About Dr. Carney

Dr. Robert D. Carney is a pianist and educator whose multifaceted career bridges the concert stage, the university classroom, the private studio, and the music industry. Over the past two and a half decades, he has performed across the United States and in Europe, giving solo recitals, concerto appearances, and chamber music performances. In addition to upcoming chamber music performances, he is currently collaborating with violinist Dr. David Hays on a new album set for release in 2025.

A passionate teacher, Dr. Carney believes music study should build not only skill, but also curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts. His students have won top prizes in local, state, and international competitions, performed with orchestra, and appeared in notable venues such as Merkin Hall in New York. Many of his pre-collegiate students have gone on to major in music at the college level, while others have applied their training toward success in other fields.

For 12 years, Dr. Carney served as music professor at Southwest Baptist University where he rose to the rank of Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Music. At SBU, he taught applied and class piano, piano pedagogy, piano literature, chamber music, sight singing & ear training, and music appreciation. During his summers, Dr. Carney taught middle and high school students at summer programs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. In 2022, he transitioned from higher education to work in the management and creative side of the music industry, collaborating with artists whose music and videos reach millions worldwide while continuing his private studio.

A respected pedagogue, Carney has presented at major conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Europe for organizations including the College Music Society, the European Association for Music in Schools, the World Piano Conference, the Music Teachers National Association, and others — sharing ideas on technique, expression, and innovative ways to use online tools in music teaching.

Dr. Carney holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas and a Master of Music from Louisiana State University. His training includes summers at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival and private study with internationally respected teachers. Now based in Springfield, Missouri, Dr. Carney offers private piano instruction to students of all ages, from beginners to professionals. Lessons are tailored to each student’s goals, combining clear, step-by-step learning with encouragement, patience, and the challenges needed to grow. The first meeting—always free and without obligation—is designed to ensure the learning environment is the right fit from the start.