Piano Performance Oakland University

Overview

The Piano Performance programme at Oakland University offers a robust professional foundation for students aiming to excel in the competitive world of music. This Bachelor of Music degree combines intensive practical training with a deep academic exploration of musicology and theory to produce well-rounded artists.

Students entering this course undergo a two-tiered admission process, starting with an entrance audition to demonstrate their current proficiency. Once enrolled, musicians must maintain high standards to achieve major standing, ensuring they are prepared for the professional rigours of the school’s advanced curriculum.

The curriculum is designed to foster both individual brilliance and collaborative skills through a variety of performance settings.

Why Piano Performance at Oakland University?

Oakland University provides a sophisticated environment for musical growth, featuring dedicated facilities and a faculty of accomplished performers. The programme is distinguished by its structured progression, which includes mandatory sophomore and junior recitals to build stage confidence before the final capstone.

The institution emphasises a holistic approach to music education, integrating keyboard skills, conducting, and pedagogy into the core training. This ensures that graduates are not only exceptional performers but also versatile professionals capable of contributing to the wider musical landscape through teaching and leadership.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: USD 23867 per year
• National fee: USD 23867 per year
• Local fee: USD 16772 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum includes a blend of practical performance, music theory, and historical studies. Modules may include:

• Piano
• Senior Recital
• Piano Technique Seminar
• Keyboard Skills for the Piano Major
• Accompanying for Piano Majors
• Music Theory
• Aural Skills
• History and Literature of Western Tonal Music
• Music of World Cultures
• History and Literature of Medieval and Renaissance Music
• History and Literature of Western Music from ca. 1850 to the Present
• Musical Analysis and Form
• Counterpoint
• Analysis of Music Since 1900
• The Nineteenth-Century Symphony: History, Performance and Analysis
• Berlin’s Musical Cultures: 1900-1989
• Seminar in Opera and Drama
• Conducting
• Piano Pedagogy
• Piano Repertoire
• University Chorus
• Oakland Chorale
• Chamber Orchestra
• Symphonic Band
• Wind Symphony
• Chamber Music

Careers with Piano Performance

Graduates of this programme are prepared for diverse roles within the global music industry, focusing on performance and education. Many alumni pursue careers as concert soloists, collaborative pianists, or chamber musicians, performing in prestigious venues and with professional orchestras.

The inclusion of pedagogy modules also enables graduates to find success as private instructors or faculty members in music conservatoires and schools. Additionally, the skills gained in conducting and theory provide pathways into music direction, composition, and arts administration roles.