Piano Requirements

First Year

Departmental Examination:

  • A work by J. S. Bach.
  • A sonata from the Classical period.
  • A representative work from the Romantic period.
  • One étude - level of difficulty to be determined by teacher.

Second Year

Departmental Examination

  • Four works, one from each of the following periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th century to present*
  • Two virtuoso études from the works of Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin, Bartok, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Ligeti, Bolcom.
  • Sight-reading

The total duration (excluding sight-reading) of this program must be at least 45 minutes.

* Post Romantic composers such as Rachmaninoff, Granados, Albeniz and early Scriabin may not fulfill this category but may satisfy the Romantic category.

Third Year

Departmental Examination

  • Representative works of three style periods, including one work composed after 1945. Of the three selections, at least two should be major works.
  • Self-study - three weeks prior to juries students will choose a piece (from among several presented) to be prepared independently. Memorization is optional.
  • One étude of virtuosity.

The total duration of this program must be at least 50 minutes.

All undergraduate piano majors are required to study and perform two concerti during the course of their first three years.

Off-Campus Recital: As a prerequisite to the jury students are expected to perform an off-campus recital at some time during their junior year. The site will be arranged by the student in consultation with the major teacher and/or with the Placement Office. A printed program of this recital must be submitted to the major teacher as documentation of this requirement.

Fourth Year

Recital

A well-balanced full recital of 50-60 minutes duration, including one composition from the 20th century to the present. Recital programs may not duplicate any repertoire performed in juries or entrance auditions.

Note: Certain contemporary works may be performed from score with departmental permission. Otherwise, all works are to be performed from memory.

Graduate Students

Departmental Hearing

MM, GPD and AD students who do not perform degree recitals within the academic year must present a departmental hearing. Repertoire should consist of three works representing different style periods, including at least two major works.

Concerti are permissible. Evaluation will be on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading basis.

Recital

Programs may not duplicate works performed either at entrance auditions or graduate hearings.

 

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