Academic Programs Catalog

College of Music

Graduate Study

Collaborative Piano - Master of Music

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Music, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano, an applicant must present a live performance audition before and be interviewed by a committee of faculty in the piano area, including the director of the collaborative piano program. For an applicant who has a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Michigan State University, the live performance audition may be waived at the discretion of the faculty in the piano area. With the approval of the faculty in the piano area, an applicant may be considered for admission to the program on the basis of a high-quality audio recording of a recent performance including a solo piano work, one vocal-piano work, and one instrumental-piano work. An applicant who submits an audio recording may be admitted only on provisional status pending the presentation of a live performance audition and an interview with the faculty in the piano area. The live performance and the interview must be completed before the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program and must meet the requirements of the piano area.

To be admitted to the Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano on regular status, an applicant must have:

  1. a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from a recognized educational institution, or have completed the courses in music performance that are required for the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Michigan State University or their equivalents. 
  2. presented a live performance audition and interview acceptable to the committee of faculty from the piano area.

Requirements for the Master of Music in Collaborative Piano

The program is available only under Plan B (without thesis). A total of 30 credits is required for the degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. The student must meet the requirements specified below:

1. All of the following courses (18 credits):
MUS  841  Seminar in Advanced Collaborative Piano Techniques 4
MUS  896  Master's Recital Performance 14
The credits of MUS 896 must include at least 2 credits of instruction in piano (1 credit for each of two semesters), 4 credits of instruction in collaborative piano (1 credit for each of four semesters), 4 credits of piano performance class (1 credit for each of four semesters), and 4 credits of instruction in chamber music (1 credit for each of four semesters). 
2. Complete two courses in music theory at the 400-level or above.
3. Complete a 3 credit course in musicology at the 400-level or above.
4. Complete 3 to 5 elective credits in music courses at the 400-level or above, exclusive of additional credits in MUS 896.
5. Perform three collaborative recitals under the guidance of the student’s applied music instructor and approved by a committee from the piano area in a pre-recital hearing. A recording of the recital must be submitted to the office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and will be retained by the College as part of the permanent degree record.
6. Complete the final oral certifying examination administered by a committee consisting of the student’s applied music instructor, another member from the piano area, and a faculty member from either the music theory or musicology area.