Handbook for Undergraduate and Graduate Piano Majors

(revised 2026)

Graduate Students, the content of this publication is intended to supplement the Graduate Student Handbook. 

Questions? Email Caroline Hong, area coordinator at hong.107@osu.edu

Contents

• Courses
• Jury Requirements and Forms
• Recital, Scheduling, Guidelines and Requirements
• Departmental Recitals 
• Concert Attendance Expectation
• Ensemble Requirements
• Concerto Competitions
• Change of Degree Plan
• Change of Studio Policy
• Policy Regarding Prepared Piano Use
• Other Useful Information

Courses

Applied Piano Courses

Collaborative Courses

Piano Pedagogy Courses

Piano Literature Courses

Additional Courses

Applied Organ Courses

Jury Requirements and Forms 

All undergraduate piano students will be expected to participate in a jury once a semester, unless they perform a recital that semester. The length of the jury will be a 10-minute minimum at freshman and sophomore levels (15 minutes for level changes), and a 15–minute minimum at junior and senior levels. 

All repertoire for juries will be performed by memory, with the exception of the independent study piece as part of the Sophomore–Senior requirements. 

Repertoire

Students will work with their applied teacher to determine the specific repertoire based on their level and interest. 

Scheduling a jury time

The GTA will send a schedule one week before the end of classes. 

Freshman 1st and/or 2nd Semester Jury Requirements (repeated until passed)

1. Scales — All major, harmonic and melodic minor scales in different dynamic levels, four (4) octaves:
   • BM and BA Performance majors — 16th notes; quarter note = 120
   • BME and BA non-performance majors — demonstrate fluencey and accuracy.
2. Major and minor arpeggios, four (4) octaves:
   • BM and BA Performance majors — 16th notes; quarter note = 88
   • BME and BA non-performance majors — demonstrate fluence and accuracy.
3. One memorized repertoire selection chosen in consultation with instructor.
4. The second semester jury serves as a level change, which allows permission to pursue specific degree programs. 

Sophomore–Senior Jury Requirements (Memorization of all repertoire is required.) 

The following repertoire is required for BM Performance Majors and must be performed on a jury prior to the second semester of the senior year. BME and BA majors are encouraged but not required to fulfill the repertoire requirements.

1. An etude of choice in consultation with your instructor (suggested during sophomore or junior year.
2. A movement of concerto with second piano (suggested during junior year).
3. An independent study piece determined by the area faculty, to be given to student two weeks prior to the jury (suggested during 1st semester of senior year)

Graduate Juries (MM, DMA)

All graduate students will be expected to perform a jury of approximately 15 minutes in a semester they are not performing a recital. The repertoire selections must be taken from the solo or concerto literature and must be memorized. (Permission from faculty required for non-memorized contemporary repertoire). 

Jury Forms 

Students are required to complete the Semester Repertory Sheet (Jury Sheet). 

During the last week of classes, download and complete this filable Semester Jury Sheet. Then, submit it to your applied music instructor.

Semester Repertory Sheet

Recital, Scheduling, Guidelines and Requirements

To begin the process to schedule a recital, refer to Recital Guidelines under Current Students on the School of Music website. It is recommended that students schedule a recital as early in the process as possible. 

Graduate students must follow the recital protocol found in the School of Music Graduate Student Handbook. 

Once the recital has been scheduled, the student will receive the Recital Guide with further instructions about various aspects of their recital, including scheduling their dress rehearsal(s). The student is responsible for creating the recital program master copy, including all program notes, which must receive approval of the advisor. Instructions for creating the program is included in the Recital Guide. 

Recital Cancellation Policy 

A scheduled recital must be confirmed or cancelled two weeks prior to the scheduled date of the recital. Students will be assessed a fee for a late cancellation.This also applies to cancelations of Dress Rehearsals. See the Recital Guide for details.

4505 Junior Recital 

The junior recital is required for the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Arts degrees. The junior recital is expected to be offered no later than the second semester of study of junior year. The recital must be approximately 30 minutes of solo playing. 

Memorization of all repertoire is required. 

For Bachelor of Music Education majors, the final semester of 4501 is considered the final semester of study. 

4605 Senior Recital 

The senior recital is required for the Bachelor of Music in Performance degree (prerequisite 4602). The graduating recital is normally scheduled during the last semester of study at that level (senior year). The length of the recital (playing time) is expected to be 50 minutes. 

All repertoire must be memorized. 

7805 Master’s Degree Recitals 

MM students are required to perform two recitals 60 minutes playing time each during their course of study. 

Memorization of all solo and concerto repertoire is required.

1. Master’s Thesis Recital (7805.01): Solo recital (60 minutes of solo playing).
2. Master’s Degree Concerto Recital (7805.02): One recital consisting of at least one complete concerto may be combined with either chamber music or two-piano music, totaling 60 minutes playing time.

7905, 8905 Doctoral Degree Recitals

DMA students are required to perform four (4) recitals during their course of study.

Memorization of all solo and concerto repertoire is required. **

1. Doctoral Preliminary Recital (7905): Solo recital — 60 minutes of solo playing. **
2. Doctoral Recitals (8905): Three recitals—one solo recital, one chamber recital, and one concerto recital, which consists of one or two concertos depending on the length of the concerto(s); each recital totaling 60 minutes playing time. ** 

** Consult the School of Music Graduate Student Handbook: Approval of repertoire and all changes to the program must be approved by the Master’s or Doctoral Committee. 

Departmental Recitals 

1. Departmental recitals are held approximately three times each semester in the Timashev Recital Hall or Weigel Auditorium. All piano majors are required to attend.
2. Piano majors are strongly encouraged to attend all recitals presented by piano majors, piano faculty and guest artists.

