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DMA in Piano

Major code: D725

Dr. Barbara Fast
  • Director of Piano Pedagogy
  • Area Chair
Dr. Jeongwon Ham
Dr. Igor Lipinski
Dr. Jane Magrath
Dr. John Patrick Murphy
Stephanie Leon Shames

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Concentration and Code
(click for Coursework Requirements)

Piano Performance (R506)

Piano Performance and Pedagogy (R511)

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Application Deadline

For graduate piano degrees, applications for admission in the Fall must be received by December 1.

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Assistantships

There is no separate application for assistantship. Unless the applicant indicates otherwise, we assume that all applicants are interested in being considered for assistantships. Please note that assistantships are usually awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters together. We very seldom have assistantships available for anyone entering in a Spring semester. We do not award assistantships for Summer sessions.

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Application Procedure

Submit the online application (see Graduate Admissions page) and all materials described below.

The members of the piano faculty will review all application materials. Candidates will be invited to audition based on the quality of the preliminary recordings, the candidates’ professional materials, if applicable, teaching credentials, and the completion of the application file. Individuals invited to audition will be contacted by email to schedule a final audition. More details on the audition can be found at the bottom of the page.

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Application materials required for all graduate degrees

These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.

  • Resume
  • Personal Statement
    • Submitted to the online application under the Statement of Purpose tab
    • What aspects of the program attract you to OU? Additionally, please answer one of the following prompts:
      • Why do you want to pursue this degree?
      • How would you describe your professional path to this point and your aspirations going forward?
      • What skills, expertise and experience do you bring to the degree, and how will you use your degree, post-graduation?
      • What is important to you musically, artistically, pedagogically, and intellectually?
  • Three letters of reference
    • Submitted to the online application under Recommendations tab
    • Your three reference letters should include:
      • At least one letter from: your studio professor, ensemble conductor, chamber coach, etc., or a person who has considerable knowledge about your abilities as a performer or composer.
      • At least one letter from: a person who can speak to your abilities as a scholar of music.

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Scholarly writing requirement

This degree requires you to submit a sample of your scholarly writing.

  • Submitted to the online application under the Supporting Documents tab
  • Preferably not more than 3 years old.
  • Should be recently revised.
  • Should be a minimum of 5 pages of double-spaced text, not counting bibliography.
  • Should represent your best writing and researching skills.
  • Should present a complete argument supporting a clear thesis.
  • Should feature a consistent method for citations and should contain a bibliography.
  • Please contact the Graduate Music Office (gradmusic@ou.edu) or the area chair for your program with any questions about meeting these requirements.

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Prescreening application materials required for this degree

These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system

  • Repertoire list of significant solo and chamber piano repertoire. This list should include works that you have rehearsed and/or studied (even if you did not perform them in public recitals).
  • Programs of solo and chamber/collaborative programs performed in the past (no departmental group recitals).
  • A list of literature and materials used in the applicant’s teaching (piano pedagogy emphasis primarily).
  • A video of your memorized performance of at least 45 minutes of standard piano repertoire, including works of at least three composers representing three style periods.
    • Video files or links to online video recordings may be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.
  • Any other pertinent information related to the candidate’s professional preparation and achievements.
  • For DMA Piano Performance and Pedagogy only, in addition to the materials described above, the applicant should provide a 30-minute video recording of your teaching that demonstrates piano teaching effectiveness in a group and/or private situation. Several different teaching segments may be combined to create the 30-minute video. Applicants whose teaching on the recording is in a language other than English MUST add a segment in English following the teaching demonstration in which they discuss their teaching and their interest in a graduate degree.
    • Video files or links to online video recordings may be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.

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Final Audition

The members of the piano faculty will review all application materials described above. Individuals invited to audition will be contacted by email to schedule a live, on-campus final audition.

If invited to audition, the applicant should prepare 45 minutes of memorized music appropriate for the doctoral level. The repertoire should feature works of at least three standard composers representing three style periods. For the audition, you will need to bring 5 copies of your audition program and 5 copies of the repertoire list described above in the Prescreening materials.

With the approval of the applied teacher, a current MM student at the University of Oklahoma who plans to apply to the DMA program within twelve months of his/her planned graduation from the MM program may use his/her master’s degree recital as the DMA audition. The recital must meet DMA audition requirements. In order for a faculty committee to be organized to attend the recital to evaluate it for DMA application purposes, the student must inform all members of the piano faculty at least two weeks before the recital.

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Graduate Piano Audition DatesType
Friday, January 28, 2022
Audition date (any)
Saturday, January 29, 2022
Audition date (any)
Friday, February 4, 2022
Audition date (any)
Saturday, February 5, 2022
Audition date (any)
Friday, February 11, 2022
Audition date (any)
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Audition date (any, last date for doctoral auditions)
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Audition date (masters or undergrad only)
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Audition date (masters or undergrad only)
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Audition date (masters or undergrad only)