MASTER OF MUSIC - Collaborative Piano Performance
The Music Department of California State University Northridge offers a graduate level degree in classical Collaborative Piano Performance. Collaborative Piano majors continue their studies in Music History and Theory, and take Area classes in Pedagogy, Vocal Literature, Instrumental Duo, Chamber Music, and private lessons. Through concert opportunities with instrumental and vocal partners, the MM in Collaborative Piano Performance offers a rich and varied experience throughout the study at CSUN.
Entrance Procedure for Master of Music in Collaborative Piano Performance
• Prerequisite: An undergraduate degree in classical piano performance or its equivalent.
• Application:
Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, a resume detailing their education, collaborative piano experience and a collaborative repertoire list (both instrumental and vocal). The list should be typed up as a Word or PDF document, organized first by instrument and/or voice type, then by composers in alphabetical order. Contact Dr. Pei-Shan Lee (peishan.lee@csun.edu) if you have any questions about the audition repertoire.
Audition Requirements
A. Art Songs (choose one song for each language)
All works must be performed in the high keys unless otherwise stated.
German Schubert: Die Forelle (low key in A major) Brahms: Meine Liebe ist grün Strauss: Morgan
French Debussy: C’est l’extase (from Ariettes oubliées) Duparc: Extase
English Barber: Crucifixion (from Hermit Songs) Copland: Heart, we will forget him |
B. Instrumental Sonata (choose one of the following)
Beethoven: Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 5 in F major, op. 24, first movement Beethoven: Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 7 in c minor, op. 30, no. 2, first movement Brahms: Sonata for Piano and Clarinet No. 1 in f minor, op. 120, no. 1, first movement Prokofiev: Sonata for Flute and Piano, op. 94, first movement |
C. Orchestral Reductions (choose one of the following)
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, first movement Mozart: Flute Concerto in G major, first movement Mozart: Deh vieni non tardar (from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro) Verdi: De’ miei bollenti spiriti (from Verdi’s La Traviata) |
D. Solo
Applicant's choice to be performed by memory (any piece or movement under 10 minutes) |
E. Sight-Reading
Applicants will sight-read excerpts of an instrumental or vocal work. |
• Submit academic transcripts to CSUN Admissions and Records
Following admission to the program, a placement test in French and German lyric diction will be given in the first week of school. It is recommended that students study diction and/or language courses prior to entering the program. Undergraduate courses in diction are also available for students after entering the program. Graduate students in Collaborative Piano performance are presented with a number of diverse performing opportunities each semester. Master classes with visiting guest artists are offered yearly. Students benefit additionally from their participation in the private lessons of their vocal and instrumental partners, as well as rehearsals in the school’s small and large ensembles.
Advisor Contact
Dr. Pei-Shan Lee
818-677-4369
Cypress Hall 152
peishan.lee@csun.edu
MASTER OF MUSIC - Instrumental Performance
Winds, Orchestral Strings, Guitar, Percussion
The Music Department at Cal State Northridge offers the opportunity to study the art of classical instrumental performance at the graduate level. Students in Instrumental Performance continue their studies in Music History and Theory. Area classes include classes in Pedagogy, Literature, Chamber Music, Ensemble and Advanced Conducting as well as private lessons. The culminating experience in Instrumental Performance is the performance of a public recital and the preparation of an abstract.
Graduate students in Instrumental Performance are presented with a number of performance opportunities each semester. Students play in major ensembles and also as soloists. Instrumental string players have the option of playing in an honors string quartet. Instrumental students can compete to play concert literature with the CSUN Symphony through the Concerto Competition. Master classes with major Artists are offered yearly.
The Instrumental Area at CSU Northridge has a tradition of achievement locally, nationally and internationally. Students from the Cal State Northridge Instrumental program perform as members of orchestras and other ensembles as well as soloists all over the world. MM requirements: Three selections from contrasting periods (choose three from the four major historical time periods - Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Twentieth Century/Contemporary). Be prepared to perform one entire sonata or concerto as one of your three selections. Provide an accompanist for your audition. Bring to your audition a copy of your senior recital program or another comparable solo recital performance. Bring a sample of your scholarly writing (such as a music history or theory research paper) to your audition.
Entrance Requirements (students who audition for the CSUN graduate program should have an undergraduate music degree)
- Arrange an audition through the undergraduate advisor.
- Contact the area advisor regarding appropriate repertoire.
- Provide recital programs and repertoire lists for the audition personnel.
- An interview will be conducted at the time of your audition regarding your career objectives.
Advsior Contacts:
Guitar
- Dr. Steve Thachuk
818-677-2846
Cypress Hall 205
steve.thachuk@csun.edu
Percussion
- Dr. John Roscigno
818-677-6834
Cypress Hall 223
john.roscigno@csun.edu
Strings
- Professor David Aks
818-677-3070
david.aks@csun.edu - Professor Diane Roscetti
818-677-6587
diane.roscetti@csun.edu
Winds
- Dr. Larry Stoffel
818-677-3160
Cypress Hall 210
stoffel@csun.edu
MASTER OF MUSIC - Organ Performance
The Music Department at Cal State Northridge offers the opportunity to study the art of classical Organ performance at the graduate level. Students in Organ Performance continue their studies in Music History and Theory. Area classes include classes in Pedagogy, Literature Chamber Music and Church Music as well as private lessons. The culminating experience in Organ Performance is the performance of a public recital as well as the preparation of an abstract.
