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Derek Polischuk is a professor and the director of Piano Pedagogy at Michigan State University College of Music. Originally from San Diego, he studied under the guidance of Krzysztof Brzuza at the University of Southern California, earning a Doctor of Music Arts degree in Piano Performance with distinction under Daniel Pollack. Polischuk is an enthusiastic advocate for music education across all ages and abilities, serving as a clinician at various prominent conferences including the Music Teachers National Association Conference and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. He plays an active role in several professional organizations, including the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy’s Committee for Teaching Students with Special Needs, and the Advisory Board of the Orange County School of the Arts Pianist Program. Additionally, he founded the 'Celebrating Spectrum' Piano Festival that focuses on advanced pianists on the Autism Spectrum. His publication, 'Transformational Piano Teaching,' is recognized as a significant contribution to the field of piano pedagogy. Polischuk has received several awards from Michigan State University, including the Curricular Service-Learning Civic Engagement Award and the MSU College of Music Excellence in Diversity Award, highlighting his exceptional teaching skills.
Department of Psychology