2026 IPPA Piano Pedagogy Conference
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
July 15th - 19th, 2026
The IPPA Piano Pedagogy Conference, held biennially, brings together teachers, scholars, and students from around the world for hands-on learning and meaningful exchange. The 2026 conference centers on the themes of Internationalization, Impact, and Illumination, offering practical, down-to-earth insights for teaching and practicing, while celebrating outstanding educators and inviting fresh perspectives on piano pedagogy.
Led renowned pedagogue Dr. Scott McBride Smith at the University of Kansas School of Music, the conference is dedicated to advancing the piano profession through competitions, workshops, masterclasses, concerts, and international collaboration.
What is included in each program?
Access to all masterclasses, workshops, pedagogy lectures, symposiums, and discussion panels is available. You are cordially invited to apply to give a presentation, join the panel as a guest speaker, perform in the Teachers Showcase Recital, as well as share your teaching wisdom with this community. Selected proposals will receive a $100 honorary discount.
This program is open for piano students under 18 years old, looking for performance, masterclasses and creative activities in this conference. Attendees will receive:
- Participate in one open masterclass
- Performance class (gain stage experience and confidence)
- Improvisation Workshop – enhance creativity
- Feature in the Student Honor Recital in Swarthout Recital Hall
- Extra private lessons available to apply after the competition
There are limited spots in this program; reservations are made on a first-come-first-served basis.
Access to all masterclasses, workshops, pedagogy lectures, symposiums, and discussion panels is available. You are cordially invited to apply to give a presentation, join the panel as a guest speaker, perform in the Student Honor Recital.
This workshop is designed for pianists seeking strategies for planning their future piano careers. The aim of this workshop is to assist you in shaping the development of your professional profile. Activities include:
1 One on One instruction on writing a professional cover letter and CV
2 Writing Teaching Philosophy
3 Participating in a simulated interview with faculty and receiving one-on-one feedback
4 Engaging in one on one career development discussions with faculty
5 OPT and O-1 Visa applying planning and strategies for international students
All attendees can apply additional private lessons with conference faculty. Please reach out our staff for your request.
Detailed information about this conference
• Dr. Scott McBride Smith(University of Kansas) : Workshop: Baroque Interpretations. Masterclass: Baroque Suite and Dances
In addition to attending events, conference-goers can participate as a Pedagogy Presenter as well. Presenters will be promoted world wide (posters, social media, etc.).
Deadline for application to be a Pedagogy Presenter is June 10th, 2024. Please include:
The title of the proposed paper; 200-300word abstract;100-word biography; institutional affiliation or independent scholar status; and your contact information.
Presentation lengths:
45-minute presentations are open for young professionals, individual piano teachers with 10 years of experience, as well as college and university piano faculty to apply. 25-minute presentations are open for collegiate piano students to apply. There will be 5 minutes allocated for Q&A at the end for each session. The conference will provide necessary facilities such as projectors or pianos to accommodate the presentations.
All presenters are required to register for the conference. Selected proposals will receive a $100 honorary discount.
If you are interested in sharing your insights among the following topics, choose one and identify it in your registration form.
• Panel Session 2:TBA
Subject to change
July 6th ,2024
9:00am-6:00pm 2024 IPPA Conero International Piano Competition Final Round (Open to public)
Conference Registration for early arrivals
7:30pm-9:00pm IPPA Honor Recital & Winners’ Teacher Forum
July 7th, 2024
9:00am -12:00pm 2024 IPPA Conero International Piano Competition Final Round (Open to public)
Conference Registration
3:00pm Opening of the Conference
3:30pm – 5:00pm Symposium: What do Judges hear? Featuring all final round judges (Swarthout Recital Hall) – Open to all audience
5:00pm-6:15pm Workshop Dr. Michael Esch: “To rotate or not to rotate, THAT is the question!?” – the essence of the Taubman Technique (Swarthout Recital Hall)
7:30pm Winner Concert and Award Ceremony for Young Artist Category
July 8th, 2024
9:00am – 9:50am Masterclass Dr. Jack Winerock: The Chopin Sound: Approaches to Pieces More Effective
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall
Masterclass Dr. Alejandro Avila: Latin Piano Repertoire
Location: Room 328
Presentation Dr. Marcelo Lian: The Craftsmanship of Vincenzo Scaramuzza
Location: Room 238
10:00am – 10:50am Workshop Dr. Scott McBride Smith: Baroque Interpretation
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall
Collegiate Presentation：Linnea Babcock: Exploring Wonderland – The Fanciful Works of Berenice Benson Bentley (10:00am-10:25am) Siyang Yu: How Pianists Adapt Different Acoustics From Practice Rooms to Concert Hall (10:30am-10:55am) Location: Room 238
Performance Class for Junior Piano Program Dr. Nicholas Susi
Location: Room 328
11:00am -11:50am Masterclass Dr. Wei-Han Su: Piano Music of Debussy: Aspects of Sound, Color, & Pedaling
Location: (Location not specified, please add)
Panel Discussion Svitlana: Strategies for Practicing at Home
Location: Room 328
12:00pm-2:00pm Lunch Break
