Piano

Learn everything about your application process:

The Bachelor of Music (BM) degree in Performance is a professional degree that prepares students for a career performing in various spheres, including solo, chamber music, and large ensemble settings, as well as teaching, including at the university level. Often students who have earned this degree craft an entrepreneurial mix of these and other artistic endeavors throughout their careers. Acknowledging that professional artistic success often comes after earning advanced degrees, this program also focuses on preparing students for graduate performance study.

Resources

BM in Performance Degree Plan Checklists

Undergraduate Piano Audition Requirements

Prepare three contrasting solos within the following categories by memory:
- a selection from the Baroque Era, such as a prelude and fugue by J. S. Bach or a sonata by Scarlatti
- the first or last movement of a major sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
- one substantial composition from the 19th, 20th, or 21st century
Memorization is required.

MM in Performance Piano Audition Requirements

MM in Piano Pedagogy and Performance Audition Requirements

An audition program, at least 20 minutes in duration, of memorized solo repertoire from three style periods is required for admission in Pedagogy and in Church Music. The program should include at least one major work, such as a complete sonata, substantial variation set, major single-movement work, etc.

All Piano Pedagogy candidates are welcome to communicate directly with Lesley McAllister with questions regarding their application, repertoire, audition date, etc.

MM in Church Music (Performance) Piano Audition Requirements

MM in Collaborative Piano Audition Requirements

The audition for Collaborative Piano applicants will consist of at least 10 minutes of memorized solo repertoire and a collaborative repertoire component that includes a major instrumental work with piano and a vocal/piano work.

All Collaborative Piano candidates are welcome to communicate directly with Kae Hosoda-Ayer with questions regarding their application, repertoire, audition date, etc.

Advanced Performers Certificate Piano Audition Requirements

Admission will require a live audition before a committee which will include at least four members of the Keyboard Division faculty appointed by the Director of Keyboard Studies and the Graduate Program Director in Music. The option of a video performance may be approved when distance to the audition would be a hardship. When the audition is by video, the student must present a live audition before a designated faculty committee during the first semester of residence in order to be fully accepted into the program. The audition will require sixty minutes of solo repertoire representing the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries and will include at least two major works and two virtuoso etudes from the literature. The audition committee may choose from the repertoire prepared.

DMA in Church Music (Piano Performance) Audition Requirements

Dec

2024

Piano Audition

Bradley Bolen, DMA

Senior Lecturer of Piano

Bradley Bolen, DMA

Senior Lecturer of Piano

Bradley_Bolen@baylor.edu

ROXY GROVE 207

Michael Clark, DMA

Lecturer of Piano

Michael Clark, DMA

Lecturer of Piano

Michael_W_Clark@baylor.edu

Roxy Grove 203

In-Ja Eshelman, DMA

Part-time Lecturer of Piano

In-Ja Eshelman, DMA

Part-time Lecturer of Piano

In-Ja_Eshelman@baylor.edu

Waco Hall East 317

Kae Hosoda-Ayer, DMA

Associate Professor of Piano Director of Collaborative Piano

Kae Hosoda-Ayer, DMA

Associate Professor of Piano Director of Collaborative Piano

Kae_Hosoda-Ayer@baylor.edu

Roxy Grove 211

Terry Lynn Hudson, DMA

Associate Professor of Piano

Terry Lynn Hudson, DMA

Associate Professor of Piano

Terry_Hudson@baylor.edu

Roxy Grove 213

Brian Marks, DMA

Associate Professor of Piano

Brian Marks, DMA

Associate Professor of Piano

brian_marks@baylor.edu

Roxy Grove 200

Lesley McAllister, DMA

Professor of Piano Director of Piano Pedagogy Keyboard Studies Division Director

Lesley McAllister, DMA

Professor of Piano Director of Piano Pedagogy Keyboard Studies Division Director

Lesley_McAllister@baylor.edu

Roxy Grove 209

Shijun Wang, DMA

Assistant Professor of Piano

Shijun Wang, DMA

Assistant Professor of Piano

shijun_wang@baylor.edu

Roxy Grove 205

Rajung Yang

Part-Time Lecturer in Keyboard

Rajung Yang

Part-Time Lecturer in Keyboard

rajung_yang@baylor.edu

Waco Hall East 317

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Who do I contact about general undergraduate admissions questions?

If I am accepted to the University, am I automatically accepted into the School of Music?

No. Getting into the School of Music is a dual-acceptance process. All students desiring to pursue a degree in music must apply to both Baylor University and the School of Music in addition to completing an audition (audition dates are selected on the School of Music application).

On campus audition days provide an opportunity for students to display their abilities and to meet the faculty. The audition day also provides an opportunity to have questions answered concerning the School of Music, the admissions process, student financial aid, housing, campus life and other aspects of being a music student at Baylor.

Am I required to audition for the School of Music to play in the band or orchestra, or to sing in a choir as a non-music major?

