Bachelor of Music in Music Performance, Piano Track

Piano Track Faculty

Dr. Caroline Oltmanns
Bliss Hall 1240
Phone: 330.941.1826
E-mail: cmoltmanns@ysu.edu


Piano Track

The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Music Performance, Piano Track provides exceptional individualized applied studio instruction, solo and collaborative performance experiences, and supportive courses in music history and theory, as well as avenues for students to diversify their studies with elective classes and professional skills that are relevant to their areas of interest. The B.M. in Performance focuses on the professional development and unique goals of each student.

B.M. in Music Performance students work closely with a world-class faculty of performers, composers, and scholars who hold advanced degrees from some of the world’s finest institutions, including Juilliard, Cincinnati Conservatory, Eastman, Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, University of Southern California, Florida State University, and University of Texas. Our faculty work with students to support their unique aspirations through the development of strategic experiences, thus enabling them to pursue a variety of professional opportunities in multiple contexts. Students are encouraged to develop their own specialized interests, including additional studies in pedagogy or collaborative performance; involvement in competitions, festivals, or recordings; or focused repertoire studies in areas such as new music or music of underrepresented composers.

Students pursing the B.M. in Music Performance in Piano have a broad range of performance opportunities that include diverse repertoire and provide professional training as soloists and collaborators. Examples include solo recitals, concerto competitions, large and small ensembles, and contemporary ensembles. Chamber Ensembles provide students the chance to form groups that explore varied literature and entrepreneurship, and many groups are active playing gigs and concerts throughout the region.

Our students regularly win regional, national, and international recognition in performance and garner competition awards. They routinely perform as artists and chamber musicians at summer music festivals in the U.S. and abroad and are accepted to prestigious graduate programs around the country and across the globe.

The B.M. in Music Performance prepares students to develop careers in a myriad of fields. Our alumni are Grammy®Award winning artists and may be found performing with national and international ensembles; recording in Hollywood studios; touring with diverse acts; performing with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra; serving as award-winning producers, arrangers, and audio engineers; and working as academic faculty. Our degree helps students define future professional goals and equips them with exceptional skills for a successful career.


Dana School of Music Contact Information

To learn more about our degree programs, scholarships, performances, faculty, and students, contact the Dana School of Music at 330-941-3635. To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330-941-2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu. We would love to hear about your interests, show you our school, and become an important part of your future. 

