Mission of the Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts Piano Program
The RMSOTA Piano Studio (est. 2017) features over 60 students at various stages of study, from 1st-year beginners to advanced students preparing for college auditions. Our middle school students complete a three-year, progressive curriculum in a group setting where they have access to our state-of-the-art digital piano lab. Each student receives individualized instruction through carefully assigned repertoire while studying fundamental theory concepts in preparation for the high school studio.
The piano is considered one of the best instruments to start music training because it provides a visually intuitive layout, offers a wide range of notes to understand music theory, and helps develop essential skills applicable to other instruments. In our middle school classes, students will develop keyboard technique and knowledge of keyboard skills and patterns, fostering a practical understanding of music. They will also develop skills in reading keyboard music accurately and musically through exercises designed to build visual and aural familiarity with piano score idioms. Additionally, students will perform selected solos from specific piano repertoire.
The high school piano studio currently features 10 students who participate in a type of “independent study.” Throughout the week, our instructor meets with each student for a 45-minute lesson where they work on repertoire for upcoming recitals (two recitals per year), competitions (Columbus Music Teacher Association Spring Festival and local, regional, and state Georgia Music Teacher Association Auditions), and other performance opportunities, including piano ensembles and collaborative repertoire with the band and orchestra, etc. When students are not meeting with the instructor for a lesson, they are in their own individual practice rooms, which are all furnished with Boston or Essex uprights designed by Steinway & Sons.
Students receive a weekly task list on their Chromebooks. These tasks include sight-reading, technical and rhythm assessments, music theory and ear dictation assignments, and repertoire performances. Students will also be required to complete weekly documentation and reflection of their practice time. Furthermore, students are highly encouraged to attend solo, small, and large ensemble concerts both in school and at other venues in and out of town.
With 13 acoustic instruments throughout the building, including three Model A 6′ grands and one Model D 9′ concert grand, students have access to high-quality instruments on a regular basis. Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts is a K-12 Steinway Select School.
Follow the studio on Instagram (@rmsapiano) and YouTube (@RMSOTA Piano Studio).
Our Piano Faculty
Dr. Qiao-Shuang Tracy Xian – Piano Instructor
Dr. Qiao-Shuang Tracy Xian joined the faculty of Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts as a piano instructor in the fall of 2022. Her dedication to the music community goes beyond her teaching responsibilities, as she also serves as the pianist for St. Mark United Methodist Church. Additionally, she is an active member of the National Music Teachers Association (MTNA) and the Georgia Music Teachers Association (GMTA). Currently, Dr. Xian holds the position of president at the Columbus Music Teachers Association (CMTA), demonstrating her leadership and commitment to promoting music education in the local community.
Dr. Xian is a Chinese-American pianist renowned for her exceptional musicality, technical mastery, and profound interpretive insights. Born in Shanghai, Dr. Xian embarked on her musical journey at the age of four under the guidance of her mother. Her talent quickly caught the attention of the esteemed Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where she was admitted as a student at the age of six. Throughout her high school years, Dr. Xian’s exceptional abilities led to engagements with the Shanghai Philharmonic and the Shanghai Ballet Orchestra, solidifying her reputation as a versatile artist on the concert stage, excelling as a soloist, collaborative pianist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer.
Driven by her passion for advanced piano performance, Dr. Xian was awarded a full scholarship, along with a living stipend, to pursue her studies in the United States. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from Louisiana State University, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University.
Throughout her collegiate career, Dr. Xian captivated audiences with numerous solo recitals across the southeastern United States. Her artistry has been showcased at national music conferences such as the Music Teachers National Association and The American Matthay Association for Piano. Her talent and dedication have earned her top prizes in both national and international piano competitions, including the Beethoven Club International Piano Competition and the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Artist Piano Competition.
Critics have hailed Dr. Xian’s performances as captivating and intriguing. Her sensitive musicality, refined touch, and nuanced interpretation bring depth and texture to her playing, while her technical prowess leaves a lasting impression. Dr. Xian’s commanding stage presence radiates energy and excitement, captivating audiences wherever she performs. Highly sought-after as a chamber musician, she has delighted audiences as both a collaborative artist and a soloist with orchestras on prestigious recital series and music festivals throughout the United States. Her mesmerizing performances have also been featured on National Public Radio (NPR). In 2019, she released her debut recording, “Frédéric Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op. 28.”
In addition to her achievements as a performer, Dr. Xian is a dedicated educator with over two decades of teaching experience. As a Nationally Certified Teacher in Piano (NCTM), she has served on college and university faculties and nurtured the development of numerous students. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her students’ consistently high ratings in piano performance and music theory examinations conducted by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Several of her piano students have emerged as first-place winners at the state level in both the solo and concerto competitions of the Georgia Music Teachers Association (GMTA).