Visualization of University Programs

This data visualization, published in connection with the hybrid monograph & digital publication Accompaniment in America: Contextualizing Collaborative Piano (2025, Routledge), traces the history and evolution of collaborative piano programs across North America, contextualizing the development of this discipline in academic settings. Designed by Chanda VanderHart and programmed by David Wögerbauer, this visualization offers a layered, narrative-driven exploration of collaborative piano education. With a timeline from 1925 to 2025, it offers users a dynamic, interactive map where degree-giving programs are marked according to their founding date, current status, and notable affiliations.

Dots appear as the user scrolls along the timeline, indicating each program’s location, status, and legacy as they appear. Programs that have lost funding or ceased operation appear in pink, underscoring changes in the field over time. Programs that have or have had a strong connection to Gwendolyn Koldofsky are colored blue/purple, other programs are orange, and programs for which little to nothing is known at all are in turquoise. Users can then delve deeper into each program’s history by selecting individual points on the map. Doing so opens a side window, which offers details about the program’s founder, year of establishment, current leadership, and other related information.

The data, gathered by Lauren Koszyk and Chanda VanderHart with help from Elvia Puccinelli, Jean Barr, and Kathleen Kelly, reflects contributions from faculty members, administrators, and archivists. As knowledge of the field continues to evolve, users are encouraged to contribute updates or corrections to enhance its accuracy. This project is designed to reflect the collaborative spirit of the discipline and to offer a rich resource for understanding its historical and pedagogical landscape.