Concert Attendance Expectation

The School of Music celebrates the wide array of musical traditions, genres, and styles performed throughout our university and the Columbus arts community.

Students are encouraged to attend performances and scholarly presentations by peers and faculty.

• Attend School of Music events regularly. Refer to the Event Calendar for performances by student ensembles, faculty and guest artists, the Lectures in Musicology Series and other events.
• Expand beyond music. Attend presentations by your peers in the Department of Dance, and Department of Theatre, Film and Media Arts.
• #ColumbusMakesArt. Many of our Columbus arts partners offer student ticket prices. Visit Concert Attendance for details.
• Listen to WOSU Classical 101 daily.

Ensemble Requirements

Undergraduate Students

Consult Curriculum Sheets for individual degree requirements.

Graduate Students

All candidates are required to enroll in any chamber or ensemble course as a pianist or enroll in Accompanying Practicum 7780.05 each semester until candidacy is achieved. Please refer to degree sheets for list of ensemble course numbers.

Concerto Competitions

ALL students are required to perform from memory (unless performing a work of an avant garde composer.) 

Undergraduates and Master’s Students

A semi-final audition will be held to choose finalists for the competition. Students should prepare a 15-minute audition with sections representative of the full concerto. Students are required to have their concerto choice approved by the orchestra director prior to the preliminary audition. Students are required to audition with a second piano playing the orchestral accompaniment. Finalists will audition before the School of Music Concerto Committee.

Doctoral Students

The concerto competition for DMA students is held in the spring. Students must have completed their preliminary recital to be eligible to enter the competition and are required to have their concerto choice approved by the orchestra director prior to the preliminary audition for the piano faculty. A semi-final audition will be held to choose finalists for the competition. Students should prepare a 15-minute audition with sections representative of the full concerto.

Change of Degree Plan

If a student desires to change degree programs, the student must first discuss the change with the  applied teacher. If the teacher agrees to the change, the student must inform the piano faculty in advance of the end of semester jury.

Change of Studio Policy

To request a change of studio teacher assignment, the student must follow the protocol below:

1. Try to resolve any problems with the major teacher directly by discussing your concerns.
2. Schedule an in-person meeting with the Area Coordinator to discuss why you wish to change teachers.

3. Area faculty will do their best to grant the student’s request to change teachers.

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Policy Regarding Prepared Piano Use

Please indicate on the “Stage Crew Needs Sheet” that you will require a piano for a prepared piece. Also contact the piano technician for approval.

Pianos approved for prepared uses:  The Don Harris Mason & Hamlin A is recommended for all prepared piano pieces. 

At no time is the Spirio 9-foot concert Steinway to be used for any prepared piece! Consult the Piano Technician or Piano Chair for piano assignments.

Marking strings: The sticky portion on a Post It Note may be used on dampers or agraffes to mark notes. Small stickers may be used if they are removed completely immediately after the rehearsal and performance. Care must always be used when touching dampers as they are easily bent. Never use masking tape or any other adhesive that may leave a residue. Chalk may be used to mark steel strings but never the copper wound bass strings. Dry erase markers are also acceptable for plain wire strings but not bass strings. Please do not use any other methods of marking strings! The performer is responsible for removing any stickers and markings immediately after any performance.

Striking and plucking strings: Strings may be struck or plucked with fingers or guitar pick, ideally with a gloved hand. Other devices must always be a material that will not mar or scratch strings. On steel strings only materials that are softer than the steel string may be used, such as brass or aluminum. Copper wound bass strings must also be struck or plucked with a material softer than the copper.  Acceptable material includes wood, plastic, rubber, etc. Never use a steel chisel on piano strings. I will be happy to help any performer select materials that will not damage the piano. NEVER strike the gold cast iron plate.  Although it is massive, it is quite brittle and unbending.  It holds most of the 20 tons of tension in the piano!  If it cracks, the piano is ruined! NEVER strike the wood case with anything. In some cases, literature calls for the insertion of screws or mutes between piano strings. A material softer than the string must be used such as brass or aluminum.

Common sense: Most damage to our pianos can easily be avoided by using good judgment. Please consult with the piano technician or piano faculty before using unconventional techniques. Usually, an alternative can be found to satisfy both the performer and this policy. 

Performers are NOT Permitted to stand, sit, lay, dance or jump on the pianos in any way. 

Failure to comply may result in the cancelation of your performance.

Questions? Email Caroline Hong, keyboard area coordinated or Mitchell Staples, piano technician

Other Useful Information

Studio Classes

Studio classes are held on Tuesdays (when Departmental recitals are not scheduled) at 11:30 a.m. to provide performance opportunities for students. Ask your teacher for studio times and schedule. Refer to the current Applied Studio Schedule and consult with your instructor. 

Practice Rooms

Most piano-dedicated practice rooms are on the second floor of Weigel Hall. Practice rooms may be reserved at the beginning of each semester and will be available to the designated student at their assigned time throughout the entire semester. Refer to the Practice Room Policy.

The room becomes available to others if you arrive more than 15 minutes late to your reserved practice time. If you leave your practice room for more than 15 minutes, the room is considered free, even if you have left your music and possessions in the room. 

Practice Room Etiquette: No food or drink is allowed in the practice rooms. Please remove all belongings when you leave the room.

Required Equipment

You are responsible for providing a high-quality lock for your locker, metronome, recording device. Refer to Student Lockers for the latest policies. 

Jury and Departmental Dress

Professional/business casual dress is recommended.