Dr. Xixi Shen (left) and Jiyong Kim Mai, with their “Developing Functional Piano Skills Through One Piece” poster, at the New York State School Music Association Winter Conference.
Music faculty are advancing innovative, teaching-centered approaches in class piano through collaborative research, creative curriculum design and student-engaged presentations.
Lecturer in Class Piano Xixi Shen’s research examines how culturally responsive repertoire can be integrated into class piano instruction to support the development of functional piano skills, including harmonization, improvisation and musical understanding.
The research-informed teaching philosophy has been further developed through collaborative work within Fredonia’s class piano program. In December 2025, Dr. Shen and Assistant Professor Jiyong Kim Mai participated in multiple sessions at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Winter Conference, highlighting how class piano instruction can generate practical, adaptable materials for music educators.
One featured session, “Hands on Keys: Class Piano Live! (Fredonia University) Showcase,” was led by Ms. Mai and presented newly created ensemble works designed specifically for class piano students.
Music Education and piano Performance students were actively involved in the showcase, demonstrating how collaborative keyboard experiences can be incorporated into class piano curricula. The repertoire included contemporary materials that resonate with today’s learners, such as the Kpop Demon Hunters theme music “Golden,” arranged by Mai, and “From the Start,” by Laufey, arranged by Shen, for class piano ensemble use.
The showcase offered concrete teaching resources that can be readily adapted by K–12 music educators.
Building on this shared work, Shen and Mai will continue their collaboration at the International Society for Music Education (ISME) World Conference in Montréal, Canada, in July, where they will present both a workshop and a poster. Their presentations emphasize integrated, repertoire-based approaches to developing functional piano skills in class piano settings.
Together, Shen and Mai’s collaborative efforts underscore the strength of Fredonia’s class piano program and demonstrate how class piano faculty are creating meaningful, student-centered teaching practices with impact beyond the university. Their work highlights the vital role class piano educators play in supporting music learning across educational levels and professional contexts.
