An international cohort of students responded to our call for proposals for the 2025 Collegiate Connections virtual event, which will highlight innovative group projects. The Frances Clark Center is pleased to announce the selected proposals for our Collegiate Connections event on Friday, April 25, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Eastern; click here to register. The winners will also present at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025; register now to take advantage of the early-bird discount!
AI and Student Motivation: Can Gamification and Adaptive AI Improve Practice Habits?
Victoria Barnette, Ryan Kee, Yuxiang Zhang
University of Missouri; Curtis Pavey, faculty mentor
This presentation examines how gamification and adaptive AI enhance piano students’ motivation and practice habits by exploring tools that personalize learning, track progress, and integrate rewards. Attendees will discover strategies to boost student engagement by using AI-driven feedback, dynamic challenges, and progress tracking. The presentation will discuss established motivational theories in relation to AI, along with practical methods for integrating technology while preserving artistry and maintaining a balance between AI and crucial human interaction.
Building Community Through Sound: Sensory-Friendly Concerts
Janna Peña, Ayunia Saputro, Mira Walker
University of Michigan; Paola Savvidou, faculty mentor
During the spring 2025 semester, doctoral students at the University of Michigan partnered with the Mott Children’s Hospital Music Therapy Studio to launch a Sensory-Friendly Piano Concert Series. This presentation will document the process of establishing this recurring event, focusing on practical insights. It is hoped that offering examples of both setbacks and successes will provide a blueprint as well as inspiration for others to work together for greater community engagement and inclusivity in piano concerts.
Lynnae Hurst, Katrina Kahlhamer, Samuel E. Pang
University of Oklahoma; Sara Ernst, faculty mentor
Designing Interactive Piano Events for the Community: Observations from Two Approaches
Piano teachers can build musical bridges in their local communities and inspire every child to explore and enjoy music through creative public events! In this presentation, graduate students will share their insights from planning and executing two events: a library book reading and a piano festival. These incorporated imaginative musical activities and offered students of different ages and skill levels the opportunity to experience music firsthand.
Honorable Mentions:
From Doctoral Student to Clinician: Masterclassing as Career Preparation for Young Professionals
Aidan Hedrick, Maxwell Hinton, Tse-Rung Huang, Lynn Worcester Jones, HaEun Kim, Qi Liang, Yuqi Shi, Zicong Su, Andrew Villemez, Rena Wu, Liming Yang
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Lynn Worcester Jones, faculty mentor
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Avoiding Teacher Burnout
Claire Kim, Adèle LeBlanc, Carlie Toliver, Michelle Wijaya
Southern Methodist University; Catharine Lysinger, faculty mentor
Grooving to the Beat: Mastering Counting with Metronome Fun! (Vol.2)
Mi Sun Cheong, Boyoon Choi, Sangsoo Kim
University of North Texas; Oscar Macchioni, faculty mentor
Teaching Beginner Piano Students to Read Modern Notation: A Case Study of George Crumb’s Makrokosmos I
Xinyue Gu, Miao Ma
University of Kansas; Yiyang Chen, faculty mentor
Thanks to All Submitters and Faculty Mentors
Palm Beach Atlantic University; Jackie Yong
Southern Methodist University; Catharine Lysinger
State University of Maringá; John Kennedy Pereira de Castro
Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; Fernando Santana
University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music; Lynn Worcester Jones
University of Kansas; Yiyang Chen
University of Michigan; Paola Savvidou
University of Michigan; Christopher Harding
University of Missouri; Curtis Pavey
University of North Texas; Oscar Macchioni
University of Oklahoma; Sara Ernst
University of Oregon; Grace Ho
Utah Valley University; Carmen Hall
West Virginia University; Peter Amstutz
Congratulations to all participants and applicants! We look forward to highlighting the outstanding work of pedagogy and collegiate groups and to foster global community engagement among our collegiate cohorts and faculty. Learn more and register by clicking here.