Piano Performance

The Piano Performance emphasis, Bachelor of Music is designed for the serious pianist who is interested in pursuing a career as a performing artist, in solo or collaborative settings, and within the context of both sacred and secular environments. Students combine 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 benefit from:

• • Varied musical experiences and opportunities on- and off-campus for teaching and performance
• • Piano studies taught from a classical perspective aiding the pianist in any style they plan to use in their career
• • Classical literature as well as sacred solos, concerti, and piano duets/duos
• • Weekly performances for members of the piano faculty and other piano students
• • Assessed teaching opportunities through the TMU Pedagogy Program with mentorship from faculty members
• • MTNA, CAPMT, and other competitions in both solo and concerto categories 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

Our students are prepared to pursue graduate work in areas such as piano performance, collaborative piano, and conducting. We have graduates from this program working as collaborative pianists, assistant conductors, and staff accompanists in educational and professional music organizations around the country. Additionally, TMU pianists hold church positions as both pianists and music directors throughout the world. Many also own their own independent piano studios or teach in local music schools around the country and have award-winning students.

Students also 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. This professional degree is for those with a strong music background who anticipate a vocation in music. 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. The degree requirements for Piano Performance are congruent with degree standards across the nation (course unit requirements, jury and recital requirements, etc.). As a NASM accredited institution, this degree meets all requirements for course offerings and standards of performance as necessitated by the accrediting agency. Auditions include a live performance of two memorized contrasting pieces from the standard piano repertoire, sight-reading, and a musicianship exam that provides for practical and written elements. Considerations such as technique, musicality, and accuracy to music and style are taken into account. Suggested repertoire includes 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 Majors must perform both a Junior Recital (25 min. of music; minimum of 3 stylistic eras) in the fall semester of their junior year along with a Senior Recital (55 min. of music; of minimum 3 stylistic eras) in the spring semester of their senior year. Music majors with piano as a secondary instrument and non-music majors have no audition or recital requirement in piano.