Sep 05, 2026  
Ohio University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Ohio University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

Music–Piano Pedagogy Major (B.Mus.)


Major code BM5064

Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts  
Music, School of  
Glidden Hall 440
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4244
music@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/fine-arts/music/undergraduate/piano-pedagogy-major

Christopher Fisher, contact person
fisherc@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The B.Mus. in Music with a concentration in Piano Pedagogy has a longstanding reputation for excellence and has been recognized as a highly regarded program in Piano Pedagogy. Students gain valuable teaching experience through their work with pre-college children, university students, and adults in both group and private learning environments. 

Music majors pursuing a concentration in Piano Pedagogy benefit from a supportive and rigorous learning environment that supports high standards of performance and academic achievement while providing a wide array of performance opportunities, stimulating coursework, supervised teaching, and research initiatives.  

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

All undergraduates, whether prospective freshmen or transfer students, are required to audition for admission to the degree programs offered by the School of Music. In general, students may not pursue coursework in the major until they have successfully auditioned and been admitted to a music degree program.

Students auditioning for the Music major with a concentration in Piano Pedagogy will perform one composition from each of the following categories:  

  • Baroque: A prelude and fugue or other major work by J.S. Bach  
  • Classical: The first movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or composer of similar difficulty (excluding Mozart Sonata, K. 545, Beethoven Sonatas, Op. 49, Nos. 1 and 2, and Op. 79)  
  • One contrasting selection from the 19th, 20th, or 21st century 

Students will also be assigned a quick-study piece roughly one week prior to the audition. All repertoire must be performed from memory, with the exception of this quick-study piece and any contemporary works of particular complexity. 

Change of Program Policy

Students currently attending Ohio University who wish to declare a major in music are required to audition for admission to the School of Music before they may declare the major.

External Transfer Admission

All undergraduates, whether prospective freshmen or transfer students, are required to audition for admission to the degree programs offered by the School of Music. In general, students may not pursue coursework in the major until they have successfully auditioned and been admitted to a music degree program.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

The B.Mus. in Music with a concentration in Piano Pedagogy is a preprofessional course of study that prepares students to pursue advanced graduate degree programs in performance, to engage in professional performance activities, or to establish private teaching studios. The discipline and critical insights gained from pursuing a professional degree in music can also have implications for other career options.

Requirements

University-wide Graduation Requirements


Ohio University requires completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for conferral of a bachelor’s degree. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide  page.

Music Major Requirements


Aural Skills


Complete the following courses:

Music History and Literature


Complete the following courses:

Complete one (1) of the following sets of courses:


Ensemble


Complete eight (8) semesters of a large ensemble for one (1) credit hour each semester. See the School of Music Undergraduate Handbook for ensembles appropriate to the principal instrument and major. 

Applied Study


Complete twelve (12) credit hours of applied study on the principal instrument for the major. 

Performance Lab


Complete six (6) semesters of the following course: 

Upper-level Music Theory and Literature Electives


Complete two (2) courses from the following. Some electives listed below are required courses for individual concentrations:

Recital


Complete one (1) of the following courses: 

Capstone


Complete one (1) of the following courses: 

Piano Pedagogy Concentration Requirements


Aural Skills and Music Theory


Complete the following courses:

Applied Study - Additional Credits


Complete eight (8) semesters of MUS 3410  at four (4) credit hours per semester, for a total of 32 credit hours. Twelve (12) credit hours are applied to the Music major requirements and twenty (20) credit hours are applied to the Piano Pedagogy concentration requirements. Students pursuing the Music major with a concentration in Piano Pedagogy must fulfill both requirements. 

  • Credit Hours: 1 to 4
  • Complete four (4) credit hours per semester for eight (8) semesters 

Conducting and Chamber Music


Complete the following courses:

Accompanying


Complete two (2) semesters of the following course at one (1) credit hour per semester:  

Keyboard Repertoire and Pedagogy


Complete the following courses:

Practicum


Complete three (3) semesters of the following course at one (1) credit hour per semester:

Keyboard Proficiency


Students are required to pass the Keyboard Skills Proficiency (KSP) exam.