Piano

Department: Fine & Performing Arts
Teachers: Michael Celenza
Open to: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Length: 2 Semesters

This course explores the art of solo piano performance. Students will be immersed in discovering and playing music from many genres. A student’s individual performance will be assessed based on their understanding and application of specific criteria such as tempo, accuracy, expression, and technique. Essential to this exploration will be music theory and ear training. The first semester explores the fundamentals of music such as clef, key signature, time signature, and three-voice harmony. With an emphasis on developing compositional skills, the second semester explores more complex chord structures, harmony, and modulations. In both semesters, students will research important figures throughout the history of keyboarding, and will make presentations to demonstrate a synthesis of their learning.