Studying Keyboard at Luther College
Luther College welcomes all keyboard students, regardless of their disciplinary major, who wish to take lessons on a keyboard instrument at the collegiate level. Pianists at Luther have the chance to improve their skills through a variety of learning environments; including applied piano lessons, studio seminars, masterclasses, collaborative piano opportunities, chamber music, and performance in a wide variety of settings. Students may also take applied lessons in harpsichord, fortepiano and organ, regardless of if they have prior experience with these instruments. The Luther College keyboard faculty are dedicated and experienced professionals with wide experience as artist-teachers, performers and published scholars.
Keyboard students at Luther have access to one of the finest keyboard collections in the Midwest; comprising eight concert grand pianos, thirty-five baby grand pianos, seventy-one upright pianos (nearly half of which are new), and a fortepiano. Four of our concert grand pianos are Steinways, including a Hamburg and two recently rebuilt New York Steinways. Twenty-two Steinways, Mason Hamlins, Baldwins and a Petroff grand piano are currently in practice rooms for students to use. A current fundraising campaign is in motion to provide new Yamaha grands for faculty voice studios, as well as in the Orchestra Room, Sperati Room, and the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. The entire collection is overseen by a full-time piano tuner/technician who also provides instruction in piano technology.
Every year, Luther College keyboard graduates are accepted into America’s most prestigious graduate programs where they earn master’s and doctoral degrees from schools like Eastman, Emory University, Yale, University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, the University of Illinois, Roosevelt University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Bowling Green State University. Our graduates enjoy satisfying careers as private studio teachers, college professors, vocal coaches, collaborative pianists, directors of church music, and school teachers.
Join us in the keyboard area of the Luther College Music Department, where you can continue to achieve your goals as a musician as you prepare for a successful and well-rounded future!
Luther College has one of the largest and most productive music departments in the country, and our collaborative pianists – our accompanists – are vital to the artistic activities of Luther’s students and teachers.
For Luther students interested in utilizing and developing their skills in the collaborative arts, there are a wide variety of opportunities available including:
- Accompanying vocal and instrumental soloists in a variety of performance venues, including formal recitals, seminars, competitions, and masterclasses
- Playing under a conductor in one of Luther’s choral or instrumental ensembles
- Rehearsing and performing for opera scene programs and fully-staged opera productions
- Participating in chamber music ensembles
- Playing for weekly studio seminars.
Pianists may receive comprehensive training in the Collaborative Arts through the Vocal and Instrumental Accompanying class (spring semester) and possibly continue with more concentrated private study.
Our advanced sophomore and junior collaborative pianists are encouraged to compete in the annual Distinction in Collaborative Keyboard Scholarship Competition, held in the spring of each school year.
Many of our collaborative pianists have gone on to have successful careers as collaborative performers, vocal coaches, conductors, and teachers.
For more information, contact Professor Nicholas Shaneyfelt, Assistant Professor of Music on our faculty.