No. School of Music auditions are not required if your only desire is to perform in the bands, orchestras, or choirs. However, the band, orchestra, and choir directors do audition students for placement into those ensembles. These placement auditions often occur in August, right before classes start. For more information, see Ensemble Audition Information.

What do I do if I cannot attend a scheduled audition day?

What do I wear to my audition?

Is it possible to double major?

What about solo performance opportunities?

Opportunities for solo performance are strongly encouraged and include weekly studio classes and departmental recitals, which provide a format for students to present single works. Convocations showcase superior student performers in recitals attended by the entire School of Music student body. In their Junior and Senior Recitals, performance majors present partial and entire concert programs, respectively. Special Recitals are often presented by ambitious students in addition to the degree requirement recitals. Master Classes with guest artists are held every year as well.

The School of Music also has competition opportunities for aspiring soloists and chamber performers. Each year, one winner is selected from the Concerto Competition to perform a solo work with the Baylor Symphony Orchestra. Every other year multiple soloists and chamber groups are selected as Semper Pro Musica Competition winners and travel to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Will I have access to faculty members who can assist me in my professional development?

From the time you enter the Baylor University School of Music, you will be able to confer with full-time faculty members. All music majors and secondary majors will study one-on-one each week with a faculty member. Faculty advisors will help develop a plan for each upcoming semester during a School of Music advisement period that precedes pre-registration. Members of the faculty are also available by appointment to counsel and advise you throughout the semester when you have questions.

How will I know if I get a scholarship or other financial aid?

Students receive notification of their financial aid status from the University. If a student is selected to receive a music scholarship, they will receive a separate notification from the School of Music via email and will be asked to respond to verify acceptance of the scholarship. No notification letters are sent in the event that a student does not qualify for a music scholarship.

Who do I contact about general graduate admissions questions?

If I am accepted to the University, am I automatically accepted into the School of Music?

What do I do if I cannot attend a scheduled audition day?

Is it possible to double major?

Do I have to submit GRE scores?

How will I know if I get a graduate assistantship?

Graduate Associate positions (graduate assistantships) are awarded based on the recommendation of the faculty in the student's major area. Decisions typically begin to be made about March 1 and may take up to two months to complete. Candidates will be notified of their status by email as soon as possible after this has been determined.

Students who are awarded Graduate Associate positions will be asked to sign and return a contract. The Associate Dean for Graduate Studies of the School of Music will make the official notice of Graduate Associate position awards in writing. Any discussion of Graduate Associate position awards or assignments prior to that notice, or by any other persons, shall be considered preliminary and unofficial.

If I am accepted to both the Graduate School and the School of Music, but do not receive a music graduate assistantship, are other financial aid options available?

For international applicants, what is the English-language proficiency requirement?

International graduate applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency by submitting either TOEFL or IELTS scores. Baylor's Institution Code: 6032.

Minimum TOEFL scores for master's degrees are: 550 paper, 213 computer-based, 80 internet-based. The minimum IELTS score for master's degrees is 6.5. Minimum DuoLingo score is 125.

Minimum TOEFL scores for doctoral degrees are: 600 paper, 250 computer-based, 100 internet-based. Comparable scores on the IELTS or PTE exams may also be submitted for doctoral degrees.

International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement under the following circumstances:

You have a conferred degree from an institution in the United States
Your degree was issued from an institution where the medium of instruction is English.

No one will be admitted who does not meet these minimum standards because we want students to be successful academically as well as in a performance area.

Once I have been accepted, when can I register for classes?

What are Diagnostic Exams?

During the week preceding the semester in which a graduate student enrolls he/she will take music theory and music history diagnostic exams. Appropriate remedial course work may be required as a result of the exams. In addition, graduate students with majors in vocal performance, collaborative piano, and church music with vocal performance emphasis will be tested over their knowledge of Italian, German, and French lyric diction. If the student is deficient in any of these languages he/she will be expected to enroll in an appropriate diction course. See the Graduate Music Handbook for more information on the exams and how to prepare for them.

First-year and transfer School of Music admissions decisions (March)	Admissions decisions are sent via email and updated in GoBaylor accounts
School of Music Merit Scholarship offers (March)	Scholarship offers are send via email provided on School of Music application
First-year Decision Deadline (May 1)	Commit to Baylor by depositing at website

Piano

Piano

Learn everything about your application process:

BM in Performance

BM in Performance

Resources

Piano Audition Information

Piano Faculty

Events for Prospective Students

Undergraduate Admissions FAQs

Graduate Admissions FAQs

School of Music

Piano

Learn everything about your application process:

BM in Performance

Resources

Additional Opportunities

How to Apply

Step 1: Start your Baylor University application

Step 2: Submit your School of Music application

Step 3: Audition

Decisions Timeline

Scholarship & Financial Aid Information

Scholarships

Financial Aid

Piano Audition Information

Piano Faculty

Events for Prospective Students

Undergraduate Admissions FAQs

Graduate Admissions FAQs

School of Music