Graduate students in Organ Performance are presented with a number of performance opportunities each semester. Students play in major ensembles and also as soloists. Master classes with major Artists are offered.
The Organ Area at CSU Northridge has a tradition of achievement and lead major church music programs locally and nationally.
Entrance Requirements (students who audition for the CSUN graduate program should have an undergraduate music degree)
- Arrange an audition through the undergraduate advisor.
- Contact the area advisor regarding appropriate repertoire.
- Provide recital programs and repertoire lists for the audition personnel.
- An interview will be conducted at the time of your audition regarding your career objectives.
Advisor Contact
- Dr. Timothy Howard
818-677-3179
Cypress Hall 227
thoward@drmusic.com
MASTER OF MUSIC - Piano Performance
The Piano Department at California State University, Northridge offers the opportunity to study the art of classical Piano Performance at the graduate level. Students in Piano Performance continue their studies in Music History and Theory. Area classes include classes in Pedagogy. Literature and Chamber Music as well as private lessons. The culminating experience in Piano Performance is the performance of a public recital and a concerto as well as the preparation of an abstract.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MASTER OF MUSIC IN PIANO PERFORMANCE
- Potential graduate students should have completed an undergraduate degree in music or its equivalent.
- Play an audition consisting of the following repertoire (repertoire forms and dates are on the website):
A. One Baroque work, comparable to a Bach Toccata, Suite or Partita.
B. One complete classical sonata.
C. One major Romantic/ Post-Romantic or Twentieth Century work.
D. One virtuoso etude - Provide recital programs and repertoire lists for the audition personnel.
- Undergo an interview to be conducted at the time of the audition regarding career objectives.
- Submit academic transcripts to CSUN Admissions and Records
- Send to the Keyboard Area chair a brief statement discussing background and goals, and three letters of recommendation.
- Those students unable to be present for their live incoming graduate auditions may submit a DVD of their performance in lieu of a live audition.
Incoming Graduate Auditions are held three times a year: once in the Fall Semester and twice in the Spring Semester. After the admission into the program, further placement tests are required in the areas of music theory/analysis and music history.
Following the evaluation of all these documents and tests, the area coordinator in consultation with the graduate advisor may recommend remedial coursework in areas such as musicianship, music history, or analysis. Credit toward the degree is not permitted, as these remedial courses carry a lower level catalog number. In some cases, it will be possible to count 400 level courses as electives, if needed. Occasionally, incoming graduate students in piano performance will be required to schedule a senior recital, if such a recital was not mandatory during the undergraduate studies. A senior recital would occur if the undergraduate degree is in another field.
All graduate students at California State University, Northridge are required to pass a Writing Proficiency Examination. This test is required of graduate students entering CSUN to attain classified status (unless they have passed it previously as undergraduates at CSUN or another CSU campus). Graduate students are expected to satisfy the Writing Proficiency requirement during the first semester of classes or before the first 12 units are completed.
Graduate students in piano performance are required to present a 60-minute solo recital, a concerto performance and write an abstract. Before scheduling the solo and concerto recitals, the student is required to pass a jury in front of their graduate committee.
Advisor Contact
- Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov
818-677-2197
Cypress Hall 280
dmitry.rachmanov@csun.edu
MASTER OF MUSIC - Vocal Performance
The Music Department at Cal State Northridge offers the opportunity to study the art of classical vocal performance at the graduate level. Students in Vocal Arts continue their studies in Music History and Theory. Vocal area studies include Private Lessons, Pedagogy. Literature, Opera Scenes. Performance Technique. and Performance Practice. The culminating experience of the Masters of Music in Vocal Performance is the preparation and performance of a public recital and abstract.
Graduate students in Vocal Arts are presented with a number of performance options each semester. Students can sing leading roles major operas in the original language, they can perform concert music with the CSUN Symphony Orchestra. and they can perform as soloists in oratorios. Master classes with major artists are offered yearly. Vocal students from CSUN perform off campus regularly for arts organization such as the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Jubilee Singers, and the Los Angeles Opera Chorus.
The Vocal Arts area at CSU Northridge has a tradition of achievement locally, nationally and internationally. Each Year students from CSUN compete successfully in National Competitions such as the Metropolitan Opera Auditions. Students from Cal State Northridge sing in opera houses all over the world.
Entrance Requirements (students who audition for the CSUN graduate program should have an undergraduate degree in vocal performance)
- Audition: present four pieces in contrasting style and language including one aria.
- Provide repertoire lists and recital programs for the audition personnel.
- A summary of performance experience is desirable.
- An interview will be conducted at the time of your audition regarding your career objectives.
Advsior Contact:
- Dr. David Sannerud
818-677-3137
Cypress Hall 268
david.sannerud@csun.edu