COURSE TITLE S.H.
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT - STUDENT SUCCESS
YSU 1500Success Seminar1-2
or SS 1500 Strong Start Success Seminar
or HONR 1500 Intro to Honors
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
ENGL 1550Writing 13-4
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
CMST 1545Communication Foundations3
Mathematics Requirement3
Arts and Humanities (2 courses)
Satisfied by 6 SH of MUHL 3772, 3773, or 3774, which are required in the major.
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab)7
Social Science (2 courses)6
Social and Personal Awareness (2 courses)3
One course satisfied by 3 SH of MUHL 3771, which is required in the major. Need one additional SPA course.
CORE MUSIC REQUIREMENTS
Music Theory (19-21 hours). Music Theory and Aural Theory of the same level must be taken concurrently.
MUTC 1531Music Theory 12-3
or MUTC 1531N Music Theory 1 Intensive
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1531N for MUTC 1531
MUTC 1541Aural Theory 12
MUTC 1532Music Theory 22-3
or MUTC 1532N Music Theory 2 Intensive
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1532N for MUTC 1532
MUTC 1542Aural Theory 22
MUTC 2631Music Theory 32
MUTC 2641Aural Theory 32
MUTC 2632Music Theory 42
MUTC 2642Aural Theory 42
MUTC 3750Analytical Techniques3
Keyboard Musicianship (4 hours)
MUAC 2691Professional Piano Skills 11
MUAC 2692Professional Piano Skills 21
MUAC 2693Professional Piano Skills 31
MUAC 2694Professional Piano Skills 41
Music History and Literature (12 hours)
MUHL 3771Music History and Literature 13
MUHL 3772Music History and Literature 23
MUHL 3773Music History and Literature 33
MUHL 3774Music History and Literature 43
Conducting (3 hours)
MUCO 3715Choral and Instrumental Conducting3
ENSEMBLES (8 hours)
Large Ensembles4
*Please consult with your applied teacher regarding large ensemble participation.
Piano Chamber Ensembles/Chamber Ensembles4
*Please consult with your applied teacher regarding piano chamber ensemble participation.
PIANO EMPHASIS
Piano Applied Lessons and Support Courses (33 hours)
PIAN 1501Piano2
PIAN 1502Piano2
PIAN 2605Piano4
PIAN 2606Piano4
PIAN 3705Piano4
PIAN 3706Piano (with Junior Recital)4
PIAN 4805Piano4
PIAN 4806Piano (with Senior Recital)4
VOIC 1500AVoice1
MUAC 3759Voice Methods1
MUED 5858Piano Pedagogy3
MUTC/MUHL - Upper Division Theory and History Electives (must represent both areas) (9 hours)9
Music Electives (3 hours)3
Total Semester Hours120-124
  • Music students must attend 36 convocations as a graduation requirement.
  • Music students must attend 30 Dana School of Music concerts or recitals.
  • Applied lesson must be taken concurrently with ensemble each semester.
Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
YSU 1500
Success Seminar
or Strong Start Success Seminar
or Intro to Honors
1-2
ENGL 1550
Writing 1
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
MUTC 1531
MUTC 1541
Music Theory 1
and Aural Theory 1
4-5
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1531N for MUTC 1531
MUAC 2691 Professional Piano Skills 1 1
PIAN 1501 Piano 2
MUEN 00XX 1
 Semester Hours12-15
Spring
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
General Education Electives 6
MUTC 1532
MUTC 1542
Music Theory 2
and Aural Theory 2
4-5
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1532N for MUTC 1532
MUAC 2692 Professional Piano Skills 2 1
PIAN 1502 Piano 2
MUEN 00XX 1
 Semester Hours17-18
Year 2
Fall
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3
MUTC 2631
MUTC 2641
Music Theory 3
and Aural Theory 3
4
MUAC 2693 Professional Piano Skills 3 1
MUHL 3771 Music History and Literature 1 3
PIAN 2605 Piano 4
MUEN 00XX 1
 Semester Hours16
Spring
General Education Elective 3
MUTC 2632
MUTC 2642
Music Theory 4
and Aural Theory 4
4
MUAC 2694 Professional Piano Skills 4 1
MUHL 3772 Music History and Literature 2 3
PIAN 2606 Piano 4
MUEN 00XX 1
 Semester Hours16
Year 3
Fall
Natural Science + Lab 4
MUTC 3750 Analytical Techniques 3
MUHL 3773 Music History and Literature 3 3
PIAN 3705 Piano 4
MUEN 0051
Piano Chamber
or Chamber Music
1
 Semester Hours15
Spring
MUHL 3774 Music History and Literature 4 3
MUCO 3715 Choral and Instrumental Conducting 3
PIAN 3706 Piano (with Junior Recital) 4
MUEN 0051
Piano Chamber
or Chamber Music
1
MUED 5858 Piano Pedagogy 3
MUAC 3759 Voice Methods 1
VOIC 1500A Voice 1
 Semester Hours16
Year 4
Fall
General Education Elective 3
MATH 2623 Quantitative Reasoning 3
PIAN 4805 Piano 4
MUEN 0051
Piano Chamber
or Chamber Music
1
Music Upper Division Electives 3
 Semester Hours14
Spring
PIAN 4806 Piano (with Senior Recital) 4
MUEN 0051
Piano Chamber
or Chamber Music
1
Music Upper Division Electives 6
Music Electives 3
 Semester Hours14
 Total Semester Hours120-124
  • Music students must attend 36 convocations as a graduation requirement.
  • Music students must attend 30 Dana School of Music concerts or recitals.
  • Applied lesson must be taken concurrently with ensemble each semester.

Learning Outcomes

The student learning outcomes for the major in music are as follows:

  • Students will perform a public recital in their applied area.
  • Students will analyze music, discriminate pitch, harmony, and rhythm and perform harmonic progressions at the piano.
  • Students will demonstrate critical thinking about the various historical periods, cultural contexts, and social forces that influence musical activity.
  • Students will demonstrate basic keyboard proficiency including scales, arpeggios, harmonization, repertoire, transpositions, and score reading.