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Music Education in Piano Pedagogy

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Master of Music Education in Piano Pedagogy

Major Code: M709

Dr. Sara Ernst
  • Director of Piano Pedagogy
Dr. Barbara Fast (Emeritus)
    Dr. Jeongwon Ham
      Dr. Igor Lipinski
        Dr. Jane Magrath (Emeritus)
          Dr. John Patrick Murphy
          • Area Chair
          Stephanie Leon Shames

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            This degree requires the following proficiencies. View the PDFs linked below for more details.

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            Application Deadline

            To receive full consideration for admission and graduate assistantships, the application deadline is December 1. The School of Music cannot guarantee an audition, interview, admission, or graduate assistantship if application is received after the deadline.

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            Assistantships

            There is no separate application for assistantship. Unless the applicant indicates otherwise, we assume that all applicants are interested in being considered for assistantships. Please note that assistantships are usually awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters together. We very seldom have assistantships available for anyone entering in a Spring semester. We do not award assistantships for Summer sessions.

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            Procedure for Applying

            Submit the online application (see Graduate Admissions page) along with all application materials described below.

            The members of the piano faculty will review all application materials. Candidates will be invited to audition based on the quality of the preliminary recordings, the candidates’ professional materials, teaching credentials if applicable, and the completion of the application file. Individuals invited to audition will be contacted by email to schedule a live, on-campus final audition. More details about the audition can be found at the bottom of this page.

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            Application materials required for all graduate degrees

            These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.

            • Resume
            • Statement of Purpose
              • Submitted to the online application under the Statement of Purpose tab
              • Please compose a brief personal statement (approximately 2–3 pages of double-spaced, 12-point font text with 1-inch margins) regarding your desire to pursue a graduate degree in music. Include responses to the following prompts:
                1. How would you describe your professional path to this point?
                2. Why do you want to pursue this degree at OU?
                3. How do you want to grow musically, artistically, pedagogically, and/or intellectually during your graduate studies?
                4. What skills, expertise, and experiences do you bring to graduate study at OU?
                5. Describe your post-degree plans (i.e., How will you apply your newly acquired academic knowledge and expertise?).
            • Three letters of reference
              • Submitted to the online application under Recommendations tab
              • Your three reference letters should include:
                • At least one letter from: your studio professor, ensemble conductor, chamber coach, etc., or a person who has considerable knowledge about your abilities as a performer or composer.
                • At least one letter from: a person who can speak to your abilities as a scholar of music.

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            Prescreening application materials required for this degree

            These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.

            • Repertoire list of significant solo and chamber piano repertoire. This list should include works that you have rehearsed and/or studied (even if you did not perform them in public recitals).
            • A video recording of a memorized solo performance of at least 30 minutes. The video must include works of at least three composers, each of a contrasting style or era. Applicants are encouraged to highlight personal interests by including works of underrepresented composers, groups, cultures, and styles.
              • Video files or links to online video recordings may be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.
            • Applicants to the MME Piano Pedagogy are encouraged to include a video of their teaching if it is available. One or several teaching segments of private lesson or group class may be included.
              • Video files or links to online video recordings may be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.

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            Final Audition

            The members of the piano faculty will review all application materials described above. Individuals invited to audition will be contacted by email to schedule a final audition. Masters’ applicants who are unable to travel to campus due to travel restrictions may be admitted on the basis of recorded application materials. 

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            Prepare 30 minutes of music to perform from memory. The program must include works of at least three composers, each of a contrasting style or era. Applicants are encouraged to highlight personal interests by including works of underrepresented composers, groups, cultures, and styles. The in-person audition may include repertoire submitted in the prescreening video.

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            Piano Audition DatesType
            Saturday, February 1, 2025 *
            All degree programs
            Saturday, February 8, 2025 *All degree programs
            Saturday, February 15, 2025Masters or doctoral only, last day for doctoral applicants
            Saturday, March 1, 2025 *Masters or undergraduate applicants only