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Prepare for your career as a professional solo and collaborative pianist in a uniquely creative, inclusive environment. In Steinhardt’s unparalleled facilities, you’ll study with world-renowned artist faculty and explore diverse musical traditions, with a complement of courses in Music Technology, Music Business, Performing Arts Administration, and the Arts in Education. While taking full advantage of NYU’s acclaimed liberal arts core,  you’ll work one-on-one with today’s musical innovators, developing your personal artistry while acquiring the skills to succeed after graduation.  

Coached by dedicated faculty mentors, you’ll explore four centuries of solo and duo piano repertoire with your amazing peers. Collaborative experiences range from traditional chamber ensembles to collaborations with the the NYU Symphony Orchestra and Broadway Orchestra, NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble, and the Programs in Music Composition and Vocal Performance. 

Core Course Sequence

Only Steinhardt’s innovative performance curriculum allows you to simultaneously explore the University’s renowned liberal arts core; original offerings in music history and music theory in addition to foundational courses in Piano Literature; and complementary coursework in Music Business and Performing Arts Administration, Music Technology, and Arts Education. A flexible elective component allows for Study Abroad, interdisciplinary minors, and double majors.

Our cutting-edge curriculum in music theory and history introduces you to a broad range of musical repertoire, analytical approaches, and critical listening skills for engaging with music from various styles and genres. You’ll have the opportunity to explore not only common-practice “classical” and contemporary music but also popular genres, jazz, musical theatre, and non-Western traditions.  

Instrumental Performance prepares its graduates to act as musical innovators and teaching artists, changemakers, practitioner-scholars, and policy makers in communities, schools, and performing arts institutions worldwide. 

Specialization Sequence

Performance majors benefit from personalized instruction in private lessons with master artists, ensemble coachings, and dedicated mentorship from world-class faculty. Master classes, repertoire classes, and intensive specialization courses prepare students for successful careers as concertizing and recording artists. For those interested in acquiring skills in Music Technology, Music Business, Performing Arts Administration, and the Arts in Education, we offer access to coursework – including for-credit internships, minors, double majors, and opportunities to Study Away –  which will enhance your knowledge of the performing arts in context. 

Sample Elective Courses 

Introduction to Performing Arts Administration

This course is an introduction to the concepts and techniques used to manage performing arts organizations. Subjects include organizational structure, trustee/staff relations, marketing, audience building, fund-raising, human resources, community engagement, performance measurement, leadership, strategic planning, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through readings, class discussion, case exercises, and engaging with professional arts managers, students will acquire an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing performing arts managers.

Global Soundscapes: A Survey of Musical Traditions

This course introduces students to selected musical sounds and practices from cultural groups around the world. Through exposure to distinct musical cultures, from traditional to transnational, students learn to define and apply musical concepts such as rhythm, timbre, melody, and form. The socio-cultural context and relevance of musical practices are also examined, touching on issues such as race, gender, embodied participation, technologies of production and circulation, and relationship to religion, the state, and other social structures. 

Rights, Revenue & Relationships: What Music Creators Need To Know

Students pursuing careers in music creation — songwriters, composers, instrumentalists, vocalists, engineers, producers, and others — need to be well-versed in myriad ways to protect and maximize the rights, revenue streams, and professional relationships that flow from their work. As music marketplace opportunities and distribution channels widen and diversify, music creators have far greater choices than ever before. Students explore the essential elements required to build a career and a life in music, examining them from the creator’s perspective.

Global Electronic Music I

This studio course examines a mixtape selection of electronic music from NYC to Capetown to Tokyo using music theory and composition. Global electronic music necessitates diverse methodologies in critical discussion of the research of this music in a post/neo-colonial setting. The class will engage in critical discussion of the studio and the digital audio workstation as compositional tools on the continuum of improvisation, and the music itself as innovation, communication and historiography in global communities of the Information age.

Culminating Experience 

In degree recitals, Instrumental Performance majors demonstrate their mastery over their instrument, command of the repertoire, and personal performance aesthetic. Degree recitals are held in Steinhardt’s world-class performance venues and recorded to provide an archival document of professional quality.

