University of South Florida

School of Music

USF College of Design, Art & Performance

Piano Performance

  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Music
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Master of Music

The USF School of Music is an All-Steinway School with more than 80 Steinway pianos. The state-of-the art building offers students the opportunity to practice in spacious piano practice rooms, rehearse in large chamber music spaces, and perform at the school’s two concert halls - praised as some of the most acoustically perfect concert halls in the world.

Every year the piano program hosts renowned pianists from around the world for residencies, master classes, and performances. Most recent guests include Pascal Roge, John O’Conor, Richard Goode.

The exciting cultural resources in the Tampa Bay Area offer students numerous opportunities for solo, chamber, and concerto performances.

In addition to BM in Piano Performance we also offer three Masters of Music Degrees: MM in Piano Performance, MM in Chamber Music, and MM in Piano Pedagogy. Our graduate piano students come from all corners of the world and are vital to the artistic life of the School of Music. We offer numerous Teaching and Graduate Assistantships to our graduate students that provide tuition waivers plus stipends. The Assistantships duties include performing in the Rebecca Penneys Chamber Collective, teaching Class Piano, or accompanying.

While at USF, our piano students are very active and successful at international piano competitions, music festivals, concert series, and regular student exchanges with major conservatories in Europe.

Degrees & Programs of Study

Bachelors of Music Degree (B.M.)

The School of Music at the University of South Florida offers a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance Degree. In this program pianists take four years of applied piano study and give a half-recital during their junior year, and then a full-recital during their senior year. All students must take and successfully pass a jury at the end of their first and second years.

Bachelors of Arts in Music Studies Degree (B.A.)

The School of Music at the University of South Florida offers a Bachelors of Arts in Music Studies Degree (B.A.) with an emphasis on applied piano study. Students in this program take three years of applied piano study and are required to give a half-recital during their junior year. They also enroll in seven semesters of ensemble. A Bachelors of Arts with an emphasis on Music Studies (versus piano study) involves 2 years of applied piano study and four semesters of ensemble. A junior year half-recital is not required. All students must take and successfully pass a jury at the end of their first and second years of study.

Bachelor of Science in Music Education Degree (B.S.)

The School of Music at the University of South Florida offers a Bachelors of Science in Music Education Degree (B.S.) with an emphasis on applied piano study. Students in this program take three years of applied piano study and are required to give a half-recital during their junior year. Students in this degree program must also successfully complete the FCTE (Florida Teacher Certification Exam) in order to receive a Florida teacher certification. All students must take and successfully pass a jury at the end of their first and second years of study.

Master of Music Degrees (M.M.)

The School of Music at the University of South Florida offers three Masters of Music Degrees (M.M.) in piano: a Masters of Music in Piano Performance, a Masters of Music in Piano Pedagogy, and a Masters Degree in Chamber Music. All three programs are two years in length and require a recital to be performed during the second year of study.

Our graduate piano students come from very diverse and international backgrounds and are vital to the School of Music. We offer numerous Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Assistantships to our graduate students that provide tuition waivers and stipends. In addition, these Assistantships help our graduate students learn the important skills needed for teaching undergraduate level courses, studio accompanying, and chamber music.

Piano Studies Faculty

Ghadeer Abaido, Adjunct Professor of Piano | ghadeernaser@usf.edu

Svetozar Ivanov, Professor of Piano and Chamber Music | svetozar@usf.edu

Eunmi Ko, Assistant Professor of Piano | eko1@usf.edu

Simon Lasky, Instructor of Keyboard Skills | simon_lasky@yahoo.co.uk

Scholarships for Piano Students

Overview

Various scholarships, Teaching Assistantships, and Graduate Assistantships are offered by the School of Music at the University of South Florida. Scholarships are available in all areas of applied music, and scholarship consideration will only be offered after a live audition is completed. (Applicants applying from outside the state of Florida may submit a videotape in lieu of a live audition on the USF campus. Should the applicant be recommended for scholarship, a live audition may be required at the time the student arrives on campus.)

In addition, several Teaching and Graduate Assistantships are available to graduate pianists at the School of Music that offer both a tuition waiver and stipend. These Teaching and Graduate Assistantships help our graduate students learn the important skills needed for teaching undergraduate level courses, studio accompanying, and performing chamber music.

Scholarships

There are several scholarships specifically for piano students, including: The Jacques Abram Endowed Memorial Scholarship, Estelle Zbar Endowed Scholarship in Music, Jack F. Ross Endowed Piano Scholarship, and Florence Powers Endowed Piano Scholarship. There are also a variety of additional scholarships available to piano students. Find out more here.

Assistantships

Rebecca Penneys Chamber Collective

This Graduate Assistantship is given for a period of two years to four graduate students (piano, violin, viola, and cello) and is supported by Rebecca Penneys. These four graduate students form the School of Music receive weekly coachings by members of the string and piano faculties. In exchange, they are expected to give recitals at the School of Music and perform at various functions for the University of South Florida. This Graduate Assistantship provides a full tuition waiver and stipend for each member of the collective. 

Graduate Accompanying Assistantship

These assistantships are awarded to several graduate pianists at the School of Music. They receive a full tuition waiver and stipend in exchange for accompanying various instrumental and vocal studios at the School of Music.

Teaching Assistantship

Several Teaching Assistantships for various academic music courses are offered each year. There are also Teaching Assistantships for class piano available to graduate students who already have 18 graduate credit hours. Graduate students with this assistantship teach various sections of class piano (Keyboard Skills) for the School of Music and receive a full tuition waiver and stipend.

Steinway Piano Series

Founded and directed by Svetozar Ivanov, USF Music Professor and Director of the Piano Program, the Steinway Piano Series is sponsored by The Music Gallery of Clearwater. This distinguished annual series, currently in its 21st season, brings premier international pianists to perform in the University's new Music Building and Concert Hall, recognized as among the top acoustically perfect spaces for music performance in the nation. The School of Music also has the added prestige of having being named an "All Steinway School," one of just over 100 in the world.