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collage of collaborative students and faculty

photos by Elle Logan

Collaborative pianists make the world a better place, one phrase at a time, through generous attention to partner and awareness of self, all in service of the music and of expressing our shared humanity. UNT's Collaborative Piano Program, offering the MM and DMA in Collaborative Piano, as well as opportunities for Piano Performances majors interested in studying the collaborative arts, supports these goals through individualized programs of study reflecting each pianist's career aspirations, musical interests and previous experience. In addition to private lessons and collaborative piano classes, pianists explore the activities of the profession through experiential learning in opera, large choral and instrumental ensembles, entrepreneurship activities, diction and repertory class settings, among others, as appropriate for each. Our mission is to encourage each pianist's native gifts while encouraging continual exploration, growth and development as artists, professionals and human beings. Please explore our website for more information about our program, our students and our guest artists. Please visit the CollabFest page, Guest Residency page and College of Music event calendar for information about our events, and please visit our handbook for more information about our programs. We would love to welcome you here!

Collaboratively yours,

Elvia Puccinelli, Professor of Collaborative Piano and Vocal Coaching | Collaborative Piano Area Coordinator | Elvia.Puccinelli@unt.edu

Willem van Schalkwyk, Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano and Vocal Coaching | Willem.vanSchalkwyk@unt.edu

NEW FACULTY JOINS COLLABORATIVE PIANO IN FALL 2026

Aram Arakelyan, Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano (Instrumental Emphasis), holds degrees from the University of Utah in piano performance, the University of Texas at Austin in collaborative piano, and the University of Southern California in keyboard collaborative arts. He comes to UNT from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he has been a member of their Chamber and Collaborative Music Department since its inception in 2016.

Guidelines for pianist use for class and studio until further notice:

Policies and Guidelines for all Collaborative Pianists who will work at UNT

Pianist Request Forms