PTNA will start accepting the participants as a group in the PTNA Piano STEP from April 2011, in response to the steady increase in the number of ensemble performances. Components of group can be various, string ensembles, jazz piano trio, chorus, group rythmique or whatever, which does not even necessarily include piano. It aims at encouraging music learners and lovers to enjoy various styles of music as well as to exchange each other in STEP.

One of the latest reports proved the group activity lifts up the musical excitement and enthusiasm in life. At STEP in Ube (Yamaguchi prefecture), 'Ogenki-Gundan' showed exciting performance and received big applause from audience. The group title implies the active senior life, and the members cheerily played violin, clarinet, flute, ocarina, harmonica, and trumpet.
Another reports tells how young children enjoyed their performances on stage, together with their parents, teachers and other kids (->STEP free stage for kids).

Under this new system, the first group applicant was accepted recently; "Harmonie", a group of 10 young pianists led by Ms.Mayumi Midorikawa. They will play pieces of Burgmüller (arrangement for duo) in the STEP next April.