Performance

Available for undergraduate students.

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.

• Reference the BM in Performance Degree Plan Checklists for course requirements before consulting the BM & BME Course Distribution List

Available for undergraduate students who have a primary major in a department outside of the School of Music.

The Secondary Major in Instrumental, Keyboard, or Vocal Performance allows advanced performers (piano, organ, voice, winds, brass, strings, or percussion) to continue their interest in music performance while pursuing another academic career path. The secondary major is differentiated from a music major in that academic music requirements (music theory, music history, etc.) are substantially reduced while retaining regular private instruction, participation in ensembles and chamber music, and a recital in the senior year.

Through this secondary major option, upon graduation, a student earns one baccalaureate degree in an area other than music. Although not awarded a second degree in music, the student's transcript will reflect that he or she has earned a Secondary Major in Instrumental, Keyboard, or Vocal Performance. An audition is required for acceptance into the Secondary Major.

• Secondary Major Degree Plan Checklists 

Available for graduate students.

The Master of Music (MM) in Piano Pedagogy & Performance program incorporates an extensive amount of teaching experience with a variety of ages and levels. These teaching opportunities help to develop confidence and instructional effectiveness along with expertise in twenty-first century piano pedagogy. With access to the Audra O’Neal Piano Pedagogy Library, students can become familiar with all of the newest anthologies and method books as well as historical collections of literature. This emphasis on teaching experience and research coincides with the high-level refinement of performance skills at the piano.

• MM in Piano Pedagogy & Performance Degree Plan Checklist

Application Steps: MM in Piano Pedagogy & Performance

Available for piano or organ only.

The Advanced Performers Certificate is intended for students who demonstrate the potential to establish a career as a performing artist. Accordingly, the goals of this non-degree program are more narrowly focused than traditional graduate performance degrees. The requirements for the Advanced Performers Certificate Program are designed for students who have demonstrated the ability to perform advanced repertoire and whose artistic communication and technical mastery of major repertoire for the instrument are unusually strong.

It is expected that the student applying for admission to the program will have completed a Bachelor of Music degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution. Those applying for admission to the Advanced Performers Certificate Program must follow the procedures and regulations of other students applying for acceptance to the Graduate Division of the School of Music. (GRE not required)

Application Steps: Piano

Application Steps: Organ

Students who have been admitted to the Advanced Performers Certificate Program will be advised on course content by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in Music in consultation with the major teacher and the Director of Keyboard Studies. Assessment of Progress in the Program Students will be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in the program. Recitals must receive a grade of A- to be passed. A committee consisting of four Keyboard Division faculty, one faculty member from another applied division, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in Music will grade the required recitals. A probationary semester will be granted when a student’s GPA falls below the required GPA. Students placed on probationary status will be evaluated yearly by the Dean of the School of Music, the major teacher involved, and any members of the Keyboard Division faculty assigned by the Dean.

Residency Requirements

All course requirements for the Advanced Performers Certificate Program must be completed in residence at Baylor University. The student may complete the credit requirements in four regular Fall-Spring semesters or may distribute the semester hours over four regular Fall-Spring semesters and two summer terms. The minimum time allowed to complete the requirements is two years and the maximum is three years.

Language Requirement

All international students whose first language is not English must achieve a TOEFL score of 550 (213 computer based or 80 Internet based), IELTS score of 6.5 or DuoLingo score of 125 to be admitted to the Advanced Performers Certificate Program.

Course Requirements

20 Applied Major
 4  Chamber Music*
 6  Music Courses**
 2  MUS 5170 Two solo recitals
32 TOTAL semester hours

*Select from MUS 5130, 5131, 5132, 5133, 5136. Note: this includes two full-length collaborative recitals.

**Select literature, pedagogy, music history or music theory courses appropriate to the area and for which the student is qualified.

Additional courses not included in the program curriculum may be added upon consultation with the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in Music, the major teacher, and the Director of Keyboard Studies. Added courses will not be counted toward the requirement. 

If you have any questions about this program, contact the Director of the Keyboard Division.