Music Performance, Specialization in Piano, M.M.

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The Master of Music degree program is designed to prepare musicians to practice their specialization in the changing environment of current American music culture. The program encompasses eleven emphases: music composition, music education, music history, ethnomusicology, music performance, collaborative piano, conducting, jazz studies, piano pedagogy, vocal pedagogy, and music theory.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Masters degree, students in the Music Performance program are expected to be able to:

Develop appropriate technical proficiency and artistry to perform as soloists and in ensembles.
Analyze music as a means of enhancing performance skills and developing teaching competency.
Demonstrate teaching skills in individual and group settings.
Interpret a common body of music literature as appropriate for their performance medium.
Demonstrate the ability to use music performance for engagement with the outside world.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadline is August 1 for Fall and December 1 for Spring. Funding deadline is March 1. Since application reviews may begin immediately after the deadline, we recommend submitting your application and providing all required documents before the deadline.
Additional Documents required:

Three Letters of Recommendation
Professional Resume
Applicants must audition in person, unless the applicant resides more than 250 miles away from BGSU. In this case, an online submission will be accepted.

Audition/Interview required:

Domestic applicants must select an audition/Interview date under the Secondary Music Application tab
International applicants must submit either a recorded videos/papers/scores online* OR select an audition/Interview date under the Secondary Music Application tab

*under the Portfolio section, if available in this application, or on your Application Status Page after you submit your application

International applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA). Successful completion of ELS 112 will also be accepted for this requirement.

Additionally, Duolingo test scores will be accepted for applications through Summer 2025. Applicants of the Graduate College who have completed a previous degree (associate, bachelor’s master’s or doctorate) from a U.S. college/university or are from a country (click here for a complete list) in which instruction was delivered in English (and attended the university for at least two years) are exempt from providing these test scores.

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements

Required Courses (22 credits)

Performance majors are required to register for applied music (MUSP 6610 ) each summer they are in residence (except summer).

Electives (5 credits)

Academic courses. Select 3 credits from:

MUCT ********** MUED ********** MUSP 5200 MUSP 5530 MUSP 5540 MUSP 5580 MUSP 6080 MUSP 6090 MUSP 6140 MUSP 6220 MUSP 6640 MUSP 6650 MUSP 6660 MUSP 6670 MUSP 6710 MUSP 6760

Ensembles: Select 2 credits from:

MUCT 5000E MUCT 5010E MUCT 5020E MUCT 5030E MUCT 5040E MUSP 5030E MUSP 5040E MUSP 5050E MUSP 5080E MUSP 5090E MUSP 5100E MUSP 5110E MUSP 5120E MUSP 5130E MUSP 5160E MUSP 5170E MUSP 5370E MUSP 5380E MUSP 5390E MUSP 5400E MUSP 5640E MUSP 5650E MUSP 5660E MUSP 5670E MUSP 5700E MUSP 5750E MUSP 5760E MUSP 5770E MUSP 5780E MUSP 5790E MUSP 5900E MUSP 6380E MUSP 6190E

Other Requirements

Student must take placement examinations in Music History/Literature and Music Theory as they begin their program. Those who do not pass one or more portions are permitted to retest during the first semester of residence. If the re-test is not passed, student must take the appropriate remedial courses, depending on the exam and the score. NOTE: Remedial courses listed here may not be used to satisfy degree requirements, except in the case of MUCT 6080 and MUCT 6120.

1. Music Theory Placement Exam - Pass 1 Exam or select 1 from the following remedial courses:

2. Music History/Literature Exams - Pass 2 Exams or select 2 from the following remedial courses:

Culminating Experience (5 credits)

Candidates in performance are expected to fulfill the final project requirement by presenting a public recital or recitals.

MUSP 6900 - Directed Research in Music Performance
Plan I:
MUSP 6990 - Thesis Research
Plan II:
MUSP 6980 - Recital and Portfolio
Comprehensive Exam

Minimum Total Credits (32 credits)

Additional Requirements

Minimum of 3 credits of 6990 required for Plan I master’s students. Maximum of 6 credits may be applied toward degree requirements.
Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
Minimum of 18 credits must be at the 6000-level or higher
Minimum of 24 credits must be earned at BGSU
All requirements must be completed within six years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.