Dr. Taylor's students have distinguished themselves in statewide, divisional, and young artist competitions. She has promoted performance opportunities for young pianists by establishing numerous composer festivals, concerto competitions, and piano camps. As the former faculty advisor for Converse’s student chapter of the South Carolina Music Teachers Association, the “Petrie Pedagoddesses” activities included administration of the annual PianOlympics event, performance of a benefit recital for the Tsunami victims, and active participation in the SCMTA annual conference.

Dr. Taylor is former president of the South Carolina Music Teachers Association, an active clinician for the Music Teachers National Association, holds national Certification by that organization, and appeared as clinician for the Vermont Music Teachers Association state conference in 2004. She has lectured for the College Music Society and the Society for Music Theory and has had articles published in the American Music Teacher, Keyboard Companion, The Piano Quarterly, and Journal Seamus. Dr. Taylor has been the Intermediate-Advanced Keyboard Editor for Alfred Publishing Company, working closely with Maurice Hinson on numerous publications.

Melanie Foster Taylor holds degrees in piano performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Marshall University, and the Doctor of Music in piano pedagogy and literature from Indiana University. Her teachers include John Perry, Alfonso Montecino, Kenneth Marchant and Michel Béroff. Her recital was broadcast on the National Public Radio “Music from Oberlin” series. She was the youngest winner in both the amateur and professional divisions of the Young Artist Competition of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.