Music: Piano Performance and Pedagogy - BM

Caine College of the Arts

Department of Music

About This Degree

The piano performance & pedagogy degree is designed for students that want to pursue careers in solo and collaborative performance, operate high-level teaching studios, and apply for and excel in the best graduate piano programs. Students receive multiple opportunities for collaborative and solo performing opportunities during their studies, and are able to study with a renowned group of piano faculty. USU became an All-Steinway school in 2012, offering students the ability to perform on the highest-quality pianos in the practice rooms and performing halls.

Program Specifics

The degree combines music core instruction with piano pedagogy and performance courses, preparing prospective piano teachers for careers in the teaching field. A unique aspect of this degree is the opportunity to receive hands-on teaching training in the USU Youth Conservatory, a preparatory lab program that provides private and group instruction to over 200 pre-college pianists each week. For more information, refer to the Piano Performance and Pedagogy BM degree map.

For more information about Piano Performance, see the department website.
All music majors must pass an audition to be admitted.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
The highest math requirement for this degree is the Quantitative Literacy (QL) of the student’s choice.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken at USU: 30
Credits of upper-division courses required for the major taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen must be admitted to USU in Good Standing.
Music requires a 2.75 GPA overall for admission as a transfer student.
Students must pass an entrance audition on primary instrument.

Major Requirements

Course Grades and GPA Minimums

To maintain Music Major (and Pre-Music Major) status at USU, students must:

Complete all Individual Instruction (primary instrument) courses with a grade of B- or higher
- Any grade lower than B- will result in an extra required semester of Individual Instruction.
- Any subsequent semester in which a student fails to meet this minimum grade may result in dismissal from the music program.
Complete all music major core and emphasis classes with a grade of C or higher
- Any music course grade lower than C will not count towards graduation.
- Core courses may be repeated once in an attempt to earn a grade of C or better.
- Any subsequent semester in which a student fails to meet this minimum grade may result in dismissal from the music program.
Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses that fulfill a degree/emphasis requirement.
- This GPA does not include general education and depth courses.
- This GPA does not include the STEP courses for Music Education majors.
- If a student’s degree/emphasis GPA falls under this minimum, the student will be placed on departmental academic probation for one semester.
- Inability to meet this degree/emphasis GPA during the probationary period will result in referral to the department head who in consultation with the appropriate faculty member(s) will determine if the student shall be allowed to remain a music major through an extension of the probationary period.

GRADING SCALE for music courses:

93-100 A

90-92.99 A-

87-89.99 B+

83-86.99 B

80-82.99 B- Lowest grade for individual instruction to fulfill graduation requirements)

77-79.99 C+

73-76.99 C Lowest grade for all other program courses to fulfill graduation requirements)

70-72.99 C-

67-69.99 D+

60-66.99 D

59.99 or below F

Major Requirements

All individual instruction courses must be passed with a grade of B- or better. All other music courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. Major requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Students register for 1 credit of individual Piano Instruction during the semester they prepare for a recital.

BM Piano Major Music Core Curriculum (33 credits)

A minimum grade of C is required for all BM Piano Major Music Core Curriculum courses.

MUSC 1110 - Music Theory I (BCA) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1120 - Music Theory II 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1130 - Aural Skills I 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1140 - Aural Skills II 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1190 - World Music 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1270 - Keyboard Skills I 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1280 - Keyboard Skills II 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2110 - Music Theory III 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2130 - Aural Skills III 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2180 - Computer Applications in Music Proficiency Exam 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2920 - Sophomore Recital 1-2 credit(s) (1 credit)
MUSC 3110 - Music History I: Antiquity through the Renaissance 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3120 - Music History II: The Baroque and Classical Periods 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3170 - Special Topics in Music Theory 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3190 - Music History III: Romanticism through the 21st Century (CI) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 4920 - Senior Recital 1-2 credit(s) (2 credits)

Piano Performance and Pedagogy Requirements (46 credits)

MUSC 1430 - Piano Pedagogy I 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1440 - Piano Pedagogy II 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1450 - Pedagogy Practicum 1 credit(s) (2 credits minimum)
MUSC 1485 - Individual Pre-Music Piano Instruction 1-2 credit(s) (4 credits total; Register for 2 credits first year fall and first year spring semesters)
MUSC 2270 - Keyboard Improvisation 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2420 - Piano Literature I 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2430 - Piano Literature II 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2440 - Piano Literature III 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2495 - Individual Pre-Barrier Piano Instruction 1-2 credit(s) (Register for 2 credits second year fall semester)
MUSC 3410 - Collaborative Piano in Ensemble 1-2 credit(s) (4 credits required)
MUSC 4460 - Keyboard Skills III 2 credit(s)
MUSC 4470 - Keyboard Skills IV 2 credit(s)
MUSC 3450 - Individual Piano Instruction for Music Majors 1-2 credit(s) (8 credits total); Register for 2 credits EXCEPT 2nd year Spring and 4th year Spring when preparing for Sophomore and Senior recitals.
MUSC 4410 - Special Topics in Performance and Pedagogy 1-2 credit(s) (6 credits minimum)

Music Electives (2 credits)

A total of 2 credits are required from the following:

MUSC 2410 - Individual Organ Instruction (Second Instrument) for Music Majors 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2470 - Individual Jazz Piano Instruction (Second Instrument) for Music Majors 1 credit(s)
Second instrument, ensemble, or another course with permission of the piano faculty

Recital and Concert Attendance Requirement

To graduate, students are required to attend a minimum of 80 concerts or recitals. Recital and concert attendance is monitored and recorded in the Music Student Services office. Students should turn in programs after attending concerts and recitals for documentation of attendance.

General Education and Depth Education Requirements

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

Suggested Degree Map - Music: Piano Performance and Pedagogy BM

Music: Piano Performance and Pedagogy BM - 4 Year Degree Map