Stephen Pierce

About Stephen

South African born pianist, Stephen Pierce enjoys a varied career as a teacher, presenter, performer, adjudicator, clinician, and scholar. At the University of Southern California, he oversees the secondary piano and keyboard pedagogy programs and teaches applied piano, and courses in piano pedagogy, and keyboard literature. Pierce also teaches piano privately in Pasadena, and at Interlochen Arts Camp each summer.

A regular presenter throughout the U.S. and South Africa, Pierce has given presentations, master classes, and workshops in South Africa and the United States at conferences such as the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP), and for arts entities such as the International Piano Professionals Association. His written contributions have appeared in journals such as Piano Pedagogy Forum, and The South African Music Teacher, as well on the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Online Teacher Portal, and the Yamaha Educator Suite.

Pierce has performed in the U.S., Canada, Czech Republic, and throughout South Africa, and won prizes and awards for his playing including second prize and two special prizes at the UNISA National Piano Competition in South Africa. He has also received awards for his teaching including the D.J. Rhoode Overseas Scholarship for Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Africa (UNISA). In addition, his performances have been broadcast on South African television and radio.

Pierce is an MTNA Foundation Fellow, RCM Academic Ambassador, RCM Examiner, RCM Certified Teacher, as well as Collegiate Chapter state chair for California. He formerly served as the CAPMT Vice President for Conferences, District 9 Director and as editor of CAPMT Connect. Pierce holds degrees in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and two licentiates of music from the University of South Africa. His mentors include Joseph Stanford, Frank Weinstock, and Michelle Conda.

In short, I believe that teaching is a calling, and that music study enhances all life and learning. I started teaching music (percussion – my second instrument) almost by accident at the age of 19. I fell in love with teaching immediately. From the very beginning, the special bond that developed between student and teacher in the private music studio captivated me. For me, there was and still is something so incredibly gratifying and exciting about seeing a student’s eyes light up in a class or lesson, watching them grow and improve as musicians and persons, and delighting in each and every moment of learning success and discovery. As such, I realized the powerful opportunity we have as music teachers to positively influence and inspire our students–be that in the private studio, classroom, a masterclass or otherwise–to learn effectively, inspire others in turn, and to take life-long pleasure in the arts.