China's economic and social development, cultural industry progress, and improved living standards have led to a diversified society for piano professionals and applied talents. This study aimed to analyze the piano teaching mode in higher schools. Explore the existing piano teaching modes at home and abroad, and analyze the characteristics, advantages, and shortcomings of different teaching modes and evaluate the new piano teaching mode and verify its effect of improving students' piano playing application ability. The current study clarified the related implications under the initial dimensions for a follow-up particular analysis by examining the syllabi of piano teaching models from five universities' music programs using the Research & Development (R&D) theoretical framework. The study examines and contrasts relevant research on domestic piano instruction models through a survey of the literature. This stage seeks to categorize and condense the findings of previous research, comprehend the theoretical underpinnings and real-world application of applied talent training models both domestically and internationally, and offer a theoretical framework and point of reference for this investigation. This study employs various research tools, including literature analysis, structured questionnaires, observation forms, and checklists, to collect comprehensive data to address the research questions. It explored that teaching methods: at present, China's higher education piano teaching methods are diverse, emphasis on skills training, ignoring the cultivation of music literacy. In the process of teaching, teachers tend to focus on demonstration, and students have fewer opportunities to practice, which leads to the lack of students' innovative ability. The Curriculum: China's higher education piano teaching is based on professional courses, and a small number of elective courses in the curriculum to assist. As a result, the content of the curriculum is relatively single and lacks the cultivation of students' comprehensive ability. The Evaluation system: China's higher education piano teaching is mainly based on performance examination, which overly emphasizes technical indicators and neglects musical expression and creativity. In addition, the evaluation standard is too uniform, making it difficult to meet students' individual needs.