Beginning Piano Pedagogy

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Beginning Piano Pedagogy program is for pianists who want to teach beginning piano students. Classes offered include learning various methods, techniques, repertoire, skills, style and musicianship necessary to teach piano effectively.

This is a Fast Track Certificate, which can be completed in two semesters or less.

Details

Field of Interest
Visual and Performing Arts
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Beginning Piano Pedagogy (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5743
Total credits required
16
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
Admission criteria

Acceptance into the program and permission of Program Director is required.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn
  • Apply music notation including pitch, meter, scales, key signatures, intervals, triads, time signatures, and rhythm.
  • Apply aural skills necessary to hear relationships of intervals, rhythms, melody, and harmony in music.
  • Demonstrate techniques for the applicable level of private piano instruction emphasizing musicianship, literature, and performance.
  • Differentiate among the beginning piano teaching techniques, methods, and repertoire to determine the best fit for a particular student.
  • Collaborate with other musicians in performing chamber ensemble music literature.
  • Compare and contrast characteristics of the different musical eras and the works of major piano composers.
  • Research piano pedagogy resources on a topic of special interest.
Career Statistics

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Musicians and Singers
$39.11 hourly

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Prerequisite

Acceptance into the program and permission of Program Director required.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
MTC105 or
MTC155 or
MTC205 or
MTC255		 Music Theory/Aural Perception I or Music Theory/Aural Perception II or Music Theory/Aural Perception III or Music Theory IV The chosen class level should be taken upon recommendation of the class instructor. 3
MUP181 Chamber Music Ensembles Two semesters of the course is required. May be repeated for credit 1
MUP102AD and
MUP152AD and
MUP202AD and
MUP252AD		 Private Instruction: Piano and Private Instruction: Piano and Private Instruction: Piano and Private Instruction: Piano MUP102AD AND/OR
MUP152AD AND/OR
MUP202AD AND/OR
MUP252AD
Total of four (4) credits required. Courses may be repeated for credit. 		8

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
MUP140 Elementary Piano Pedagogy 2
MUP181 Chamber Music Ensembles Two semesters of the course is required. May be repeated for credit 1
MUP240 Piano Literature 2
MUP298AA Special Projects 1
MUP298AB Special Projects 2
Disclaimer

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm?id=16459418.

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Beginning Piano Pedagogy