WVU Collaborative Piano

Undergraduate and Graduate degrees

The School of Music offers the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Piano Performance with emphasis in Collaborative Piano. These degrees offer piano students wishing to specialize in accompanying an opportunity to study and achieve undergraduate and advanced degrees in this highly demanding and lucrative professional field. Students in these programs develop the necessary skills for collaborative performance in today’s market, including opera and art song coaching techniques, diction, and vocal and instrumental accompanying, and will engage in a wide array of performing ensemble settings already in place in the School of Music. The Bachelor of Music degree provides a thorough foundation in the art of collaborative performance as well as solo playing. For the Master of Music degree, applicants should hold an undergraduate piano performance or collaborative piano degree. For the Doctor of Musical Arts degree, applicants should hold undergraduate and Master of Music degrees in piano performance or collaborative piano. Through the M.M. and D.M.A. in Collaborative Piano degrees, students will further develop their performing abilities as highly skilled and marketable pianists.

Bachelor of Music – Collaborative Piano

Performance Curriculum: Piano (Collaborative Piano Emphasis)

Admission only by approval of the piano faculty. Required for graduation:
Achieve a proficiency of level ten; accompany two recitals: one voice and one combination of other instruments; and two accompanying performances on upper level recitals

Required Courses Hrs.

Major Area
MUSC 118 Applied Music Piano …...........................................................................32
MUSC 432-433 Methods and Pedagogy (piano) ........................................................4
MUSC 434-435 Repertoire (piano) .............................................................................4
MUSC 488 Recital (solo).............................................................................................2
Major Ensemble …......................................................................................................2
Total …......................................................................................................................44

Music Supportive Courses
MUSC 189 Convocation (six semesters) ....................................................................0
MUSC 177 Introduction to Music Listening ….............................................................1
MUSC 270-271 Music Literature ….............................................................................6
MUSC 200 Conducting …...........................................................................................2
MUSC 161, 163, 261, 263 Aural Theory ….................................................................8
MUSC 162, 164, 262, 264 Written Theory …..............................................................8
Total …......................................................................................................................25

*Accompanying Supportive Courses
MUSC 104 Introduction to Opera Theatre …..............................................................2
MUSC Chamber Music …........................ ..................................................................6
MUSC 169 Diction …..................................................................................................2
Total …......................................................................................................................10

GEC Requirements
Total …......................................................................................................................35
(Foreign language requirement: Two semesters of Italian, German or French)

Electives
Theory Electives …......................................................................................................6
Music History Elective ….............................................................................................3
Total …........................................................................................................................9
Grand Total …............................................................................................................123

*Accompanying supportive courses have the following requirements:

MUSC 104: two semesters, 1 credit each semester
MUSC 169: English Diction required
MUSC Chamber Music: 6 semesters, 1 credit each

For questions, please contact Prof. Robert Thieme (Robert.Thieme@mail.wvu.edu) or Dr. Lucy Mauro (Lucy.Mauro@mail.wvu.edu).

Master of Music – Collaborative Piano

Application and Audition Requirements for M.M. Collaborative Piano

  1. Three letters of recommendation. It is recommended that these letters describe solo and collaborative performance as well as sight reading and music learning abilities.
  2. Application that lists both solo and collaborative repertoire studied and performed.
  3. Audition requirements:
    • Two contrasting solo works, memorized.
    • One movement of an instrumental sonata from the standard repertoire and two contrasting art songs from the standard repertoire.
    • Sight reading may also be included.
    • For the audition, the collaborative works may be submitted as a DVD or CD of performances within the past year.

For questions, please contact Prof. Robert Thieme (Robert.Thieme@mail.wvu.edu) or Dr. Lucy Mauro (Lucy.Mauro@mail.wvu.edu).

Program Hrs.
MUSC 700 Performance (major performance area) ..............................................................8
MUSC 771 Introduction to Music Bibliography …...................................................................3
MUSC 689 Master’s Recital (vocal)........................................................................................2
MUSC 689 Master’s Recital (instrumental).............................................................................2
MUSC 647 Chamber Music…................................................................................................ 2
One graduate-level theory course and one graduate-level music history course
(theory courses: Music 460-462, 463, 464, 465-466, 468, 761, 762, 763, 764
history courses: Music 470-476, 591K, 670 731, 791) ...........................................................5-6

Music electives
(no more than four hours in the major performance area).......................................................7-8
Ensembles (2 semesters) ....................................................................................................... 2

Total…......................................................................................................................................31 (33)

An undergraduate performance degree or collaborative piano degree is required (Level 10 for admission), with a required jury the first semester with both solo and collaborative repertoire. Students will need to either have had a comparable amount of Diction or will be required to register for diction for every semester in residence as needed. Recommended elective: MUSC 434, 435 Song Literature.

Doctor of Musical Arts – Collaborative Piano

Application and Audition Requirements for D.M.A. Collaborative Piano

  1. Three letters of recommendation. It is recommended that these letters describe solo and collaborative performance as well as sight reading and music learning abilities.
  2. Detailed resume that lists both solo and collaborative repertoire studied and performed.
  3. Audition requirements: 60 minutes of music, including a major instrumental sonata and art songs, as well as one solo memorized major work. For more audition information and repertoire advice or other questions, please contact Prof. Robert Thieme (Robert.Thieme@mail.wvu.edu) or Dr. Lucy Mauro (Lucy.Mauro@mail.wvu.edu).

The Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano offers advanced training in this highly demanding and lucrative field and helps to prepare students for work in opera and vocal coaching, with orchestras, in chamber music, and for college and university teaching positions. The flexibility within the D.M.A. degree allows students to work with their advisers to develop their degree plan and focus on areas of special interest. In addition to piano, students may gain a broad spectrum of collaborative experience on organ, harpsichord and fortepiano. The academic requirements of music history, music theory, music literature and applied lessons are included and additional applicable courses of interest may be from such courses as MUSC640-51 Chamber Music, MUSC 730 Master Classes in applied instrumental repertoire, MUSC 704 Opera Theatre, and MUSC 732 Song Literature.