Degree Requirements
Master of Music: Piano Performance
Program of Study — 18 units, 2 years
Courses outside of the Bienen School of Music do not count toward the minimum 18 units required for the degree.
Applied Studies – 6 units
Students should select the section appropriate to their applied lessons professor.
- PIANO 461 Applied Piano
Studio Class – 0 units, 6 registrations required
Students should select the section appropriate to their applied lessons professor.
- PIANO 490 Studio Class
Piano Forum – 0 units, 6 registrations required
- PIANO 340 Piano Forum
Piano Repertoire, 0-3 units
Students are required to enroll in one, two, or all three classes of the PIANO 313 Piano Repertoire sequence based on the incoming piano repertoire exam results. Students should enroll in the required courses during their first year of study.
- PIANO 313-1 Piano Repertoire, fall quarter
- PIANO 313-2 Piano Repertoire, winter quarter
- PIANO 313-3 Piano Repertoire, spring quarter
Piano Pedagogy – 1 unit
Students should register for the below course during their first year of study.
- PIANO 415 Advanced Piano Pedagogy, winter quarter
Collaborative Studies – 1 unit
- Students should enroll in the below courses during their first year of study.
- PIANO 435 Collaborative Preparation, winter quarter
- PIANO 435 Collaborative Preparation, spring quarter
Chamber Studies – 2 units
- CONDUCT 491 Chamber Music, 0.5 unit
- CONDUCT 491 Chamber Music, 0.5 unit
- Chamber Studies Elective, 0.5 unit
- Chamber Studies Elective, 0.5 unit
Some options for Chamber Studies Electives are below. Students who are unsure whether a course meets the requirement for Chamber Studies Electives should check with Bienen Graduate Services.
- PIANO 429 Duo Sonata Class
- PIANO 492 Studio Ensemble (depending on topic)
- PIANO 493 Repertoire Studies (depending on topic)
Music Studies Core – 1 unit
- MUSIC 440 Introduction to Music Research
Music Studies Electives, 300 level or above – 2-3 units*
Music Studies Electives are Music Studies courses of the student’s choosing. Music Studies courses are 1 unit, academic in nature, and typically begin with the subject MUS_COMP, MUS_TECH, MUS_THRY, MUSIC_ED, and MUSICOL. Courses must be at the 300 level or above.
Students must pass the incoming music theory diagnostic exam or the MUS_THRY 401 Graduate Review of Music Theory course before enrolling in other MUS_THRY courses.
*Students who test out of the entire PIANO 313 Piano Repertoire sequence are required to complete 3 units of Music Studies Electives. Student who do not test out of the PIANO 313 Piano Repertoire sequence are required to complete 2 units of Music Studies Electives.
Music Electives, 300 level or above – 2-4 units**
Music Electives are courses within the Bienen School of Music of the student’s choosing. Courses must be at the 300 level or above.
**Students who test out of the entire PIANO 313 Piano Repertoire sequence are required to complete 4 units of Music Electives. Students who do not test out of the PIANO 313 Piano Repertoire sequence are required to complete 2-3 units of Music Electives as need to meet the minimum 18 units required for their degree.
Recitals – 0 units, 2 registrations required
Students should select the section appropriate to their applied lessons professor.
- PIANO 480 MM Recital
Students must present the first recital in the first year of study. Students must register for each recital in the quarter of the recital. The applied lessons professor or a faculty-designated substitute must attend and pass students on all recitals. Students who do not complete both recitals by the end of six quarters must register for MUSIC 480 Recital Continuation in the quarter of the final recital.
Music Theory Requirement
Students must pass the incoming music theory diagnostic exam or the MUS_THRY 401 Graduate Review of Music Theory course.