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Foreign Language
Select four credits of a foreign language4
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas4
Cultures and Contexts4
Societies & the Social Sciences4
Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
Physical/Life Science4
Quantitative Reasoning4
Other Liberal Arts Requirements
MPATC-UE 1067Music History I2
MPATC-UE 1068Music History II: Baroque & Classical2
MPATC-UE 1077Music History III2
MPATC-UE 1078Music History IV: Twentieth Century2
Specialization Requirements
Required Music Courses
MPATC-UE 1301Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music 12
MPATC-UE 1302Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music1
Theory & Practice II (select one)2
MPATC-UE 1311
Theory & Practice II: Tonal Harmony & Voice Leading
MPATC-UE 1312
Theory & Practice II: Popular Music
Aural Skills II (select one)1
MPATC-UE 1321
Aural Skills II: Tonal Harmony & Voice Leading
MPATC-UE 1322
Aural Skills II: Popular Music
Advanced Theory & Practice (select two)4
MPATC-UE 1331
Advanced Theory & Practice: Chromatic Harmony & Form
MPATC-UE 1332
Advanced Theory & Practice: Post Tonal and Contemporary Music
MPATC-UE 1333
Advanced Theory & Practice: Non-Western Music
MPATC-UE 1334
Advanced Theory & Practice: Counterpoint in the Digital Age
Advanced Aural Skills (select two)2
MPATC-UE 1341
Advanced Aural Skills: Chromatic Harmony
MPATC-UE 1342
Advanced Aural Skills: Post Tonal and Extended Chromaticism
MPATC-UE 1343
Advanced Aural Skills: Sight-Singing
MPATC-UE 1344
Advanced Aural Skills: Popular Music Transcription
MPAPE-UE 72Keyboard Skills I1
MPAPE-UE 73Keyboard Skills II1
MPAPE-UE 1092Recital 22
Required Music Specialization Courses
MPAPE-UE 1056Piano (Private Lessons) for Music Majors 324
MPAPE-UE 1070Collaborative Piano: Techniques & Practicum3
MPAPE-UE 1096Piano Literature II3
MPAPE-UE 1097Piano Literature III3
Chamber Ensemble/Large Ensemble 48
Music Specialization (by advisement)25
Unrestricted Electives8
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Writing Proficiency Examination
Total Credits130
1

Students are placed into this course through a placement exam.  Students who do not place into this course will first enroll in MPATC-UE 1300 Music Fundamentals. 

2

Students take 1 credit in their Junior year and 1 credit in their Senior year.

3

Students take 3 credits every semester.

4

Students take a combination of 8 credits in chamber and/or large ensembles.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPAPE-UE 1056 Piano (Private Lessons) for Music Majors 3
Ensemble (by advisement) 1
MPATC-UE 1301 Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music 2
MPATC-UE 1302 Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music 1
MPAPE-UE 72 Keyboard Skills I 1
EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry 4
Piano Studies Core 4
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
 Credits16
2nd Semester/Term
MPAPE-UE 1056 Piano (Private Lessons) for Music Majors 3
Ensemble (by advisement) 1
Theory & Practice II 2
Aural Skills II 1
MPAPE-UE 73 Keyboard Skills II 1
ACE-UE 110 Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions 4
Liberal Arts Electives 4
 Credits16
3rd Semester/Term
MPAPE-UE 1056 Piano (Private Lessons) for Music Majors 3
Ensemble (by advisement) 1
Advanced Theory & Practice 2
Advanced Aural Skills 1
MPATC-UE 1067 Music History I 2
Piano Studies Core 4
Music Elective(s) (by advisement) 4
 Credits17
4th Semester/Term
MPAPE-UE 1056 Piano (Private Lessons) for Music Majors 3
Ensemble (by advisement) 1
Advanced Theory & Practice 2
Advanced Aural Skills 1
MPATC-UE 1068 Music History II: Baroque & Classical 2
Liberal Arts Electives 4
Music Elective(s) (by advisement) 4
 Credits17
5th Semester/Term
MPAPE-UE 1056 Piano (Private Lessons) for Music Majors 3
Ensemble (by advisement) 1
Piano Literature II 3
MPATC-UE 1077 Music History III 2
Piano Studies Core 4
Music Elective(s) (by advisement) 4
 Credits17
6th Semester/Term
MPAPE-UE 1056 Piano (Private Lessons) for Music Majors 3
Ensemble (by advisement) 1
Collaborative Piano Techniques and Practicum 3
MPATC-UE 1078 Music History IV: Twentieth Century 2
Liberal Arts Electives 4
Music Elective(s) (by advisement) 3
MPAPE-UE 1092 Recital 1
 Credits17
7th Semester/Term
MPAPE-UE 1056 Piano (Private Lessons) for Music Majors 3
Ensemble (by advisement) 1
Piano Literature III 3
Piano Studies Core 4
Music Elective(s) (by advisement) 5
 Credits16
8th Semester/Term
MPAPE-UE 1056 Piano (Private Lessons) for Music Majors 3
Ensemble (by advisement) 1
Liberal Arts Electives 4
Music Elective(s) (by advisement) 5
MPAPE-UE 1092 Recital 1
 Credits14
 Total Credits130