Overview
Students may pursue the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree in Keyboard Performance. The program is highly selective and competitive, and qualified applicants are eligible to receive graduate awards, such as scholarships or Graduate Teaching Assistantships. Through these opportunities, candidates demonstrate leadership as performers and teachers.
Within this degree program, three recitals of broad keyboard repertoire performed at the highest level of technical mastery and artistic expression are required during the three-year residency. Each candidate must also complete a final doctoral project, choosing from a doctoral essay, lecture recital, capstone fourth recital, or recording project.
The competitive reality of the market for performers has never been more demanding. We are proud that many of our students have gone on to win awards at piano competitions, have been invited to publish in recognized periodicals, and are currently in teaching positions both in the U.S. and abroad.
Our current and past piano students have participated and won prizes at competitions such as:
- Tchaikovsky Competition
- Queen Elizabeth Competition
- Van Cliburn Competition
- Sydney International Piano Competition
- Paderewski Piano Competition
Our mission at the Frost School of Music is to have you join them!
Visit and Like us on our Facebook page where you will see the latest on our current and past students from the Department of Keyboard Performance.
For Graduate admission information and financial support, please click here.
Admission Requirements
All applicants to the Frost School must submit the following items:
· An online application
· Application fee
· Resume
· Three letters of recommendation
· Official transcripts from every post-secondary school attended
This graduate degree program also requires submission of certain supplemental materials, including:
· Prescreen/performance
· Live audition (preferred)
· TOEFL/IELTS score, as applicable
For more detailed information, please visit our Graduate Admission website.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Area | ||
| MKP PI7 | Piano (Six semesters at two credits each) | 12 |
| Performance Seminars (two semesters at one credit each) | 2 | |
| Choose from: | ||
| Seminar in Baroque Performance | ||
| Seminar in Classical Performance | ||
| Seminar in Romantic Performance | ||
| Seminar in Contemporary Music | ||
| MKP 791 | Accompanying, Level III (three semesters at one credit each) | 3 |
| Ensemble Elective (an ensemble, chosen in consultation with advisor) | 1 | |
| Creative Activities | ||
| MKP 830 | Pre-Candidacy Doctoral Project Preparation * | 1 |
| MKP 832 | Doctoral Recital (Three recitals at one credit each) | 3 |
| MKP 831 | Doctoral Project (Choose from doctoral essay, lecture recital, capstone fourth recital, or recording project.) * | 8 |
| Allied Music Courses | ||
| Music Theory Electives ** | 6 | |
| MCY 626 | Keyboard Literature I *** | 3 |
| MCY 627 | Keyboard Literature II *** | 3 |
| MCY 728 | Music Bibliography (or other MCY elective) | 3 |
| MED Elective (Choose from): | 1 | |
| Doctoral Seminar | ||
| Teaching Music in College | ||
| Music Electives | 2 | |
| Cognate | 12 | |
| Select 12 credit hours of Cognate/Electives | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
* At the discretion of the Advisor, student may take one additional credit of MKP 830 beyond the requirement and in place of one of the credits for MKP 831.
** One of the MTC courses must be at or above 700, to be taken prior to the completion of the Qualifying Process
*** Students must complete the Keyboard Literature I-II sequence in the 1st year of DMA study to meet the Qualifying Process requirement.
**** Doctoral Qualifying Exams must be complete prior to the defense of the Doctoral Essay/Dissertation proposal.
DMA in MKP
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MKP PI7 | Piano | 2 |
| MCY 626 | Keyboard Literature I | 3 |
| Music Theory Elective * | 3 | |
| Choose one: | 1 | |
| Seminar in Baroque Performance | ||
| Seminar in Classical Performance | ||
| Seminar in Romantic Performance | ||
| Seminar in Contemporary Music | ||
| MKP 791 | Accompanying, Level III | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MKP PI7 | Piano | 2 |
| MCY 627 | Keyboard Literature II | 3 |
| Music Theory Elective OR Cognate/Music Elective * | 3 | |
| MKP 830 | Pre-Candidacy Doctoral Project Preparation | 1 |
| MKP 832 | Doctoral Recital | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| MKP PI7 | Piano | 2 |
| Music Theory Elective OR Cognate/Music Elective | 3 | |
| MCY 728 | Music Bibliography (or MCY Elective) | 3 |
| MKP 791 | Accompanying, Level III | 1 |
| MKP 832 | Doctoral Recital | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MKP PI7 | Piano | 2 |
| Cognate/Music Electives | 3 | |
| Choose one: | 1 | |
| Seminar in Baroque Performance | ||
| Seminar in Classical Performance | ||
| Seminar in Romantic Performance | ||
| Seminar in Contemporary Music | ||
| Ensemble Elective | 1 | |
| MKP 831 | Doctoral Project | 2 |
| MKP 832 | Doctoral Recital | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| MKP PI7 | Piano | 2 |
| Cognate/Music Electives | 4 | |
| MED 780 or 790 | Doctoral Seminar or Teaching Music in College | 1 |
| MKP 831 | Doctoral Project | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MKP PI7 | Piano | 2 |
| Cognate/Electives | 4 | |
| MKP 791 | Accompanying, Level III | 1 |
| MKP 831 | Doctoral Project | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
*At least one MTC course above 700 should be taken prior to completion of the Qualifying Process.
- Two 3-credit MTC courses (in total) are needed to satisfy the requirement. The 2nd MTC course can be taken at any time during the 3-year course of study.
- Doctoral Qualifying Exams must be completed prior to the defense of the DMA project proposal.
- This is a suggested Plan of Study. Your actual course sequence may vary depending on your previous academic experience as well as current course offerings. Students should meet with their academic advisor each semester to determine the appropriate course selection.
Mission
The mission of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Keyboard Performance is to:
- Provide students the highest quality of education available in the areas of piano performance and musicianship that will provide the foundation for a successful teaching career at an institution or private studio, and which could also lead toward a professional performance career as a classical pianist
- To stimulate the student's awareness and artistic creativity in the field of piano performance
- To provide students public performance performance opportunities in a supportive and encouraging environment
- To provide students performance skills necessary for careers in teaching, success at national/international piano competitions, and to further their skills in performance.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will develop technical pianistic skills necessary for fostering a professional career as solo pianists.
- Students will develop musicianship skills and knowledge of a large selection of the piano repertory necessary for fostering a professional career as solo pianists.
- Students will develop performance and artistic presentation skills necessary for fostering a professional career as solo pianists.
- Students will develop the necessary research and writing skills for completing a Doctoral essay.
