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Pianist at the piano performing

Master of Music
Piano Performance: Solo Piano

Application Extended: Still Accepting Applications

Acquire the diverse, competitive skills you need to succeed as a professional solo pianist. You will receive intensive, conservatory-style training and attend master classes with leading artists, develop your technique and repertoire, and perform regularly both on and off campus in recitals, ensembles, salon evenings, showcase concerts, and more.

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Degree Details

Official Degree Title

Master of Music in Piano Performance: Solo Piano

Format
Full-time or Part-time
Credits
36
Start Date
Spring
Application Deadline
Start Date
Summer or Fall
Application Deadline

You will work with your advisor to tailor your curriculum toward your personal interests and career goals. Your program of study consists of private lessons, chamber music coaching, and courses in piano literature and historical performance practices, as well as seminars in music history and practical research methodologies. 

Your culminating degree recital is accompanied by the Graduate Colloquy, a course designed to prepare young artists and scholars for entry into the field.

You’ll work closely with our renowned artist faculty, professionals who perform regularly at venues in New York City and around the world, from the Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall, and IRCAM to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. You will learn about the repertoire in two semesters of Piano Literature, study performance practices of all eras, and participate in our year-long master class series.

You’ll take advantage of multiple opportunities to perform in different capacities throughout your time in the program, including degree recitals and chamber ensemble performances, intimate salon evenings, showcase concerts, festivals, and honors recitals. Our pianists are sought after to play in the NYU Orchestras, New Music Ensemble, and Composers Ensemble; on series including Steinhardt at Septodont and the NYU Tandon Piano Series; and at a host of on-campus venues. They also record regularly for NYU Steinhardt’s Music Technology and Screen Scoring programs and have access to NYU's world-class Dolan Studios.

Throughout your degree, you’ll achieve a level of excellence that makes it possible for you to enter the field of professional piano performance. You’ll gain knowledge of the repertoire written for piano from the 18th–21st centuries, as well as varied performance practices, both historical and contemporary. 

You’ll develop the technique to perform standard and contemporary repertoire in a fluent and stylistically appropriate manner, and maintain an injury-free career as a pianist. You’ll understand the myriad ways that, as a professional, you can share your expertise at the piano and knowledge of the repertoire with your audiences, students, and colleagues, recognizing your role, not only in performing, but in educating audiences about your art form and its history.

You’ll also gain professional experience while here at NYU Steinhardt, including appointments to teach private piano and keyboard skills, staff positions accompanying voice lessons and diction classes, and accompanying student degree recitals.

Questions 

If you have any additional questions about our degree, please feel free to contact Marilyn Nonken at marilyn.nonken@nyu.edu.