Keyboard Studies: Piano, Harpsichord, Organ
FACULTYDr. James Winn, Director of Keyboard Studies, Piano, Harpsichord
Andrea Lenz, Collaborative Piano
Damon Stevens, Accompanist, Vocal Coach, Piano
Rong Fan, Piano
Mayu Iida , Piano
Youseon Kim, Piano
Ms. Lusa Rylski, Piano
Mr. Arthur Johnson, Organ
DEGREES
Bachelor of Music - Applied Piano, Organ, and Harpsichord
Master of Music - Performance in Piano, Collaborative Piano, Organ, and Harpsichord
In addition to university and departmental core requirements the curricula in Applied piano offer the following courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Piano Seminar: A small class discussion and project seminar. Recent topics have included classical improvisation, classical and baroque performance practice (including the realization of figured bass, embellishment, and the construction of cadenzas), piano pedagogy (and the business aspects of private studio teaching), piano construction and maintenance, and the anatomy, potential problems, and medical care of the human hand.
Techniques of Piano Accompaniment: Literature and skills of collaborative
piano performance with vocalists, other instrumentalists, choral groups and
dance.
Piano Ensemble: Literature for two pianos or piano/four hands, coached by Dr. James Winn, member of the 1980 Munich International Competition top prize-winning duo.
PRIVATE STUDY
Weekly private lessons, regular master classes, and supervision in chamber music and accompanying provide piano students with the skills and experience required for a career in piano. Entrance auditions, semester juries, and upper division barrier auditions allow the faculty to track the progress of each piano major and to make recommendations concerning further study.
INSTRUMENTS
Nightingale Concert Hall is equipped with two Steinway concert grand pianos. The Music Department also houses an Eric Herz double-manual German harpsichord, and practice areas with grand pianos for piano majors. In addition, Reno is home to Nevada's largest pipe organ, at Trinity Episcopal Church. Under the purview of Minister of Music, Arthur Johnson, this organ is utilized for keyboard study and recitals.
PERFORMANCE, COMPETITION, AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Departmental recitals and piano master classes with music faculty or distinguished guest artists (such as, most recently, internationally famous concert artist and Van Cliburn Competition winner, Jon Nakamatsu, John Wustman, renowned collaborative pianist, accompanist to Pavarotti, and Jonathan Shames, Tchaikovsky Competition finalist) provide all students with opportunities to perform for their peers and faculty. An active, internationally known performing faculty provide not only the experience of hearing literature in world-class performances, but also (as the student's abilities mature) the chance to join with them in chamber ensembles.
The Northern Nevada chapter of the MTNA (Music Teacher's National Association) and the Reno Chamber Orchestra both sponsor competitions and study awards. Students are encouraged to compete. A recent winner of the RCO Concerto Competition, a student of Dr. Winn, has since been accepted with full scholarship to the doctoral program of the prestigious Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins. Other students have been accepted into programs of advanced study at Yale, Eastman, and the Conservatory of Indiana University.
The piano area maintains two graduate assistantship positions, one for studio/recital accompanying, and one (contingent upon funding) for teaching overflow private piano instruction. In addition, students with chamber music and accompanying skills are in demand both within the music department (for accompanying applied lessons, voice and instrumental classes, choirs, and opera), in Reno's professional organizations (including Nevada Opera, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Reno Philharmonic, and Nevada Festival Ballet), and in many local churches. Other employment is available in the field of private instruction, either as an assistant in one of the already established private studios, or through one of the local non-collegiate music schools (such as Sparks Music Center or the Keybanger Music School).
