Piano Performance, BM
Offered in: Chicago
The goals of the Piano Program are to prepare the student for the many facets of a diverse performance career (soloist, collaborative pianist, and chamber musician) and to provide the student with the musical skills and pedagogical background to become a productive teacher.
The undergraduate program's objectives are to:
- acquaint the student with the vast literature for the piano through study and performance of a cross-section of standard repertory encompassing all stylistic periods; systematically develop technical facility;
- develop the student's collaborative and practical skills progressively;
- develop musicianship skills, analytic abilities, and knowledge of musical style;
- introduce principles and methods of piano teaching of children and young adults, from beginning to early advanced levels;
- support the music curriculum with an array of general studies coursework.
Development of repertory and technique is assessed every semester at juries and at the recitals given in the junior and senior years. Jury and recital requirements are published in the Music Conservatory Handbook (Academic Supplement).
Admission requirements
Please consult the CCPA Admission and Audition Information web page for audition requirements for piano.
Grade requirements
C- is the minimum passing grade in PIA 211 PIANO (MAJOR),PIA 212 PIANO (MAJOR), and PIA 213 PIANO (MAJOR) and the related jury exams. At the completion of the second year, the student must receive a minimum grade of B- in PIA 214 PIANO (MAJOR) and PERF 262 SOPHOMORE JURY to be admitted to the upper division. In the upper division (PIA 311 PIANO (MAJOR)-PIA 314 PIANO (MAJOR), PERF 361 JUNIOR JURY, PERF 313 JUNIOR RECITAL, PERF 362 SENIOR JURY, and PERF 314 SENIOR RECITAL), grades of B- or higher are required in all courses.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Area and Supportive Courses in Music | ||
PIA 211 | PIANO (MAJOR) (and PERF 261 Freshman Jury) | 4 |
PIA 212 | PIANO (MAJOR) (and PERF 261 Freshman Jury) | 4 |
PIA 213 | PIANO (MAJOR) (and PERF 262 Sophomore Jury) | 4 |
PIA 214 | PIANO (MAJOR) (and PERF 262 Sophomore Jury) | 4 |
PIA 215 | TECHNIQUE EXAMINATION | 0 |
PIA 311 | PIANO (MAJOR) (and PERF 361 Junior Jury) | 4 |
PIA 312 | PIANO (MAJOR) (and PERF 313 Junior Recital) | 4 |
PIA 313 | PIANO (MAJOR) (and PERF 362 Senior Jury) | 4 |
PIA 314 | PIANO (MAJOR) (and PERF 314 Senior Recital) | 4 |
PIA 300 | PIANO PERFORMANCE CLASS | 0 (eight semesters) |
ENS 220 | PIANO ENSEMBLE I | 1 |
ENS 221 | PRINCIPLES OF COLLABORATIVE PIANO I | 1 |
ENS 230 | PIANO ENSEMBLE II | 1 |
ENS 231 | PRINCIPLES COLLABORATIVE PIANO II | 1 |
ENS 246 | PRACTICUM:COLLABORATIVE PIANO | 2 |
ENS 305 | CHAMBER MUSIC (PIANO) | 2 |
or ENS 306 | CHAMBER MUSIC (WIND/BRASS) | |
or ENS 307 | CHAMBER MUSIC (STRINGS) | |
or ENS 211 | LARGE INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE | |
MUSC 121A & MUSC 121B | MUSICIANSHIP I:WRITTEN SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP I:AURAL SKILLS | 3 |
MUSC 122A & MUSC 122B | MUSICIANSHIP II:WRITTEN SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP II:AURAL SKILLS | 3 |
MUSC 221A & MUSC 221B | MUSICIANSHIP III:WRITTEN SKILLS and MUSCIANSHIP III:AURAL SKILLS | 3 |
MUSC 222A & MUSC 222B | MUSICIANSHIP IV:WRITTEN SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP IV:AURAL SKILLS | 3 |
MTA 304 | COUNTERPOINT | 3 |
MTA 305 | FORM AND ANALYSIS | 3 |
MUHL 210 | THE VERNACULAR MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
MUHL 251 | HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC I | 3 |
MUHL 252 | HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC II | 3 |
MUHL 253 | HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC III | 3 |
MUHL 351 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSIC LITERATURE | 3 |
MPE 361 | PIANO PEDAGOGY I | 3 |
MPE 362 | PIANO PEDAGOGY II | 3 |
PERF 220 | APPLIED KEYBOARD SKILLS I | 2 |
PERF 221 | APPLIED KEYBOARD SKILLS II | 2 |
PERF 222 | APPLIED KEYBOARD SKILLS III | 2 |
PERF 223 | APPLIED KEYBOARD SKILLS IV | 2 |
PERF 232 | KEYBOARD IMPROVISATION | 2 |
PERF 240 | ELEMENTS OF CONDUCTING | 2 |
GENERAL STUDIES | ||
ARTL 101 | THE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN IN SOCIETY | 3 |
COMMUNICATION | 9 | |
HUMANITIES/FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | 9 | |
One year of foreign language recommended | ||
MATH OR SCIENCE | 3 | |
SOCIAL SCIENCE | 6 | |
Psychology recommended | ||
Total Credit Hours | 121 |
Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).
Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.
Year 1 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
PIA 211 | 3 | PIA 212 | 3 |
PERF 261 | 1 | PERF 261 | 1 |
PIA 300 | 0 | PIA 215 | 0 |
ENS 220 | 1 | PIA 300 | 0 |
ENG 101 | 3 | ENS 221 | 1 |
ARTL 101 | 3 | ENG 102 | 3 |
MUSC 121A | 2 | MUSC 122A | 2 |
MUSC 121B | 1 | PERF 221 | 2 |
PERF 220 | 2 | MUSC 122B | 1 |
General Studies | 3 | ||
16 | 16 | ||
Year 2 | |||
Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
PIA 213 | 3 | PIA 214 | 3 |
PERF 262 | 1 | PERF 262 | 1 |
PIA 300 | 0 | PIA 215 | 0 |
ENS 230 | 1 | PIA 300 | 0 |
MUHL 210 | 3 | MUHL 251 | 3 |
MUSC 221A | 2 | ENS 231 | 1 |
MUSC 221B | 1 | MUSC 222A | 2 |
PERF 222 | 2 | MUSC 222B | 1 |
General Studies | 3 | PERF 223 | 2 |
General Studies | 3 | ||
16 | 16 | ||
Year 3 | |||
Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
PIA 311 | 3 | PIA 312 | 3 |
PERF 361 | 1 | PERF 313 | 1 |
PIA 300 | 0 | PIA 300 | 0 |
ENS 246 | 1 | ENS 246 | 1 |
MUHL 252 | 3 | MUHL 253 | 3 |
PERF 232 | 2 | MPE 362 | 3 |
MPE 361 | 3 | MTA 304 | 3 |
General Studies | 3 | ||
16 | 14 | ||
Year 4 | |||
Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
PIA 313 | 3 | PIA 314 | 3 |
PERF 362 | 1 | PERF 314 | 1 |
PIA 300 | 0 | PIA 300 | 0 |
ENS 305 | 1 | ENS 305 | 1 |
MUHL 351 | 3 | PERF 240 | 2 |
MTA 305 | 3 | General Studies | 3 |
General Studies | 3 | General Studies | 3 |
14 | 13 | ||
Total Credit Hours 121 |