Piano Pedagogy

The Piano Performance with Pedagogy emphasis, Bachelor of Music is for the serious pianist who is interested in gaining experience and pursuing a career as a piano teacher and performer. Graduates often pursue graduate work in their field. This program combines academic rigor and practical experience with a clear understanding of God’s Word and how to utilize one’s musical talents for the glory of God as a performer, teacher, and academic.

• • Students receive high-level instruction, varied musical experiences, and numerous opportunities for teaching and performance.
• • Our unique internship program provides an in-depth student teaching experience that offers a more robust, personalized experience when compared to other schools around the country.
• • Piano studies are taught from a classical perspective to best aid the pianist in any style they plan to use in their career.
• • Assigned literature is primarily classical and also includes sacred solos, concerti, and piano duets/duos.

Working in the music publishing industry is a natural fit for Performance with Pedagogy alumni; their coursework gives background and prepares them to evaluate trends in educational music publishing. Our graduates hold membership in organizations such as the Music Teacher’s National Association, California Association of Professional Music Teachers, the National Federation of Music Clubs, and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. Many alumni own independent piano studios or teach in local music schools around the country and have award-winning students.

Students in this program also have access to the following opportunities:

• • Three semesters of apprenticeship teaching of young children in both individual lesson and group contexts, with mentorship by pedagogy faculty to help cultivate a personal teaching style
• • Opportunity to assist with running an event for pre-college pianists on TMU’s campus
• • Weekly performances for members of the piano faculty and other piano students
• • Music teacher organizations such as MTNA, CAPMT, MTAC, NFMC, and the Royal Conservatory of Music, which all have a strong presence in the Santa Clarita Valley and Los Angeles area.
• • CAPMT’s Young Professionals Leadership Network recitals hosted at TMU, which provide networking and performance opportunities
• • MTNA, CAPMT, and other competitions in both solo and concerto categories that held throughout Southern California
• • Collaborative piano opportunities include accompanying singers and instrumentalists, chamber music, and involvement in TMU ensembles including University Singers, University Orchestra, The Master’s Chorale, TMU Orchestra, and Chapel Band.
• • Masterclasses with guest clinicians held both at TMU and other institutions

Students benefit from an acoustically mastered recital hall that is flexible for rehearsals, concerts, and recording sessions, in addition to 15 Wenger sound-proof practice rooms, including some V-rooms with built-in emulation of larger environments. Students have access to 33 pianos, two organs, and two harpsichords. The Master’s University music facilities include the most recent music notation and sequencing software programs. The state-of-the-art recording facility is integrated into the recital hall. This all-digital room is anchored by a 32-fader ICON D-Control work surface and features an industry-standard Avid Pro Tools HDX2 system with a variety of plugins and outboard processing. The studio is used for classes as well as school ensemble projects, allowing audio technology students to put their knowledge to the test in a real-world studio recording context.

Since 1927, the mission of The Master’s University is to empower students for a life of enduring commitment to Christ, biblical fidelity, moral integrity, intellectual growth, and lasting contribution to the Kingdom of God worldwide. School of Music applicants must audition for entrance. Students are expected to have moderate to strong musicianship skills (basic music theory, ear training, and sight-singing) along with piano training and performance experience. Recommended piano literature difficulty is comparable with the Royal Conservatory of Music or Certificate of Merit levels 8 or above. Auditions include a live performance of two memorized contrasting pieces from the standard piano repertoire, sight-reading, and a musicianship exam that includes practical and written elements. Considerations such as technique, musicality, and accuracy to music and style are taken into account. The suggested repertoire consists of the Bach Well-Tempered Clavier, standard Classical sonatas, Romantic etudes, and character pieces; Impressionist works by Debussy or Ravel, or a modern work of comparable difficulty. Piano Performance with Emphasis in Pedagogy Majors must perform a Senior Recital (45 min. of music; of minimum three stylistic eras) in the spring semester of their senior year. One of their piano students must also appear on the program and perform both solo and duet literature with the Student-Teacher. Music majors with piano as a secondary instrument and non-music majors have no audition or recital requirement in piano. After an interview with the faculty and with a minimum of one semester of piano instruction at TMU, students pursuing degrees other than Piano Performance with Emphasis in Piano Pedagogy have participated in the entirety of the lecture and TMU Piano Kids coursework as electives.