The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025

Community. Creativity. Impact.

Register Now for 2025!

Join us for The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 as we gather together in person and online. The Piano Conference seeks to explore the challenges and opportunities facing our international community at this inflection point for the profession.

Returning to the Westin Chicago Lombard Hotel (Lombard, IL), July 23-26, 2025, The Piano Conference includes an opening one-day summit that engages the full community in dialogue and collaboration around the future of piano education, and three days of selected conference sessions, keynotes, concerts, and curated PEDx. The conference will also include an online event on June 7-8, 2025 to facilitate broad and international access.

In-Person Conference: Wednesday-Saturday, July 23-26, 2025
Online Event: Saturday-Sunday, June 7-8, 2025

Registration is now open for our in-person conference and online event.

The detailed conference program will be published in February 2025.

The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025

Innovation Summit: Designing the Future of Piano Education

The Inaugural NCKP 2025 Innovation Summit: Designing the Future of Piano Education represents an exciting opportunity for our community to reflect on and shape the evolving landscape of piano teaching and learning. Held on Wednesday, July 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., this event will convene a diverse group of professionals committed to advancing piano education in a rapidly changing world. We invite you to join us for this transformative event and add your voice to the shared vision of the future of piano education.

Gathering for Collaborative Change

Designed as a collaborative and forward-thinking gathering, the Summit invites participants to explore innovative teaching models, address current challenges, and chart a course for the future of the field. The Summit’s comprehensive approach aims to foster critical discussion, encourage the exchange of ideas, and inspire meaningful action.

At the heart of the NCKP Summit is the opportunity for participants to come together to share insights, experiences, and ideas. The day will begin with a keynote presentation by pianist, educator, and composer Randy Faber who will set the tone for the activities and discussions that follow. Participants will then engage in interactive workshops and open dialogue designed to promote reflection, encourage the exchange of perspectives, and define the piano educator of the twenty-first century. By drawing on the diverse expertise within the group, the Summit aims to generate actionable strategies that reflect the collective wisdom of the piano education community.

Generating Bold Ideas for Actionable Change

A central focus of the NCKP Summit is the development of transformative ideas that can lead to meaningful, innovative change in piano education. Participants will engage in exercises designed to encourage expansive thinking and creative problem-solving, with a clear emphasis on translating ideas into action.

Through activities such as brainstorming sessions and collaborative vision-building, attendees will be challenged to identify bold goals for the future of piano teaching and learning. By the end of the day, attendees will leave with an inspired outlook and a roadmap for implementing innovative practices in their own teaching and professional communities.

Who Should Attend?

Anyone who is passionate about the future of piano education is invited to attend! The Summit is designed to benefit a wide range of professionals in the field of piano education, including university faculty, independent studio teachers, and those in the early stages of their careers. By bringing together a diverse range of perspectives, we can create a vision that reflects the varied experiences and needs of the entire community.

Registering for the Summit

The Summit is held on the first day of NCKP 2025, and participation is included in your full NCKP registration. To ensure the success of this interactive event, an accurate participant list is essential. Please indicate your participation in the Summit on the NCKP registration form and rank your preferred cohorts: Higher Education, Teaching Practices, or New Professionals. If you have already registered for the full conference but have not confirmed your Summit attendance, please visit this form to update your registration—no additional fees apply. Alternatively, you may register for the Summit only at the single-day rate of $199.

Attending the Summit

We encourage you to arrive at the conference hotel on Tuesday, July 22nd. On-site check-in will begin at 8:00 am on Wednesday, July 23rd, and the Summit will start promptly at 9:00 am. To ensure every participant gains the full value of the event, it is essential to be present for the entire day’s activities. The Summit will conclude at 5:00 pm.

Shaping the Future of Piano Education

The NCKP Summit represents more than an academic gathering; it is a collaborative effort to define the principles and practices that will guide piano education in the years to come. Participants will leave with a renewed sense of purpose, equipped with ideas and tools to implement meaningful change in their own communities.

As the field of piano education continues to evolve, the NCKP Summit is essential for fostering dialogue, innovation, and collective action. This inaugural meeting marks the beginning of an ongoing conversation about the role of educators and their collective responsibility to meet the evolving challenges of the future. By coming together, we can shape a vision for piano education that addresses both current needs and anticipates the demands of tomorrow’s musical landscape.

Registration is now open. To secure your place and learn more about the program, visit our registration page.

More questions? Visit our Summit FAQs page.

We are pleased to offer multiple opportunities for participation in The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025! The deadline to submit is Monday, March 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific.

We seek programming in a variety of formats and are currently accepting submissions of collegiate projects, e-posters, performances, and teaching demonstrations.