{"id":156,"date":"2018-04-03T17:14:48","date_gmt":"2018-04-03T17:14:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dept.keene.edu\/music\/?page_id=156"},"modified":"2026-01-16T20:36:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T20:36:59","slug":"piano","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dept.keene.edu\/music\/disciplines\/piano\/","title":{"rendered":"Piano"},"content":{"rendered":"

Piano is the heart of the Keene State College Music Department!<\/strong><\/p>\n

KSC’s Music Department provides top level, conservatory-trained Faculty<\/strong> to teach and mentor our student pianists in Performance, Education, and Technology undergraduate B.M. and B.A. Degrees.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Dr. Wright-Ivanova, Assistant Professor of Music & Piano Coordinator<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Keene State offers professional level educational opportunities and performances for all pianists. KSC also employs exceptional, full-time Staff Pianists<\/strong> to work with all music students in preparation for juries, workshop performances and recitals throughout their degree programs.<\/p>\n

Under the direction of the Coordinator of the Piano program, Dr. Christina Wright-Ivanova<\/a><\/strong>, students graduate from Keene State College with a robust and varied skill set, with extensive training in both solo repertoire and collaborative piano skills.<\/p>\n

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Jason Coburn, BM Music Education Piano student<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The piano program holds Studio Classes<\/strong>, fostering a sense of community while tailoring the program to the needs of the individual student. Our student pianists collaborate with other departments, playing for Theatre and Dance productions<\/strong> and working with multimedia and film in faculty and departmental recitals.<\/p>\n

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KSC PIANO STUDENTS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Kirsten Becker, BM Piano Performance student<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every Wednesday Workshop<\/strong>, KSC Music Students perform in formal recitals from 2-3:45pm in the Alumni Recital Hall. Students of all disciplines and majors are asked to perform and speak from the stage about their repertoire. This is a wonderful opportunity for our pianists to gain valuable experience performing in front of an audience on our\u00a0beautiful, brand new 9 ft. Steinway SPIRIO-d concert grand<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Keene State becomes an All-Steinway School!<\/h2>\n

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Thanks to donor support, Keene State recently became an All-Steinway School. The \u201cAll-Steinway, All Together\u201d campaign raised an impressive $803,697 from 161 donors and the Putnam Foundation.<\/p>\n

These funds enabled Keene State to replace 18 aging pianos with top-of-the-line Steinway & Sons pianos or Steinway-designed Boston pianos. As an All-Steinway School, KSC joins a distinguished cohort that includes The Juilliard School, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and the Yale School of Music. Thank you to all our donors who supported this effort! In addition, Keene State College is the first in New Hampshire<\/strong> to acquire this designation!<\/p>\n

Here is what current students say about becoming an all-Steinway school:<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying the piano is a big part of my life, and my learning. The All-Steinway Program provides me with the opportunity to create my best work because I have access to high-quality instruments. When I am practicing and performing, I can focus on my work because the instruments help me continue to improve and learn. I am getting the most from my educational experience at Keene State through this program. “<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Kirsten Becker, Keene State College Music Performance Student<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>“Ever since our Keene State Music Department received the Steinways, my piano skills and musicianship have completely changed. I will never forget the day the pianos first arrived and students were lining the hallways cheering. The pianos were helping me create the sound I wanted, not preventing… With the various different types of ensembles and collaborations I am a part of, it opened my options of where to rehearse with quality instruments everywhere. My favorite memory was practicing and performing my senior recital on a Steinway, looking at the center logo of the piano during my recital, and knowing that I am giving my audience the highest quality music possible.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Jason Coburn, Keene State College Music Education student<\/p>\n

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“This is the first time in my life I have had access to a Steinway piano. It has made me so grateful to be a pianist. Along with Dr. Wright’s instruction, I find that the Steinways allow me to discover the full potential of all of the intricate sounds the piano can create. As a young student this really excites me, and I have so much fun with the piano. The sparkly character of the highest keys to the warmth of the lower keys on a Steinway are like no other piano I have played. It’s so uplifting to think about because as I grow as a pianist, the more I will be able to highlight the true beauty of the instrument through more difficult repertoire. Although it takes a lot of hard work for the student to create the sound they are looking for, the piano always rewards the student for their efforts. I find having access to these pianos inspires honest, and true dedication to the study of piano.\u00a0I am very grateful to play Steinway pianos everyday, and genuinely look forward to the next four years of my life because of it.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Rory Butler, Keene State College Bachelor of Music student<\/p>\n<\/div>\n