Music, M.M.: Collaborative Piano

The graduate program in Collaborative Piano at CSUN provides structured training and performance experience for pianists wishing to pursue careers as collaborative artists. In this program, pianists will become familiar with a broad variety of vocal, instrumental, choral, and orchestral repertoire, as well as chamber music. Students in the program will have ample collaboration and performance opportunities within the school, creating a positive ripple effect that enriches and provides service to the entire music department.

Collaborative Piano is a growing field representing relevant and viable career choices for today’s pianists. Ensemble collaboration and coaching is its own art form, requiring a range of specialized skills. It requires study of literature, training and experience of working with other musicians, communicating and articulating musical ideas, developing the appropriate musical sensitivity and following a different set of conventions in one’s approach to piano playing.

Collaborative piano is renowned for its applicability and flexibility and it is considered one of the more useful career choices for keyboard musicians. There are many career paths available to graduates including: vocal coach of an opera company; staff pianist in the instrumental/vocal studios of universities and conservatories; duo partner with soloists; pianist of a chamber ensemble; and accompanist for a chorus, orchestra, or ballet company.

Entrance Procedure for Master of Music, Option in Collaborative Piano Performance

Prerequisite: An undergraduate degree in classical piano performance or equivalent background.

Audition Requirements

Students must prepare an audition program that includes the following:

• One solo piano piece of your choice - memorized 
• Two movements from two different instrumental sonatas - Must contrast in style. For example, movements from Mozart and Franck violin sonatas. At least one movement should be a fast movement.
• Two art songs - Must represent two different languages.
• Opera Aria - An opera aria originally composed for voice and orchestra.

In addition to the pieces above, you will be asked to sight read a musical selection as part of your audition. Please bring a copy of your resume, collaborative experience and repertoire list to your audition.