Shifting the paradigm: leading curricular changes in keyboard skills training for the 21st century professional musician

Due to the changing nature of the music profession, those responsible for training and educating future musicians are considering alternative methods of delivering content and implementing curriculum. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the relevance and cultivation of piano skills for professional musicians in terms of curricular content and implementation. We first outline the background of why teaching keyboard in groups became the norm for preparing professional musicians, as well as in what ways the curriculum developed during this transition. Secondly, we trace the research in group piano pedagogy supplying evidence that current curricular practices have been reported to be ineffective and insufficiently executed. These lead to the thesis of the paper—a call for change for a more relevant and consistent curriculum and higher standard of proficiency. Possible solutions for transforming the keyboard skills curriculum and its implementation with the preparation of professional musicians are presented.