.
Recently, Hagelthorn received a project grant from the University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation to collaborate with their XR team. The goal is to develop an immersive performance environment for piano students using the Apple Vision Pro, exploring the potential of extended reality in music education.
As the social media coordinator for the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) Piano Department, she highlights departmental achievements and innovative projects like the Michigan Recording Project, enhancing the visibility of student and faculty work through strategic digital storytelling.
Hagelthorn holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano with a minor in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Michigan. Her dedication to pushing the boundaries of musical instruction and performance through technological innovation underscores her commitment to advancing the field of piano pedagogy.
Education
BM (piano with minor in Computer Science), University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)
MM (piano performance and pedagogy), University of Michigan
DMA (piano performance and pedagogy), University of Michigan