Course instructor: 
Dr Koo Siaw Sing

Course date(s) and venue(s): 
27–28 May (9am–12pm), Recital Studio 
29 May (9am–12pm), Seminar Room 6 

Objectives
This course caters to educators/musicians/digital media professionals and provides a historical overview of the piano keyboard, key pianists responsible for piano development, and pianism: the artistry of piano playing, techniques and composition.

Learners will be introduced to the ideologies which revolutionised the piano industry. They will learn how society helped it evolve and advance its techniques and find its eventual place as a technological tool.

For educators, the content knowledge and skills obtained can help them encourage more usage of the keyboard, and enrich students’ understanding of piano genres and its relevance today in many musical genres and media dimensions. Musicians can expand and sharpen their skills and musicianship with this historical knowledge, while digital media sector professionals can apply the skills to their creative works, such as with notation software and Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs).

Content
This course consists of lecture and practical sessions. The lectures cover the following topics:

1) Historical development of the piano and its unique features.
2) Musicians or individuals who have made a great impact upon the piano industry.
3) Ideology in musical expression and teaching philosophy.

The practical sessions introduce keyboard improvisation, basic keyboard harmony and keyboard skills that are relevant to creative works and music teaching

Entry Requirements

Have some experience in playing the piano/music keyboard 

or/and

Passing of interview