(This program is not currently accepting students).
Prerequisites and Entrance Requirements
Acceptance as a graduate student by the Departments of Music is required. The applicant must have extensive performance and teaching experience after receiving a master's degree from an accredited institution in piano or chamber music performance.
The applicant must submit the following to the advisory committee:
- two letters of recommendation (one from a professional colleague, not teacher of the applicant) attesting to the applicant’s past and potential ability as a concert performer;
- programs and critical reviews, if available;
- completed repertoire and professional experience record, obtainable at: academics/incoming-current-music-students/index
The applicant must successfully complete the following entrance requirements:
- sight-reading examinations (private);
- written placement examinations (two hours each) in (a) music history, (b) music theory.
The contents of the public recital, determined by the advisory committee from repertoire proposed by the candidate, are to be communicated to the applicant by the committee not less than 30 days in advance of the recital date. The applicant is responsible for obtaining his/her own supporting performers and is responsible for the overall quality of the performance on this and all other recitals required for the degree. Entrance recitals and placement and entrance examinations are given during the first and second semester registration periods. An interview with the committee takes place after the examinations are completed.
Program of Study
Based on the results of the entrance examinations, the advisory committee, in conference with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 to 72 hours beyond the master's degree. The courses and repertoire to be completed as part of the degree requirements will be communicated to the student in writing.
The five required public recitals may be given in any order:
- three chamber music recitals (MUS 907 or MUS 908, 3 semester hours each);
- one lecture-demonstration recital and a written document, the topic of which must be approved in advance by the committee (MUS 907 or MUS 908, 3 semester hours);
- one vocal-accompanying recital (MUS 912 or MUS 913, 2 semester hours)
A final noncredit 70-minute public recital (MUS 997A w/ classes; MUS 997B w/o classes), consisting of music of different periods proposed by the candidate with committee approval, is the final comprehensive examination. The program content of this recital will be communicated to the candidate 60 days in advance of the performance. To be prepared by the candidate without the aid of a teacher or coach, this recital should demonstrate high professional standards of performance.
Minor in Latin American Music
The advisory committee, in conference with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 to 72 semester hours beyond the master's degree, which will include at least 12 semester hours of Latin American music electives. Repertoire for applied instruction and for recital programs must include a significant proportion of Latin American music.
Minor in Musicology
The advisory committee, in conference with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 to 72 semester hours beyond the master's degree, which will include at least 12 semester hours of musicology courses beyond the minimum number of hours already required for the degree. Three of those semester hours must be Research Methodology (MUS 731), unless the student has taken a similar course for the master's degree. At the conclusion of coursework, the student will take a written, four-hour minor comprehensive examination (based on four musicology courses selected by the student).