Peter Serkin, a pianist in a family dynasty of musicians, died Feb. 1 at his home in Red Hook NY, near the campus of Bard College, where he was on the faculty. He was 72.

Mr. Serkin was descended from storied musical lineages on both sides of his family. His father was the eminent pianist Rudolf Serkin; his maternal grandfather was the influential conductor and violinist Adolf Busch, whose musical forebears went back generations. He challenged his legacy and sought to claim his own by embracing contemporary music. Throughout his career he presented recital programs that juxtaposed the old and the new — 12-tone scores and Mozart sonatas, for instance.

Mr. Serkin enjoyed teaching and held posts at institutions including the Mannes School of Music and the Juilliard School in New York City, in addition to Bard College. During summer, he taught at the Tanglewood Music Institute.