This dissertation will deal with the issue of incorporating modern piano music into the repertoire of piano students at the undergraduate degree level. For the purposes of this paper, it is assumed the students will be pursuing a major in music at a conservatory or university with piano as their instrument. In no way does this paper serve as an extensive guide into all musical styles of the 20th and 21st century. Rather, I have selected a small number of extremely varied compositions which I hope will serve to whet the appetite of the student and encourage further exploration into the extensive catalog of piano music from this period. As much of this literature is extremely complex, I have specifically chosen works which are manageable yet still present challenges--musically, technically and intellectually. It is no accident that these compositions are somewhat tonal. The aim of this paper is to excite and inspire students without weighing them down in the complexity that is, rightly or wrongly, associated with contemporary music. Perhaps most importantly, each piece or group of pieces exhibits a unique characteristic that will be the focus of study. I am confident the exposure to these exhilarating works will lead to, at the very least, an appreciation and understanding of modern piano music. At best, it is my hope that this syllabus will serve as an inspiration to aid in the discovery of the music of the 20th and 21st centuries, and to further its existence through live performance. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]