What to Expect at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025

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From the Technology and New Professionals Tracks

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The Committees of The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 work to research, compile, or otherwise address issues of ongoing significance to our participants and the piano teaching public in meaningful and substantive ways. As we eagerly anticipate NCKP 2025, we asked our committee chairs to give us a sneak peek into their respective tracks. Keep reading to see what you can expect from the Technology and New Professionals Conference Tracks! Please note that the schedule of The Piano Conference: NCKP is subject to change. The most up-to-date listing can be found here.

Technology 

Stella Sick, Chair

Online: Sunday, June 8, 4-5:30pm

In-Person: Friday, July 25, 10am-12pm

The Piano Conference: NCKP offers a deep dive into the role of technology in music education, providing insights on how AI and other innovations can enrich our studios. Whether attending the online conference in June or the in-person event in July, educators can look forward to sessions that will equip them with practical strategies for embracing these changes.

The Panel on AI addresses the development of AI and its relationship to piano study. AI now permeates every aspect of our lives, often seamlessly integrated into our daily routines. It holds immense potential to simplify tasks and improve efficiency. However, as AI enters the music teaching space, where human connection and physical engagement are key to a meaningful learning experience, the music teacher community must carefully navigate both its positive and negative impacts.

The Tech Track will also continue to offer sessions on other relevant topics. Piano Recording: Aesthetic, Acoustic, and Sound Criteria for Classical Music Production explores patrimonio acústico (acoustic heritage) and focuses on preserving the unique characteristics of iconic halls, real and virtual spaces, alongside the distinctive properties of the instrument’s sound. Attendees will learn how modern production techniques enhance these acoustic elements while ensuring historical, artistic fidelity, and performance quality.

The lecture recital What Can Students Learn from Playing Schubert on a Digital Piano? Understanding Historical Piano Conventions through Modern Digital Instruments will share the presenters’ personal journey in finding an accessible, realistic alternative to recreate the historical instrumental experience on a modern digital piano. 

The Piano Tech Expo interactive workshop offers a hands-on opportunity to explore technology’s role in lessons, home practice, and performances. Led by tech experts and passionate educators, this session provides practical demonstrations and ideas to inspire and elevate your teaching with technology.

These presentations offer a unique chance to connect with forward-thinking educators, gain new skills, and prepare for the future of piano education. From immersive media to AI-powered tools, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas to inspire your students and streamline your teaching practice.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this transformative experience. Register now and secure your spot at the forefront of piano pedagogy!

New Professionals

Allison Keep, Chair

Online: Saturday, June 7, 4:00pm-5:30pm

In-Person: Thursday, July 24, 10:30am-12:30pm

The New Professionals’ track will offer new and seasoned professionals alike the chance to consider fresh career possibilities through panel discussions, networking sessions, and deep dives into practical topics. The in-person session “Designing Your Life: Perspectives and Tips from Emerging Piano Professionals” will highlight the experiences and lessons learned by several new professionals in lightning talks, followed by guided brainstorming and networking sessions to assist attendees in applying these new perspectives to their own careers.  The online event will feature a panel on “Leading and Navigating Change: Personal and Institutional Growth in the Evolving Landscape of Music Education.”

While many professional pianists may be excited by a variety of career paths, some feel inadequately prepared for positions that encompass more than teaching or performing. Leadership skills and writing skills are key factors for many jobs in the arts, but few graduate programs emphasize these skills. Attendees of the New Professionals’ track at the in-person conference will benefit from two sessions aimed to equip pianists with skills to excel as writers and leaders: “Writing Skills for Creative Expression: Practical Tips for Pianists’ Career Development” and “I Graduated! Now What?” The online track includes a presentation on honing teaching skills in “Professor’s Corner: Teaching Piano Master Classes.”

Be on the lookout for more information about additional conference events including New Professionals Concerts and a New Professionals Pizza Reception.

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. Full conference registration includes four days of engagement, including the summit, concerts, keynotes, PEDx presentations, and more, as well as access to the online event and online event archives. Student, Single-Day, and Online-Only registration options are also available. Early-bird registration is available until May 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific. Subscribers receive an additional 10% off; log into PianoInspires.com and go to ‘My Discounts’  to find your discount code. Learn more and register for The Piano Conference by clicking here.

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