Erik Piazza

Erik Piazza earned a B.M. in saxophone performance and music education and an M.M. in music education from the Eastman School of Music. Erik recently returned to the Eastman School and is a PhD candidate (ABD) in the Department of Music Teaching and Learning. He has shared original research at NAfME, NYSSMA, and PMEA conferences. Additionally, Erik has been invited to present at the Eastman School of Music, Sunderman Conservatory at Gettysburg College, and State University at Fredonia. His current research examines the inclusion of creative musical activities—improvisation and composition—in large ensemble classrooms. Erik has spent most of his professional life as a high school instrumental music teacher in the Webster Central School District. Erik is a NYSSMA certified woodwind adjudicator whose students have been selected to perform with county, state, and national level honors ensembles. Prior to teaching in Webster, Erik taught at Palmyra-Macedon, and served as adjunct faculty at the Rochester Institute of Technology where he taught saxophone lessons and directed a Saxology ensemble. Erik is a founding member and senior editor at Low Down Publishing, an independent music publishing company. With a growing catalog of high-quality resources, Low Down Publishing will be the first company offering full-service publishing services exclusively to music teachers.