2:00pm- 2:50pm Masterclass Dr. Hye-Jung Hong: Explore & Examining Diverse Practice Approaches for Chopin Etudes
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall (SRH)
Presentation Dr. Jessica Koebbe: Breath, Body, and Brain: Using the 3 B’s to Address Performance Anxiety
Location: Room 238
Collegiate Presentation: Jordan Karrigan: “Unchoking” Under Pressure: Alleviating Music Performance Anxiety with Sport Psychology (2:00pm -2:25pm) Nawaporn Ruangthap: Collegiate Pianists: Engaging Audiences Through Interactive Concerts (2:30pm-2:55pm) Location: Room 402
3:00pm – 3:50pm Workshop Dr. Nicholas Susi: Unsticking Our Beliefs about Fingering
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall (SRH)
Presentation Kyu Butler: Arirang – Representing Korean Folk Song
Location: Room 238
Presentation Paul Adams: How You Can Use New Technology for Great Online Piano Lessons
Location: Room 402
4:00pm – 4:50pm Workshop Dr. Brenda Wristen: Biomechanically Informed Technique for Small-Handed(and Other!) Pianists
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall (SRH)
Panel Presentation Linda Mannering: Other Performance Opportunities Beyond the Typical Studio Recital
Location: Room 328
5:00pm-7:30pm Dinner Break
7:30pm-9:00pm Winner Concert and Award Ceremony for Professional Artist Category
Collaborate with St. Petersburg String Quartet, Swarthout Recital Hall
July 9th, 2024
9:00am – 9:50am Masterclass Dr. Scott Smith: Baroque Suites & Dances
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall (SRH)
Presentation Dr. Belinda Chen: Reconsidering Piano Pedagogy from an Evolutionary Anthropological Perspective
Location: Room 238
Workshop Ivy Lu Wang: Demystifying Pedaling Instructions in Mozart’s Piano Repertoire
Location: Room 402
10:00am – 10:50am Masterclass Dr. Rosy Ge: Standing Out from the Crowd: Intermediate Classical Repertoire
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall (SRH)
Workshop Dr. Alan Woo: Strategies for Transfer Students: Topics in Reading & Technique
Location: Room 328
Collegiate Presentation: Danlei Yang: From East to West: Exploration of Chinese and Western Musical Traditions in Selected Piano Solo Works Chen Yi (11:00am-11:25am) Yaqi Wang: How online piano tutorials become a game-changer in our piano education: A survey analysis (11:30am-11:55am) Location: Room 238
11:00am -11:50am Masterclass Svitlana Fiorito: Art of Phrasing in Bach & Mozart
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall (SRH)
Panel Discussion: How does AI influence teaching, and how can piano teachers adapt to the evolving learning styles of students in today’s fast-changing world? Location: Room 238
Presentation Dr. Christina Liu:Level Up! Using Gamification to Enhance Lessons
Location: Room 402
12:00pm-2:00pm Lunch Break
2:00pm-2:50pm Masterclass Dr. Felix Tao Chang: The Legato Touch in Romantic Repertoire
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall
Masterclass Dr. Nicholas Susi: French Composer Repertoire
Location: Room 328
Presentation Dr. Helber Fernandes Ribeiro: Diversifying Piano Pedagogy: A Comparative Study of Brazilian Piano Works and Established Piano Methods
Location: Room 238
3:00pm -3:50pm Workshop - Dr. Alejandro Avila: Career Building & Life After Graduation
Location: Swarthout Recital Hall
Presentation – Dr. Priyeshni Perera :A Pedagogical Tool to Develop Musical Expression through the Application of Juslin’s GERMS Model to 20th Century Intermediate/Early Advanced level Piano Music
Location: Room 238
4:15pm-5:30pm Teachers’ Showcase Recital and Closing Remarks (Swarthout Recital Hall )
6:30pm Closing notes and Final banquet (Optional)
| Program | Early Bird (Before May 31st) | After May 31st |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Piano Program | $265 | $295 |
| Pedagogy Scholar/Teacher | $295 | $325 |
| Collegiate Student | $135 | $165 |
| Daily Rate (optional) | $115 | _____ |
| Career Development Workshop(optional) | $195 | _____ |
| Final Dinner Banquet(optional) | $50 | _____ |
| Parents/Accompany(optional) | $80 | _____ |
| KU On-Campus Residence Hall (includes breakfast) (optional) | $76/night (Private room) ; $68/night(shared room) | _____ |
- This conference requires participants under the age of 18 to be accompanied one of their parents or a guardian. The accompanying person needs to apply for the Parents/Accompany Program in order to access all the concerts and related activities at the conference.
- Refund Policy: Before June 10th, 50% of program fees and 50% of KU housing fees are refundable. After June 10th, 2024, both program fees and KU housing fees will not be refundable.
Accommodation
KU Campus Residence Hall Housing
KU Campus Residence Hall Housing Option:
Group Conference Rate for private room including breakfast: $78.00/person/night
shared room including breakfast: $68.00/person/night
It is 8-10 mins walk from Murphy hall, KU School of Music.
On-Campus reservation link：(available after March, 2026) RESERVE NOW
Deadline for applying university housing is June 10th, 2026
Near Hotel Options with IPPA Group Rate
SpringHill Suites Marriott Lawrence Downtown
Group Rate: $139/night (Breakfast included)
Last Day to Book at the IPPA group rate: Saturday, June 20th, 2026
Reservation Link: Book your group rate for IPPA 2026
DoubleTree Hilton Lawrence
Group Rate: $119/night (Breakfast included)
Last Day to Book at the IPPA group rate: Saturday, June 12th, 2026
Reservation Link: DoubleTree Hilton, Lawrence – IPPA Conference
IPPA Pedagogy Event Highlights
Conference Committee:
Conference Planning: Dr. Scott McBride Smith; Dr. Ivy Lu Wang; Dr. Belinda Chen, Dr. Helber Fernandes Ribeiro, Dr. Hye-Jung Hong
Advisory Committee: TBA
Conference Coordinator Assistant: TBA