Keyboard Instruments: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
This program is designed for students seeking advanced proficiency in keyboard performance, focusing on mastery of instruments such as the piano and organ. It emphasizes artistic development through rigorous training in performance, pedagogy, and collaborative music-making, preparing graduates for professional careers in solo, ensemble, and accompanying roles.
- Piano and keyboard pedagogy: Explores teaching methodologies and curriculum design tailored to keyboard instruction across diverse age groups and skill levels.
- Ensemble playing: Develops collaborative performance skills through participation in chamber groups, orchestras, and other ensemble settings.
- Accompanying: Focuses on the technical and interpretive demands of supporting vocalists, instrumentalists, and other performers in real-time settings.
- Service playing: Trains students in the performance of music for religious, ceremonial, and public events, including liturgical keyboard work.
- Repertoire development: Involves the study, interpretation, and performance of a broad range of historical and contemporary keyboard works.
- Keyboard and pedal technique: Builds advanced dexterity, control, and endurance in hand and foot coordination essential for complex keyboard literature.
- Recital performance: Provides opportunities to prepare and present solo and collaborative recitals as a capstone of artistic and technical achievement.
- Personal style development: Encourages the cultivation of individual artistic voice and interpretive expression within a disciplined performance framework.
Keyboard Instruments Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Keyboard Instruments Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Keyboard Instruments degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary and Musicians and Singers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 136,240 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Musicians and Singers 27-2042 | N/A | N/A | 38,350 | $42.45 |
Keyboard Instruments Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,520 in Nevada to $129,330 in Hawaii—a 161% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, New York, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 136,240 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Keyboard Instruments by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 63 institutions offering Keyboard Instruments programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Keyboard Instruments is found at Manhattan School of Music (MSM) (93 graduates), The New School (52 graduates), The Juilliard School (47 graduates), The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) (38 graduates), and Longy School of Music of Bard College (26 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 534 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan School of Music (MSM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
93 | New York, New York | Private | msmnyc.edu |
| The New School |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
52 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| The Juilliard School |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
47 | New York, New York | Private | juilliard.edu |
| The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | necmusic.edu |
| Longy School of Music of Bard College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
26 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | longy.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
23 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Yale University |
Master's
|
19 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
14 | San Francisco, California | Private | sfcm.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
13 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Roosevelt University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | roosevelt.edu |
| Rice University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| The Catholic University of America |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | catholic.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
|
5 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Stetson University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | DeLand, Florida | Private | stetson.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music (CMPR) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | cmpr.edu |
| Chapman University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | West Palm Beach, Florida | Private | pba.edu |
| Baldwin Wallace University (BW) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Berea, Ohio | Private | bw.edu |
| Capital University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | capital.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Bob Jones University (BJU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Greenville, South Carolina | Private | bju.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
2 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| North Park University |
Master's
|
2 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | northpark.edu |
| Butler University |
Master's
|
2 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Master's
|
2 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Hope College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Holland, Michigan | Private | hope.edu |
| College of the Ozarks (C of O) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Point Lookout, Missouri | Private | cofo.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Campbell University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Buies Creek, North Carolina | Private | campbell.edu |
| Valley City State University (VCSU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Valley City, North Dakota | Public | vcsu.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Master's
|
2 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Carson-Newman University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Jefferson City, Tennessee | Private | cn.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| California Baptist University (CBU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Riverside, California | Private | calbaptist.edu |
| Augustana College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Rock Island, Illinois | Private | augustana.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Master's
|
1 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| Webster University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| Rider University |
Master's
|
1 | Lawrenceville, New Jersey | Private | rider.edu |
| University of Mount Olive (UMO) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Mount Olive, North Carolina | Private | umo.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| Houston Christian University (HCU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Houston, Texas | Private | hc.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Pasadena, California | Private | lacm.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Keyboard Instruments programs
How much can I earn with a Keyboard Instruments degree?
Salaries for Keyboard Instruments graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Musicians and Singers earn around $0. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $129,330 compared to $49,520 in Nevada. Approximately 136,240 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Keyboard Instruments programs?
Currently 63 accredited institutions offer Keyboard Instruments degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Manhattan School of Music (MSM) (93 graduates), The New School (52 graduates), and The Juilliard School (47 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Keyboard Instruments growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 361 in 2010 to a peak of 581 in 2020, before declining slightly to 534 in 2023-24. This represents a 48% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Keyboard Instruments degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Musicians and Singers, . Related occupations employ approximately 136,240 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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