Piano for Young People is a pre-college piano program for students kindergarten through high school. Students pursue piano study through private lessons in a university setting, drawing its faculty from professionals in the Upstate and Furman piano performance and music education majors. Located in Furman’s Daniel Music Building, the program’s weekly lessons and musicianship classes are held on Mondays and Tuesdays. Materials covered in lessons include sight reading, music theory, music history, ear training, and an introduction to a wide range of musical genres and styles of the teacher and student’s choosing. Students participate in an end-of-term recital, which is held in Daniel Recital Hall twice a year, as well as performances for local retirement communities. Piano for Young People is a selective program, and evidence of regular practice and earnest student participation is required to retain a place in the program each year.

To find out more information or to schedule an audition for the program, please email the director, Kelly Herd.

Additional Information

  • Our year of 28 weeks broken up into two 14 week terms with one lesson per week. Summer lesson offerings are announced in the spring each year.
  • Private lessons include music theory, music history, sight reading, technique, ear trainings, and performance skills.
  • Students perform in a recital at the end of each term.
  • Students enter auditions, festivals, and competitions as recommended by the private teacher. Participants have won numerous awards in local and state piano competitions.
  • Lessons are available from faculty/staff or undergraduate teachers. Lesson length is determined by the director in consultation with the parent.
  • The Piano for Young People Calendar is a merge of dates as announced by Furman University and Greenville County Schools. A detailed calendar is distributed at the beginning of August.
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Tuition and Payment Information

Meet our staff

Kelly Herd

Director of Piano for Young People; Adjunct Faculty

Sarah Greene

Staff Teacher, Piano for Young People

Undergraduate Assistants

Furman faculty and the PfYP staff carefully select Furman piano and theory students to participate in PfYP. Undergraduate assistants are Furman sophomores, juniors and seniors studying applied piano, piano pedagogy, music theory and music history. Undergraduate assistants are required to be members of the National Federation of Music Clubs. Participation is selective.