Piano at the Center: Reimagining Music Education

Abstract

Many scholars and pedagogues have noted the various benefits that class piano can offer to student development, but few have noted the great potential for the piano class to address current prevailing issues in music education. The most pressing of these issues has centered on preparing students for the future through building 21st century skills, democratizing education through social justice, and increasing opportunities for student socialization post-pandemic. As interest in piano classes grows, it is vital to begin discussing ways that musical learning can occur in these settings. This article will provide examples of how the piano can be used in the piano technology lab, the piano ensemble, and the general classroom to address these current gaps in music education through project-based learning and student collaboration.