We are pleased to announce that Dr. Carla Salas-Ruiz will be joining NSMS as Faculty and Associate Director. In addition to teaching group and private lessons, she will be co-leading NSMS operations and events, and working to develop new initiatives in student programming and teacher education.
"I look forward to working alongside our faculty, developing new community programs, teaching, performing, conducting research, and fostering a nurturing environment where our students can thrive and reach their highest potential. Together, we will continue transforming lives through our shared dedication to excellence in piano study," said Carla.
Carla Salas-Ruiz is a pianist, educator, and researcher. A native of Costa Rica, Carla earned her Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis on Piano Pedagogy from Louisiana State University in 2023. Her dissertation, "A Multiple Case Study of Adolescent Piano Students: Examining Motivation through the Lens of Interest Development," reflects her focus on motivation, interest development, and effective practice strategies. She also holds a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from LSU and two Licentiates in Music, one in performance and one in piano pedagogy, from the Universidad de Costa Rica. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the Costa Rican repertoire as a contribution to piano teaching in initial and intermediate stages.
Her previous teaching experience includes serving as instructor and collaborative pianist at Brazosport College (TX). She was a Graduate Teacher of Record at Louisiana State University's School of Music from 2019 to 2023, during which she received the prestigious LSU 2021 Alumni Association Teaching Assistant of the Year award. From 2015 to 2019, Carla was an Assistant Professor at the Universidad de Costa Rica. During her tenure, she created a new space for students to perform musical works weekly and promoted interdisciplinary collaborations between the school of music and the school of social sciences. She also served as the Music Precollege Program Coordinator, teaching beginner to advanced piano lessons and serving as a collaborative pianist for strings, wind, and brass sections. Additionally, she served as the Manager of Communications and Periodicals at the Frances Clark Center (2023-2024) and is an active member of the editorial board of the Journal of Piano Research.
She has presented her research at various national and international conferences and has been published in journals such as Visions of Research in Music Education, Piano Magazine, and Research Perspectives in Music Education. Her work emphasizes fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment, encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and healthy musicianship among her students. She is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society, a Steinway & Sons Educational Partner Teacher, and regularly serves as an adjudicator in piano festivals and competitions.
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