Music, BM - Piano Option

What you will study

As a Piano major at UCM, you’ll build on your practical skills and focus on performance, creative innovation and technology. In addition to music theory and history, you’ll study essential performance topics in private applied lessons, while teaching methods are covered in small-class Piano Pedagogy courses. 

UCM’s Music program faculty will guide you in expanding your repertoire throughout the duration of the undergraduate program by closely examining piano literature from various eras. The bachelor’s degree in Piano is a classically based program offering a diverse range of courses, including:

• Piano Pedagogy: Explore musical learning processes and improve your teaching skills with the latest instructional techniques.
• Piano Literature Through Beethoven: Learn the history of music for the piano in the Baroque and Classical eras.
• Fundamentals of Conducting: Diversify your musicianship by learning basic conducting skills for small and large ensemble settings.

 

 

Unique learning opportunities in piano

At the University of Central Missouri, we provide our Piano majors with a variety of hands-on learning opportunities and real-life performance experiences to improve your playing and professional networking skills. Students in UCM’s bachelor’s degree in Piano program receive guidance and encouragement to pursue both in-class and extracurricular learning activities that better prepare them for competitive careers in music education and performance:

• Technology and career-building: Graduates of piano schools must enter the workforce with polished self-promotion and digital distribution skills. UCM ensures that our Piano majors understand how to harness the power of social media to promote their musical performance skills, compositions and related business endeavors.
• Performing: During your time as a Piano major at UCM, you’ll have valuable career-building opportunities to perform, both on campus and around Missouri. Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Piano perform at significant regional locations and concert halls with faculty supervision and are also engaged as accompanists for school programs, theater productions, student recitals and performances.
• Enrichment: Piano degree students enjoy access to on-campus piano clinics and performances with world-class guest artists and renowned educators.

 

What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in Piano from UCM?

Graduates of top piano schools like UCM’s possess the skills to make a living as a musician. No matter your performance or career aspirations, UCM is here to help you prepare for a successful future.

Many UCM Piano majors earn advanced degrees in performance or music education in order to pursue college-level teaching positions in piano programs. Our bachelor’s degree in Piano program also prepares you with the performance skills, practical know-how and technical savvy you need for a career as a freelance pianist, private instructor or touring musician. 

What’s next for graduates from piano schools?

Use the interactive tool below to learn more about exciting careers, earning potential and job growth.

 

 

Financial assistance options for your UCM Piano degree

The University of Central Missouri offers you a variety of opportunities to make your Piano degree more affordable. You may qualify for one of our multiple sources of financial aid, including scholarships, grants and work-study positions that can help offset the cost of your education.

UCM’s general need- and merit-based scholarships are open to future freshmen, current undergraduates, transfer students and out-of-state students. When you enroll in one of our Piano programs, you can also apply for UCM scholarships reserved for Piano majors, such as:

• Dr. Richard B. Smith Piano Scholarship 
• Marion B. Davies Memorial Scholarship
• Joan Hubbel Scholarship in Music

Learn more about scholarships for students enrolled in Piano programs by using the UCM Scholarship Finder.