Statistics and common sense indicate that in today's global economy pianists are far better off when they are in possession of the necessary skills to embark on a multifaceted career in music. Penn State Undergraduate and Graduate students have plenty of opportunities to develop those skills and learn a versatility that extends beyond the solo repertoire. Students can explore and deeped the notion of collaborative playing while coaching with both instrumental and vocal instructors, as well as piano instructors. Instrumental chamber music and vocal accompanying, as well as unusual or mixed combinations of these two main areas are all viable fields of study choices at Penn State.

In the new century, there is an increasing demand on a pianist to be not only an excellent solo musician but also one who is flexible enough to work with others in a variety of areas. Potential for working as a collaborative pianist is encouraging and one can even pursue a career as a professional recital accompanist, opera coach, private studio pianist, chamber musician, symphonic pianist, audition pianist, church musician, to name just a few. All of these careers (and any combination of them) demand collaborative skills.