Please refer to the main Major in Music (B.M.), Music Performance Concentration page for the performance concentration overview and learning objectives.
In the Piano Option, the pursuit of excellence in musical expression, technical mastery, and artistry in performance is our primary goal. As a pianist, organist, or harpsichordist in performance, you will be guided in your study by a team of artist-teachers, performers, and internationally recognized scholars. Students cherish the high level of individual attention and focus they receive in private lessons, weekly masterclasses, departmental recitals, keyboard literature classes, liturgical music studies, or classes in chamber music, arranging, and conducting. Keyboard students also enjoy numerous performance opportunities, including collaborative experiences.
At the heart of the program is an intense love of the instrument, its touch, its vast repertoire, and its seemingly inexhaustible capacity for expression.
In the keyboard area, emphasis is placed upon the growth of the individual student, with excellence in applied instruction reinforced by practical experience in the public performance of solo, chamber, and concerto repertoire. Weekly private lessons and performance classes on Steinway grand pianos culminate in solo public recitals in the junior and senior years.
Collaborative experience is gained throughout the four years of undergraduate study through class instruction, laboratory experience in the vocal and instrumental studios, and placement on select band, orchestra, choral, and jazz repertoire. The annual Concerto Competition is an additional opportunity to appear as a soloist with a large ensemble.
Music Auditions
Prospective CSU Students: In addition to applying to CSU through the Office of Admissions, a successful audition with CSU Music faculty is required for entrance into the B.M. concentrations. Please visit the music website for Music Audition Information.
Current CSU Students: To change your major to music, you may call the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at (970) 491-5891 or email smtd@colostate.edu. Current CSU students need to complete the audition process and be accepted to the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance before contacting the College of Liberal Arts Academic Advising Center. Please visit the music website for Music Audition Information.
Music Program Fee
A music program fee is assessed with Undergraduate and graduate music and musical theatre majors and music minors, per semester. Does not apply to the following students: online degree students and summers-only master's degree students. Please visit the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for special course fees.
A minimum grade of C is required in all music courses used to satisfy the requirements of the major programs (B.A. and B.M.) in music.
Effective Fall 2022
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AUCC | Credits | ||
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
| MU 117 | Music Theory I | 3 | |
| MU 118 | Music Theory II | 3 | |
| MU 127 | Aural Skills I | 1 | |
| MU 128 | Aural Skills II | 1 | |
| MU 131 | Introduction to Music History and Literature (GT-AH1) | 3B | 3 |
| MU 275I1 | Applied Instruction: Piano | 6 | |
| MU *** Ensemble (see list below)2 | 2 | ||
| Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 1C | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 1B | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| MU 217 | Music Theory III | 3 | |
| MU 218 | Music Theory IV | 3 | |
| MU 227 | Aural Skills III | 1 | |
| MU 228 | Aural Skills IV | 1 | |
| MU 275I | Applied Instruction: Piano | 6 | |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | 3C | 3 |
| L*** *** Foreign language3 | 10 | ||
| MU *** Ensemble (see list below)2 | 2 | ||
| Advanced Writing | 2 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | ||
| Junior | |||
| MU 254 | Beginning Conducting | 2 | |
| MU 471 | Recital | 1 | |
| MU 475I | Applied Instruction: Piano | 6 | |
| Select 4-6 credits from the following: | 4-6 | ||
| Arranging and Orchestration | |||
| Jazz Composition/Arranging | |||
| Counterpoint | |||
| Advanced Orchestration | |||
| Tonal Analytic Techniques | |||
| Post-Tonal Analytic Techniques | |||
| Upper-Division Music History 4A/4B (see list below) | 4A,4B | 6 | |
| MU *** Music Elective | 3 | ||
| MU *** Ensemble (see list below)2 | 2 | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Electives | 1-3 | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | ||
| Senior | |||
| MU 407 | Accompanying | 2 | |
| MU 465 | Keyboard Literature | 2 | |
| MU 471 | Recital | 4C | 1 |
| MU 475I | Applied Instruction: Piano | 6 | |
| MU *** Music Electives | 6 | ||
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 3A | 7 | |
| Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |
| Electives5 | 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 28 | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||
Ensemble Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MU 201 | Men's Chorus | 1 |
| MU 202 | University Chorus | 1 |
| MU 204 | Marching Band | 1 |
| MU 205 | Concert Band | 1 |
| MU 206 | Colorado State University Concert Orchestra | 1 |
| MU 300 | Women's Chorus | 1 |
| MU 302 | University Orchestra | 1 |
| MU 304 | Symphonic Band | 1 |
| MU 305 | Colorado State University Concert Choir | 1 |
| MU 309 | Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| MU 310 | Jazz Combo | 1 |
| MU 400 | Colorado State University Chamber Choir | 1 |
| MU 401 | Opera Theater | 1-2 |
| MU 402 | Theater/Chamber Orchestra | 1 |
| MU 404 | Symphonic Wind Ensemble | 1 |
| MU 406 | New Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MU 407 | Accompanying | 1 |
| MU 408 | Chamber Music | 1 |
Upper-Division Music History 4A/4B Courses
| Code | Title | AUCC | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MU 332 | History of Jazz | 4A,4B | 3 |
| MU 334 | Perspectives in Early Music History | 4A,4B | 3 |
| MU 335 | Music of the Common Practice Era | 4A,4B | 3 |
| MU 430 | 20th and 21st Century Music | 4A,4B | 3 |
| MU 431 | American Music | 4A,4B | 3 |
- 1
Take two semesters each in the freshman and sophomore years.
