Degrees Available

• Bachelor of Music in Performance
• Master of Music in Performance
• Master of Music in Performance and Collaborative Arts
• Master of Music in Performance and Pedagogy
• Master of Music Education and Piano Pedagogy
• Doctor of Music in Performance
• Doctor of Music Performance and Collaborative Arts
• Doctor of Music Performance and Pedagogy

• For more information on degrees, visit our Degrees Page.
• If you are interested in the pedagogy-related degrees, visit our Piano Pedagogy Page.
• For complete curricular information, download the Bienen School's Undergraduate Student Handbook or the Graduate Student Handbook.
• Application Requirements and Audition Requirements
• For admission information, visit Music Admission and Financial Aid.

About the Piano Program

The heart of the piano program is applied studies, consisting of weekly individual one-hour lessons with artist-teachers, supplemented by studio performance classes. Students may enrich their program by taking advantage of related courses such as Piano Pedagogy, Piano Repertoire, Accompanying/Chamber Music, Performance Practice, and organ and harpsichord study.

All majors attend a weekly recital hour where they may perform for their colleagues. Other performance opportunities are available both on and off campus, including master classes with visiting artists.

All entering doctoral students receive the equivalent of full tuition funding.

Master Classes

Master classes will be announced throughout the academic year. Previous master clinicians have included Yefim Bronfman, Stephen Hough, Richard Goode, and Norman Krieger. 

The following video of a master class is from our Davee Media Library, a video, audio, and photographic collection of performances, master classes, and documentaries.

Video: Yefim Bronfman Piano Master Class (October 2010) Yefim Bronfman, renowned pianist and winner of the 2010 Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance, gives a piano master class in Lutkin Hall. Featured pianists are Hsiao-Ling Lin (student of James Giles) and Xiao-Min Liang (student of Sylvia Wang). Featured music includes Mozart and Brahms.

Contact for further information:

• James Giles, coordinator, Piano Program: jgiles@northwestern.edu