Through continued development of performance skills and overall musicianship, this degree is designed to prepare the graduate for a career in performance or teaching, or doctoral study. 

Repertoire and performance are emphasized, with three required degree recitals. Extensive experiences in chamber music are provided with both vocal and instrumental students, and potentially in opera, choral, orchestra, and wind ensembles. All master's students meet weekly in piano performance classes with faculty. MU enjoys a wealth of carefully maintained grand pianos as well as a digital piano lab, two harpsichords and a fortepiano. Annually, distinguished pianists provide masterclasses to MU piano students, including recent guests Boris Berman, Malcolm Bilson, Anne Epperson, Claude Frank, Peter Frankl, Ian Hobson, and Ralph Votapek.

Prerequisites 

• Bachelors degree in Piano (or demonstrated equivalent) 
• GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours 
• Senior recital 
• 2 courses in either French or German 
• 2 courses in French, German, or Italian diction 
• 1 upper-level music history course 
• 3 credits of 18th-century counterpoint 

If an applicant does not meet the required prerequisites, then appropriate course(s) may be added to the degree requirements.

Additional Requirements 

• Comprehensive Exam General Information 
• See degree specific guidelines on this page to the right 
• No more than one course with a grade lower than B- may count toward completion of the degree. 
• A minimum of three credits each are required in both theory and history. 
• Electives may be 7000-level or higher music or non-music courses, chosen with consultation with the advisor 
• One recital is a combined solo and chamber music recital; the other two are to be given as accompanist to a vocalist and an instrumentalist, respectively.