BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Erik Piazza is a secondary instrumental music teacher in Webster, New York. He has spent over 20 years teaching instrumental music in Webster and the surrounding area, and previously served as the Fine Arts Instructional Specialist in the Webster Central School District. In that district-level role, Erik supported K–12 music and art educators through curriculum development, professional learning, instructional coaching, and the integration of research-informed and inclusive practices. In addition to his K–12 work, Erik has served as adjunct faculty at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he taught saxophone lessons and directed a Saxology ensemble. He is a NYSSMA All-State certified woodwind adjudicator, and his students have been selected to perform in county, state, and national honors ensembles.

 

Erik earned a Ph.D. and M.M. in Music Education and a B.M. in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. He has presented practitioner sessions and original research at regional, state, and national conferences and has been invited to present lectures at colleges and institutions throughout the Northeast and Midwest. His research interests include creative musical activities in teaching and learning, as well as inclusive music education practices that support students with disabilities and diverse neurotypes. His scholarship has been published in the Journal of Music Teacher Education and School Music News, and he has also served as a guest editor for the International Journal of Music Education.

 

Erik maintains an active professional profile as a performer, conductor, and music publisher. He studied saxophone with Chien-Kwan Lin, Chris Vadala, Dave Demsey, and Ray Ricker and is a current member of the Vertex Saxophone Quartet. His performance experience includes work with community ensembles and pit orchestras across the region. Erik studied conducting with Brad Lubman, Mark Scatterday, and Donald Hunsberger and has served as a guest conductor for county and regional ensembles throughout the Northeast. He is a co-founder and Senior Editor of Low Down Publishing, an independent music publishing company focused on high-quality, accessible repertoire and resources for music educators and performers.