Piano department

The program helps students build an individualized musical and artistic approach that considers recent evolutions across the creative sector. This generalist program opens doors to a wide range of careers in which the piano (and by extension, keyboard instruments) plays a major role:

• Solo pianist
• Orchestral pianist (celesta, glockenspiel, organ, piano)
• Accompanist: instruments, vocalists, vocal coach (chef de chant), dance
• Chamber musician
• Live performing arts, multidisciplinary artistic projects (music, dance, theater, etc.)
• Teaching musician, conservatoire or music school teacher : piano, music theory (formation musicale), accompaniment (bachelor in instrumental/vocal pedagogy program)
• Arranging or composition careers

Special emphasis is placed on challenging ensembles playing (sonata format and chamber music) and accompaniment practices—both essential elements for professional integration.

Main repertoires & chamber music

This module aims to refine and consolidate technical skills while developing musical and stylistic depth, with a strong focus on repertoire history and context. Students work toward a physical and artistic balance mastery of their instrument across diverse contexts and styles: Classical, Romantical, Contemporary, creation, transcriptions, Jazz, and contemporary pop/rock/urban music (musiques actuelles). Chamber music practice remains central throughout the curriculum.

Historical keyboards

The program introduces students to the piano through its historical evolutions (fortepiano, early pianos, and modern piano) whilst broadening their scope to other keyboard instruments (harpsichord, clavichord, organ) depending on the repertoire and performance scenarios.

While offered in both Bordeaux and Poitiers, historical keyboard practice is more extensive at the Poitiers campus in connection with its early music department. Students may also join early chamber music ensembles on the fortepiano.

Accompaniment techniques

Throughout the program, piano students take regular courses in sight-reading, keyboard harmony, and transposition/reduction.

While these techniques are taught at both Poitiers and Bordeaux, particular emphasis is placed on them for Bordeaux students planning to pursue a bachelor in instrumental pedagogy for music or dance accompaniment.