Piano students explore piano literature from Bach to the Twentieth Century through listening, discussion and analysis. A second course component develops keyboard skills and technique through the study of scales, arpeggios, score reading, transposition, keyboard harmony and sight reading.
All music students are required to take one year of Music Theory and Music History.
In each semester, they are also required to take Individual Applied Music which provides training in ensemble performance through participation in large ensembles and chamber music. Piano and harp students focus on ensemble literature for their instruments. Additionally, all music students sing in the Governor's School Choir each semester they are enrolled. Students also enjoy several performance opportunities in semester performances and student recitals, in addition to ensemble. The ensembles that give credit for Ensemble Applied Music for Piano are:
- Governor's School Choir
- Piano Ensemble
The ensembles that give credit for Ensemble Applied Music for Harp are:
- Governor's School Choir
- Chamber Music (in combination with Woodwinds or Strings)
- Large Ensemble (either Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra or Wind Ensemble)
Each student receives weekly private lessons, as well as group technique classes and instrumental master classes.
Graduates of the music program are continuing their educations at many excellent institutions across the state and nation, including the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Eastman School, The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Hartt School of Music, and Oberlin, Peabody, and New England Conservatories, among others.