- 2
Students must participate in an ensemble during each semester in which they are enrolled in MU 275I or MU 475I. At least once during the program of study, this must be achieved by taking MU 408 or through another small ensemble experience.
- 3
Take two semesters of a foreign language in the sophomore year.
- 4
Take two semesters each in the junior and senior years.
- 5
Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to 120, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).
Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
A grade of C or better is required in all music courses used to satisfy major requirements.
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 | ||
| MU 117 | Music Theory I | X | 3 | ||
| MU 127 | Aural Skills I | X | 1 | ||
| MU 275I | Applied Instruction: Piano | X | 3 | ||
| MU*** Ensemble (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | X | 1 | |||
| Quantitative Reasoning | 1B | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 14 | ||||
| Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| MU 118 | Music Theory II | X | 3 | ||
| MU 128 | Aural Skills II | X | 1 | ||
| MU 131 | Introduction to Music History and Literature (GT-AH1) | X | 3B | 3 | |
| MU 275I | Applied Instruction: Piano | X | 3 | ||
| MU*** Ensemble (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | 1 | ||||
| Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | X | 1C | 3 | ||
| Elective | 2 | ||||
| AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) and CO 150 must be completed by the end of Semester 2. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| MU 217 | Music Theory III | X | 3 | ||
| MU 227 | Aural Skills III | X | 1 | ||
| MU 275I | Applied Instruction: Piano | 3 | |||
| L*** *** Foreign Language | 5 | ||||
| MU*** Ensemble (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | X | 1 | |||
| Advanced Writing | 2 | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| MU 218 | Music Theory IV | X | 3 | ||
| MU 228 | Aural Skills IV | X | 1 | ||
| MU 275I | Applied Instruction: Piano | 3 | |||
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | X | 3C | 3 | |
| L*** *** Foreign Language | 5 | ||||
| MU*** Ensemble (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | X | 1 | |||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| MU 254 | Beginning Conducting | X | 2 | ||
| MU 475I | Applied Instruction: Piano | X | 3 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 2-3 | |||
| Arranging and Orchestration | |||||
| Jazz Composition/Arranging | |||||
| Counterpoint | |||||
| Advanced Orchestration | |||||
| Tonal Analytic Techniques | |||||
| Post-Tonal Analytic Techniques | |||||
| Upper-Division Music History 4A/4B (see list on Concentration Requirements tab) | X | 4A,4B | 3 | ||
| MU*** Ensemble (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | X | 1 | |||
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |||
| Electives | 1-3 | ||||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| MU 471 | Recital | X | 1 | ||
| MU 475I | Applied Instruction: Piano | X | 3 | ||
| Choose one from the following: | X | 2-3 | |||
| Arranging and Orchestration | |||||
| Jazz Composition/Arranging | |||||
| Counterpoint | |||||
| Advanced Orchestration | |||||
| Tonal Analytic Techniques | |||||
| Post-Tonal Analytic Techniques | |||||
| Upper-Division Music History 4A/4B (see list on Concentration Requirements Tab) | X | 4A,4B | 3 | ||
| MU*** Ensemble (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | X | 1 | |||
| MU *** Music Electives | 3 | ||||
| Total Credits | 14 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| MU 407 | Accompanying | X | 1 | ||
| MU 465 | Keyboard Literature | X | 2 | ||
| MU 475I | Applied Instruction: Piano | X | 3 | ||
| MU*** Music Elective | X | 3 | |||
| Biological and Physical Sciences | X | 3A | 3 | ||
| Historical Perspectives | X | 3D | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| MU 407 | Accompanying | X | 1 | ||
| MU 471 | Recital | X | 4C | 1 | |
| MU 475I | Applied Instruction: Piano | X | 3 | ||
| MU *** Music Elective | X | 3 | |||
| Biological and Physical Sciences | X | 3A | 4 | ||
| Electives | X | 1 | |||
| The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 13 | ||||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||||