School of Music Graduate Studies- Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music
The Piano Studies Program at Northern Arizona University offers a professional, supportive atmosphere for the piano student's musical development. A highly committed piano faculty provides individual attention in a nurturing environment of academic rigor and creative challenge.
Auditions
Audition Dates or to schedule an audition contact Dr. Frank Scott at 928.523.3800 or e-mail Frank.Scott@nau.edu
Degrees
Master of Music with Emphases in:
Piano Performance
Accompanying/Chamber music
Performing Opportunities
The NAU campus offers many performance opportunities, including weekly master classes, piano ensemble/accompanying class, chamber music coaching and solo, studio and chamber music recitals. Opportunities to accompany singer and instrumentalists in lessons and recitals abound. The NAU Orchestra Solo Competition is held annually and winners perform with the orchestra in concert.
The vibrant performing arts scene helps to enrich the student's musical growth. The NAU Faculty Chamber Music Series, Guest Artist Series and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra present a myriad of prominent artists on campus, many of whom are then presented in master classes. Recent participating artists include pianists Andre Watts, Martin Katz, Jeffrey Swann, Enrique Graff, Paavali Jumppanen, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Olga Kern, Marian Hahn and Carolyn Bridger as well as mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne, violinist Ani Kavafian, the Chicago String Quartet and clarinetist Eddie Daniels
Teaching Opportunities
Students may gain valuable experience and financial remuneration through teaching in the NAU Preparatory School. The school offers lessons to young children, non-music NAU students and the Flagstaff community.
Facilities and Instruments
Ardrey Auditorium is a 1,500-seat hall that houses a new Steinway concert grand piano, a Baldwin concert grand, a Zuckermann French double harpsichord, and a 57-rank, three-manual Austin organ. The 300-seat Ashurst Auditorium is available to students with a Steinway concert grand and a Jones Clayton harpsichord.
The School of Performing Arts provides modern classrooms, studios, and spacious new piano practice rooms complete with Steinway grand pianos.
Scholarships and Assistantships
Graduate assistantships in piano are available. An on-campus audition and interview is preferred, but a tape will be accepted conditionally.
Audition material for the Piano Performance emphasis will include three major contrasting works that are memorized. For the Accompanying and Chamber Music emphasis, the audition requirements are two contrasting solo works as well as a major instrumental sonata, such as a Beethoven or Brahms violin sonata and a set of German or French songs. Scales, arpeggios and sight-reading will be included when auditioning in person.
Program of Study
Faculty
Frank Scott , Director of Piano Studies
Rita Borden, Piano, Coordinator
of Accompanying, Chamber Music
Elizabeth George, Organ,
Class Piano, Theory