Piano Performance (MM)

Department Website

Program Description

The MM in Piano Performance offers a concentration in either solo performance or collaborative performance. Both concentrations offer a comprehensive sequence involving private lessons, chamber music, and literature courses covering four centuries of music and performance practice. Performance opportunities include solo and chamber recitals, master classes, showcase concerts, festivals and series focusing on NYU Steinhardt pianists, as well as performances with the baroque collegium, NYU Symphony Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, and Contemporary Music Ensemble. Students choose music electives to enhance their areas of specialization, reflecting research and performance interests and professional aspirations.

Other Opportunities

The program also offers a dual degree option leading to the MM in Piano Performance and Advanced Certificate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy.

Admissions

Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:

• Résumé/CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Proficiency in English

See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.

See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to the following concentrations:

• Solo Piano
• Collaborative Piano

Program Requirements

Solo Piano

The program requires the completion of 36 credits, comprised of the following:

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Required Courses
Research
Select one course by advisement from the following:		3
MPAME-GE 2021	Music Reference and Research Materials
MPAME-GE 2130	Research in Music and Music Ed
History/Literature
Select one course by advisement from the following:		3
MPATC-GE 2025	African-American Music: Its Origins and Influence
MPATC-GE 2039	Contemporary Music
MPATC-GE 2550	Screen Music: History, Analysis, and Aesthetics.
MPATC-GE 2127	Aesthetics/Compositional Process in Symphony
MPATC-GE 2151
MPATC-GE 2200	Seminar in Music Theory
MPATC-GE 2069	Opera in The 20th Cent
Area of Concentration - Solo Performance
Applied Instrumental Study
MPAPE-GE 2356	Piano (Private Lessons) (Solo Repertoir, 3 credits taken three times for a total of 9 credits)	3
Ensemble
Select 6 credits of chamber music, large ensembles, and/or song repertoire classes by advisement of the following:		6
MPAxx-GE 2xxx	Chamber Music
MPAVP-GE 226x	Song Repertoire
MPASS-GE 2132	Baroque Ensemble
MPAGC-GE 2087	NYU Orchestra
MPAPS-GE 2221	Contemporary Music Ensemble
Performance Practice
Select four courses of restricted electives by advisement of the following:		12
MPAPE-GE 2170	Collaborative Piano:Techniques & Practicum
MPAPE-GE 2181	Influential Pianists and Performance Practice
MPAPE-GE 2186	Piano Literature II
MPAPE-GE 2187	Piano Literature III
MPAPE-GE 2189	Perf Practices/Entrepreneurship in 20th-21st Century Piano
Terminal Experience
MPAPE-GE 2026	Colloquy in Music (assessed public recital and dossier of professional documents)	3
Total Credits		36

Collaborative Piano

The program requires the completion of 39 credits, comprised of the following:

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Required Courses
Research
Select one Core by advisement of the following:		3
MPAME-GE 2021	Music Reference and Research Materials
MPAME-GE 2035	Technological Trends in Music Education
History/Literature
Select one course by advisement from the following:		3
Items below are only a sample of available courses
MPATC-GE 2025	African-American Music: Its Origins and Influence
MPATC-GE 2039	Contemporary Music
MPATC-GE 2550	Screen Music: History, Analysis, and Aesthetics.
MPATC-GE 2127	Aesthetics/Compositional Process in Symphony
MPATC-GE 2151
MPATC-GE 2200	Seminar in Music Theory
MPATC-GE 2069	Opera in The 20th Cent
Area of Concentration - Collaborative Performance
Applied Instrumental Study
MPAPE-GE 2356	Piano (Private Lessons) (taken 3 times)	9
Ensemble (by advisement)
Select 14 credits of the following by advisement:		14
Items below are a sample of available courses. Work on productions in conjunction with Vocal Performance may be used to fulfill this requirement.
MPAVP-GE 2261	Song Repertoire:English
MPAVP-GE 2262	Song Repertoire:German
MPAVP-GE 2263	Song Repertoire:Italian Spanish
MPAVP-GE 2264	Song Repertoire:French
MPAVP-GE 2311
MPAVP-GE 2312
MPAPE-GE 2034	Instrumental Techniques and Materials: Chamber Music
Performance Practice
Select six restricted electives from the following by advisement:		6
MPAPE-GE 2170	Collaborative Piano:Techniques & Practicum
MPAPE-GE 2181	Influential Pianists and Performance Practice
MPAVP-GE 2265
MPAVP-GE 226x	Song Repertoire: (various)
MPAVP-GE 2351	Music Theatre History I
MPAVP-GE 2352	Music Theatre History II
MPAME-GE 2102	Fundamentals of Conducting
MPATC-GE 2135	Conducting: Advanced Instrumental
Terminal Experience
2 assessed public recitals and dossier of professional documents
Select four units of the following:		4
MPAPE-GE 2026	Colloquy in Music
MPAPE-GE 2300	Independent Study
Total Credits		39

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

1st Semester/Term		Credits
Applied Study		3
Sub-specialization		3
Music Theory		3
MPAIA-GE 3401	Performing Arts Research Collegium 1	1
14 hours/week music practice and 2-5 hours/week on capstone project: Define Idea
	Credits	10
2nd Semester/Term
Applied Study		3
Sub-specialization		3
Research Methods		3
MPAIA-GE 3401	Performing Arts Research Collegium 1	1
14 hours/week music practice and 2-5 hours/week on capstone project: Literature Review
	Credits	9
3rd Semester/Term
Applied Study		3
Sub-specialization		3
Guided Music Performance Elective		3
MPAIA-GE 3401	Performing Arts Research Collegium 1	1
14 hours/week music practice and 2-5 hours/week on capstone project: Proposal
	Credits	9
4th Semester/Term
Applied Study		3
Sub-specialization		3-4
MPAIA-GE 3401	Performing Arts Research Collegium 1	1
5 hours/week preparing for Candidacy Examinations (3 credits of equivalency) plus 14 hours/week music practice and preparation for recitals
	Credits	6
5th Semester/Term
Recital		1
Lecture Recital		1
14 hours/week music practice and 20 hours/week on capstone project
	Credits	2
	Total Credits	36

¹

MPAIA-GE 3401 Performing Arts Research Collegium is taken the first semester for 1 credit, and subsequently taken for 0 credits.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Demonstrate technical virtuosity and musical competence on the piano.
2. Synthesize and integrate knowledge of contemporary and historical practices styles into musical interpretation.
3. Demonstrate advanced levels of proficiency in solo and collaborative performance sufficient to enter music professions or graduate programs.
4. Communicate verbally, in writing, and through public performance, musical ideas and concepts to professionals and laypersons.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the societal impact of music and the ethical responsibility of a professional musician.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Steinhardt Academic Policies

Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.