Music, M.Mu. - Piano Performance Concentration

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Additional Admissions Requirements

Applicants to this concentration are required to play an audition including works from four historical periods. All works must be performed from memory. Auditions should be arranged through the School of Music application platform, Acceptd, in accordance with the schedule available from the School of Music. To view specific application and audition requirements, navigate to https://app.getacceptd.com/gsu, select “Start an Application,” and complete the fields for the piano performance concentration.

Concentration Requirements (36 Credit Hours)

Applied Music Requirements

12 Hours

APPF 8001 - Applied Piano I 3 Credit Hours
APPF 8002 - Applied Piano II 3 Credit Hours
APPF 8003 - Applied Piano III 3 Credit Hours
APPF 8004 - Applied Piano IV 3 Credit Hours

Required Courses

7 Hours

MUS 6010 - Performance Laboratory 0 Credit Hours (four semesters)
MUS 6530 - Accompanying 1 Credit Hours
MUS 6610 - Piano Literature 3 Credit Hours
MUS 7071 - Collaborative Piano 1 Credit Hours
MUS 8490 - Chamber or Ensemble Recital in Major Graduate Applied Instrument or Voice 1 Credit Hours
MUS 8590 - Solo Recital in Major Graduate Applied Instrument or Voice 1 Credit Hours

Piano Pedagogy

3 Hours

Select one from the following:

MUS 6410 - Piano Pedagogy I 3 Credit Hours
MUS 6411 - Piano Pedagogy II 3 Credit Hours

Music History

3 Hours

Select one 8000-level course in Music History

Music Theory

3 Hours

Select one graduate-level course in Music Theory:

MUS 6110 - Instrumentation and Orchestration 3 Credit Hours
MUS 6450 - Advanced Tonal Analysis 3 Credit Hours
MUS 6460 - Analysis of Post-Tonal Music 3 Credit Hours
MUS 6500 - Historical Counterpoint 3 Credit Hours
MUS 8430 - Special Topics in Music Theory 3 Credit Hours

Graduate Music Electives

8 Hours

Select three credit hours from the following:

MUS 6360 - Advanced Keyboard Skills 2 Credit Hours
MUS 6500 - Historical Counterpoint 3 Credit Hours
MUS 6620 - Solo Song Literature I: Germany and Eastern Europe 2 Credit Hours
MUS 6680 - The Piano: It’s Historical Development, Construction and Technology 2 Credit Hours
MUS 6730 - Computer Applications in Music 2 Credit Hours
MUS 6750 - Group Instruction in Jazz Keyboard 1 Credit Hours
MUS 6792 - Jazz Theory 2 Credit Hours
MUS 6910 - Chamber Music Literature 3 Credit Hours
MUS 6940 - Orchestral Literature 3 Credit Hours
MUS 6941 - Orchestral Literature II 3 Credit Hours

Piano Proficiency Examination

A piano proficiency examination to be taken after the second semester of enrollment or 20 hours of study, or successful completion of:

MUS 6360 - Advanced Keyboard Skills 2 Credit Hours

Comprehensive Examination

By the midpoint of the final semester of study, the student will schedule an oral and/or written examination. The committee should include at least three faculty members (including the applied instructor or area coordinator, one theory faculty member, and one history faculty member). The examinations will assess the student’s knowledge regarding repertoire, pedagogy, music theory, and music history. The student will be expected to synthesize his/her knowledge and demonstrate a high level of musical understanding. Preparation should include a detailed review of all graduate courses taken and a review of the music that has been studied and performed as part of the master’s program. Each area will determine the proficiency requirements for the Comprehensive Exam for the Major Area. The appropriate area will administer the Major Area portion of the comprehensive exam and students will be required to demonstrate proficiency as determined by their major professor and/or area coordinator. These exams may consist of paper, an oral exam, program notes for recital, a short lecture to be presented in conjunction with a recital, etc. Each foundation studies member will determine appropriate comprehensive examination questions based on the coursework the student has completed at Georgia State University in their appropriate field, and will administer the exam as they see fit. This can be an oral exam, written exam, papers, etc. It will be the student’s responsibility to complete all portions of these comprehensive exams and collect appropriate approval signatures from their major area, music history, and music theory and turn their final comprehensive exam form into the graduate director. Students planning to graduate in the Fall or Spring must complete the comprehensive examination by the end of the twelfth week of classes. Students planning to graduate in the Summer must complete the comprehensive examination by the end of the fourth week of classes.