| The University of South Carolina Piano department is comprised of
four full-time piano faculty and approximately fifty piano and piano-emphasis
students from across the United States and 9 foreign countries. Graduates
in piano performance and piano pedagogy are active teachers, performers
and members of university faculties throughout the United States.
Each piano studio is equipped with two Steinway 7-foot pianos,
audio recording and playback equipment, and faculty have in-studio
computer access to music and recording catalogs throughout the U.S.
and abroad. The Music Library is housed in the music building and
the Library Catalog
is available on-line.
 Piano
Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized performers,
pedagogues, authors, clinicians, and are committed to maintaining
a high level of performance and muscianship skills. Piano faculty
believe in fostering complete musicianship skills and in creating
a healthy learning experience in a collegial and academically competitive
environment. Piano students have access to historical keyboard instruments,
the music technology center, and regular studio classes and guest
masterclasses. The Hilton Head International Piano Competition,
and the Arthur
Fraser Competition of the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra
are held in or near the Columbia area. The internationally renowned
Spoleto Festival is held each year in Charleston, SC, and these
events are easily accessible to Columbia residents.
University of South Carolina Piano Faculty
(please see the faculty biographies page for biographical information)
Scott Price, Chair, Applied Piano and Piano Pedagogy, Coordinator
of Group Piano
Charles Fugo, Applied Piano
Marina Lomazov, Applied Piano, Director, Southeastern Piano Festival
Joseph Rackers, Applied Piano and Piano Literature, Coordinator of Piano Accompanists
Audition Requirements
Bachelor of Music Candidates: 15-minute live audition consisting
of 2 works of contrasting styles from the standard piano literature
performed from memory. Auditioning students will be asked to complete
a short sight-reading examination at the audition.
Master of Music Candidates: 30-minute live audition consisting
of works of contrasting styles from the standard piano literature
performed from memory. Candidates for graduate assistantships in
piano accompanying will be asked to complete a sight-reading examination
at the audition.
Doctor of Musical Arts Candidates: 30-minute live audition
consisting of works of contrasting styles from the standard piano
literature performed from memory. Candidates for graduate assistantships
in piano accompanying will be asked to complete a sight-reading
examination at the audition.
Performance Scholarships
Performance Scholarships are highly competitive and interested undergraduate
students should apply early for admission. Scholarships based solely
on talent, as demonstrated at a live audition, are awarded at the
discretion of the piano faculty. Piano students who receive a performance
scholarship must maintain status as a music major, a cumulative
grade point average of 2.5 or higher, must maintain a grade of "B"
or higher in applied lessons, and must fulfill ensemble and piano
accompanying requirements. Auditioning students are encouraged to
contact individual piano faculty when making decisions regarding
their choice of applied music teacher.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships are highly competitive and are available
in the areas of Piano Accompanying, Group Piano Instruction, Pedagogy
Instruction, and Pedagogy Library. Candidates should apply early
for consideration. Candidates for graduate assistantships in piano
accompanying will be asked to complete a sight-reading examination
at the live audition. This examination conists of sight-reading
vocal accompaniments, chamber music (piano part only), and orchestral
reductions.
Degree Programs
The University of South Carolina School of Music offers the degrees
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance,
Master of Music in Piano Performance,
and Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano
Performance. Please see the Piano Pedagogy website for information
on pedagogy degrees.
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance
(132 credit hours). In addition to the performance degree, students
may choose to specialize in other areas of piano study through enrollment
in the piano pedagogy or piano accompanying emphasis. Required course
work for the desired degree emphasis is completed as music elective
course work. Specific requirements are listed below:
General Education Requirements (42 credit hours)
- English (6 credit hours)
- Foreign Language and Non-Music Electives (11 credit hours)
- Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning (6 credit hours)
- Natural Sciences (7 credit hours)
- Humanities and Social Sciences (12 credit hours)
Major Requirements (90 credit hours)
- Music Theory/History Core (22 credit hours)
- Applied Music (32 credit hours)
- Ensembles (8 credit hours)
- Required Courses (5 credit hours)
- Theory and Literature (9 credit hours)
- Music Electives (14 credit hours)
- Concert Attendace (6 semesters)
Students enrolled in the Piano Pedagogy Emphasis complete the pedagogy
course sequence (two semesters) and three semesters of group/private
supervised student teaching. Students enrolled in the Piano Accompanying
emphasis complete the piano accompanying course sequence, as well
as literature courses and chamber music or diction courses depending
on their special interests. Students enrolled in the Piano Accompanying
emphasis must complete foreign language requirements with a grade
of "B" or better.
Master of Music in Piano Performance
(32 credit hours). Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent)
in piano performance. Music Diagnostic examinations are taken before
the first semester of study and determine placement in music history/theory
courses. One solo recital is required, and all degree candidates
must pass an oral comprehensive examination covering the major area,
music history/literature, and music theory.
- Music Bibliography and Research (2 credit hours)
- Applied Studies (8 credit hours)
- Piano Literature and/or Pedagogy (3-6 credit hours)
- Solo Recital (1 credit hour)
- Music History (6 credit hours)
- Music History (6 credit hours)
- Music Electives (3-6 credit hours)
Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance
(48 credit hours + 32 credit hours from the prerequisite Master of
Music degree (or equivalent) in piano performance. Music Diagnostic
examinations are taken before the first semester of study and determine
placement in music history/theory courses. Following the first full
semester of study, the student must complete the written candidacy
examinations and must complete a candidacy recital before the piano
faculty. Following successful completion of the candidacy examinations,
the student will be fully admitted to the degree program. 18 credit
hours must be completed while in residence on campus over the period
of three consecutive semesters, and all requirements must be completed
within 8 calendar years of the date at which the degree is to be granted.
Prior to graduation, candidates must complete written and oral comprehensive
examinations, and must complete the Dissertation Writing Requirement.
Foreign language reading proficiency must also be demonstrated prior
to graduation.
- Advanced Music Research (2 credit hours)
- Applied Piano (6 credit hours)
- Piano Literature (2-4 credit hours)
- Piano Pedagogy (2-4 credit hours)
- 4 Recitals (10 credit hours)
- Dissertation Writing Requirement (2 credit hours)
- Cognate Studies (20-23 credits of approved studies)
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