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Curriculum

MM, Piano Performance: Solo Piano

In NYU’s unparalleled performing, recording, and practice facilities, you’ll acquire the diverse, competitive skills required to succeed as a professional concertizing and recording pianist. You will receive intensive one-on-one instruction with internationally acclaimed performers and pedagogues, develop your technical and interpretive skills, and perform regularly both on campus and off. Engaging with your peers and faculty mentors across programs, you will access a powerful network of artistic inspiration and professional opportunity.

Core Course Sequence

Towards completing 36 points of graduate-level coursework, you will work with your advisor to tailor your curriculum toward your personal interests and career goals. Your program of study includes private lessons with renowned artist faculty, chamber music coaching, and seminars in music history and contemporary research methodologies. You will learn about the repertoire in two semesters of Piano Literature, study performance practices of all eras, and participate in public facing master classes, curated events, and collaborations with the Programs in Instrumental and Vocal Performance, Jazz Studies, Composition, and Music Education. Myriad collaborative opportunities include traditional chamber music ensembles, the NYU Baroque Ensemble, NYU Orchestra, NYU Broadway Orchestra, and NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Culminating Experience

Your culminating degree recital is accompanied by Graduate Colloquy, a course designed to provide young artists and scholars the skills and materials necessary to advance to the next level of their careers. Our pianists graduate prepared for opportunities onstage, in academia, and in the non-profit and commercial sectors, aware of the changing roles and responsibilities of today’s performing musicians. 

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

Course Title Credits
Required Courses
Research
3 credits, by advisement:3
MPAME-GE 2021
Music Reference and Research Materials
MPAME-GE 2130
Research in Music and Music Ed
MPATC-GE 2116
Music Theory Pedagogy
MPATC-GE 2209
Seminar in Music Theory: Music and the Senses
History/Literature
3 credits by advisement:3
Area of Concentration - Solo Performance
Applied Instrumental Study
MPAPE-GE 2356Piano (Private Lessons) 19
Ensemble
6 credits of the following, by advisement:6
Chamber Music
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 from 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
Culminating Experience
MPAPE-GE 2026Colloquy in Music3
Total Credits36
1

Students complete 3 credits each semester for 3 semesters.

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPAPE-GE 2356 Piano (Private Lessons) 3
Ensemble by Advisement 3
Research Elective 3
Performance Practice Elective 3
 Credits12
2nd Semester/Term
MPAPE-GE 2356 Piano (Private Lessons) 3
Ensemble by Advisement 3
History/Literature Elective 3
Performance Practice Elective 3
 Credits12
3rd Semester/Term
MPAPE-GE 2356 Piano (Private Lessons) 3
Performance Practice Elective 3
Performance Practice Elective 3
MPAPE-GE 2026 Colloquy in Music 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits36