ADVANCED STUDENT SMALL GROUP PIANO TEACHING: AN INVESTIGATION OF EXTANT MODELS IN PRACTICE AND REFLECTION ON THESE MODELS

The standard pedagogical model applied to the performance training of piano majors in the majority of Australian tertiary music institutions today is the one-to-one lesson. In addition and relatively commonplace to one-to-one lessons are master classes, an environment where the pedagogue as 'master ' instructs students in an audience-oriented environment Less common is the group teaching of piano majors, this form of pedagogy traditionally applied in the context of training non-pianists basic keyboard skills. One of the key issues to emerge regarding the status quo is to what extent this standard procedure for instruction is based on research evidence, rather than the perpetuation of traditions. What is the most educationally viable and beneficial learning enviromnent for tertiary piano majors? Are there alternative models that might be explored? Is it possible that there may be more productive systems of pedagogy for our piano majors? While it is possible to argue that the majority of pedagogues and students have participated in and thus developed experientially-based perceptions related to the one-to-one and master class models, it is less likely that many will have a basis by which to form perceptions regarding group piano teaching models, particularly at the advanced level