Program Admission

Admission to the Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy program is granted to students who meet the requirements of both the Graduate School and the School of Music & Dance. Application for admission to the Graduate School should be made to the Office of Admissions, where undergraduate transcripts are evaluated. Transcripts should be forwarded to the Office of Admissions at the time of application.

Admission requirements are as follows:

• Undergraduate degree in music, or its equivalent;
• Audition on piano;
• Personal statement summarizing plans for graduate study and teaching philosophy;
• Two letters of recommendation;
• Repertoire list;
• Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam (see below for additional details);
• Interview with appropriate applied music faculty may be required.

Conditional Admission

Students deficient in a requirement for degree admission may be granted conditional admission, subject to removal of the deficiency while beginning graduate study. Hours earned in making up deficiencies are in addition to those normally required for the degree.

Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam

Students must achieve an acceptable score (70% or higher) on the Music Theory Placement Exam prior to enrolling in MUSC 511 , MUSC 512 , MUSC 513 , MUSC 516 , or MUSC 517 . The Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam may be taken only one time. 

Students who fail to achieve an acceptable score must complete MUSC 509 - Graduate Theory Review  (2 hrs) with a  B or better, prior to enrolling in MUSC 511, MUSC 512, MUSC 513, MUSC 516, or MUSC 517. Students placed into MUSC 509 are allowed to take the course only one time. Any student who does not earn a B or better in the course, will not be allowed to continue in the graduate program. MUSC 509 does not count towards degree requirements.

School Information

Music & Dance, College of Arts & Sciences

W. Doug Baker, Ph.D. | Director (Interim) | N101 Alexander | 734.487.4380 | wbakerii@emich.edu

Advisor Information

David Pierce, D.M.A. | N101 Alexander | 734.487.4380 | dpierce@emich.edu

Upon admission to the School of Music & Dance, each student will meet with the graduate advisor for assistance in planning a curriculum.

Exit Requirements

In addition to Graduate School requirements, School of Music & Dance requirements are as follows:

Comprehensive Review in Piano Pedagogy

All graduate students must pass an examination covering their major field of study. The examination may be written and/or oral in format, as determined by the student’s faculty committee. Written examinations will consist of three to five essay questions and must be completed in three hours or less. Oral examinations will last approximately one hour.

The examination will occur when the student’s prescribed course work is substantially completed, in the anticipated semester of graduation. In addition, the student must complete the thesis, recital, or other culminating experience prior to taking the examination. Exceptions to this policy may occur only with the approval of the student’s faculty committee and the school director. The examination will be graded Pass/Fail and can be taken no more than three times.

The examination will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the student’s faculty advisor, an additional faculty member from the major field, and a faculty member from outside the major field. The specific makeup of the faculty committee will be determined by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor, and must be approved by the school director. If a student is unable to form a faculty committee, it will be formed by the school director in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor.

Final Project (Video recording and written documentation must be supplied to the office of the School of Music & Dance)

Choose one:

• Lecture-Recital.
• Recital with separate lecture or presentation for piano teachers.
• A 30-minute fluent reading of piano music of at least upper-intermediate difficulty for the piano faculty and a substantial paper that adds to the body of knowledge in the discipline and may result in a presentation or publication.
• Students must teach a minimum of two students each semester they are enrolled. Students who do not have their own studio will teach in the EMU Community Music Academy.

Degree Requirements: 30 hours

The M.M. in Piano Pedagogy in collaborative keyboard requires the completion of 30 hours of course work to be distributed among supportive studies, major field and electives as follows:

Students must earn a grade of a B or higher in all Supportive Studies and Major Field courses. If a grade lower than a B is earned in any course, the student must retake the course and receive a B or higher, before the credits for that course can be counted toward their degree.