Piano, Organ & Pedagogy
Our Goals
All members of the keyboard faculty are active as performers, teachers and scholars, and are committed to excellence and helping our students:
find their own "artistic voice" as a performer;
discover their personal teaching styles and strengths;
develop their creativity and research skills;
rekindle their love of keyboard music;
take their place in the music profession.
Faculty
Ning An - piano
Bill Cunliffe - jazz piano
Alison Edwards - piano, piano pedagogy, class piano,
Piano & Organ Division Coordinator
Ellen Kim* - class piano
Masako Okamura-Klassen* - class piano, harpsichord
Myong-Joo Lee
* - piano (
website
)
Robert Watson - piano
* denotes part-time faculty
Contact
Alison Edwards • (657) 278-8238
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Music
: Keyboard Performance (piano or organ), Accompanying, Pedagogy, Composition
Bachelor of Arts in Music
: Piano Pedagogy, Music Education, Liberal Arts, Music History & Theory
Master of Music
: Keyboard Performance (solo piano, collaborative piano, or organ)
Master of Arts in Music
: Piano Pedagogy, Music History & Theory
Minor in Music
Artist Diploma
(non-degree)
Keyboard Curriculum
Undergraduate Degrees:
The Bachelor of Music, Keyboard Concentration is designed to train the highly gifted student who shows the capability and promise of becoming a professional performer. Students may audition for one of two concentrations: solo performance (piano, organ, or harpsichord) or accompanying.
The Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, Piano Pedagogy Emphasis provides in-depth training for individual and group piano instruction. Nationally recognized, it is the most comprehensive piano-pedagogy program in the state of California.
The Bachelor of Arts in Music-Liberal Arts Concentration allows a student to take an academic major in music while keeping many options open for career development.
Keyboard Curriculum (continued)
Graduate Degrees:
The Master of Music (M.M.) provides an exciting and rigorous course of study tailored to the individual abilities and career goals of superior performers.
The Master of Arts, Piano Pedagogy continues the tradition of our acclaimed undergraduate emphasis (above) with an orientation that is both practical and demanding.
Auditions
All students wishing to study keyboard at Cal State Fullerton must audition.
Both scholarship and regular auditions for incoming students are scheduled in the spring of each year. Students who hope to begin study in a spring semester may make special arrangements for an audition through the area coordinator.
Beyond Studio and Classroom
Our faculty members: perform internationally, nationally and locally; lead national, regional and local workshops and conferences;invite renowned artists and teachers to appear on campus.
Our students: reach out to Southern California with "Pianists in Performance"; perform internationally as soloists and as piano ensemble teams; come from the USA and over 15 foreign countries.
Our alumni: raise the level of teaching throughout Southern California; lead in music teacher organizations; are professional accompanists and organists; perform as soloists and collaborative artists around the world.
Repertoire and Other Audition Information for the BM and BA in Music Keyboard
Repertoire requirements
Piano:
Prospective pianists (whether entering as freshmen or junior transfer students) should select a work from each category that best displays their level of mastery.
- a Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach
- a fast movement from a classic era sonata (e.g., Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven)
- any work from 19th-century Romanticism or the 20th or 21st centuries
All works are to be played from memory.
A brief sight playing example will also be provided for you to play.
Organists:
Prospective organists should have studied the piano and had experience with a variety of styles including Baroque, Classic and Romantic piano literature.
Freshmen
- a Prelude and Fugue by J. S. Bach from the “Little Eight” (BWV 553- 560)
- a movement from a Mendelssohn Organ Sonata, or equivalent
- a 20th- or 21st-century work (hymn-improvisations, e.g., Burkhardt, Manz, acceptable)
- any traditional hymn— demonstrating use of pedal on bass-line
A brief sight playing example will also be provided for you to play.Note: If you have no formal organ training, prepare the repertoire for pianists (memorization optional). Indicate organ as your instrument in the emphasis box of the csumentor application and when signing up for your audition online.
Junior Transfer Students
- a more difficult Bach Prelude and Fugue, such as Fugue in G Minor (BWV 578)
- a fast or moderato movement from a Mendelssohn Sonata, or equivalent
- a contrasting 20th- or 21st- century work (may be toccata or scherzo style)
- a traditional hymn—2 verses with introduction and 2nd verse as a hymn improvisation for congregational singing
A brief sight playing example will also be provided for you to play.
- Auditions: Sign up instructions
- Your university admission Sign up for and complete your audition regardless of the status of your university application and admission. Even if you have been denied admission to the university, the School of Music may advocate that you be granted admission based on your musical talent.
- More information Piano & Organ Division Coordinator Alison Edwards (657) 278-8238
Master of Arts in Music: Piano Pedagogy
Audition Requirements and Other Essentials
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
- A thirty-minute DVD video and a written lesson plan of one or more of the following, as determined by your area of interest and specialization, and your experience:
a. Individual piano lesson
b. Partner piano lesson
c. Small group piano lesson
d. Electronic laboratory piano class
e. Other (please specify)
The written lesson plan must include a listing of all materials (including page numbers) being used in the video teaching demonstration as well as some brief but descriptive teaching reminders, goals. Copies of the materials being taught are recommended.For CSUF graduates who have completed MUS 477, the course instructor may verify that the satisfactory practice teaching requirement has been met.
- A fifteen-minute solo piano audition. The audition repertoire should be equivalent in terms of difficulty to that of a junior recital for the Bachelor of Music degree, or a senior recital for a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree. A diversity of styles is expected and should include a work from the Baroque era, one from the Classical era, and one from either the 19th or 20th -21st centuries.
-
Live auditions are preferred, although a high quality DVD recording for the audition is acceptable. (CSUF graduates may request their Senior Recital to serve as the entrance audition.)
Examples of repertoire for level include:
J S Bach, Prelude and Fugue in E Major, WTC I
J S Bach, Partita No. 1 in B flat Major
Mozart, Sonata in A Major, K. 331
Schubert, Sonata in A Minor, D. 784
Schubert, Impromputs
Schumann, Papillons, Op. 2
Brahms, Rhapsody in G Minor, Op. 79, No. 2
Bartok, Suite, Op. 14
Prokofieff, Visions fugitives, Op. 22 - Sight Playing: The student may be asked to sight play music of moderate difficulty.
REQUIRED ESSAY AND OTHER WRITTEN MATERIALS
Please provide the teaching audition tape and the following written material at least two weeks before the solo piano audition:
1. In an essay of ca. 500 – 750 words, choose one of the following topics to write on.
a. Discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of one of the following approaches to teaching music reading at the beginning level and list the primary proponents of the approach you choose to discuss.
An intervallic reading approach
A multi-key reading approach
A combination of intervallic and multi-key reading
b. Discuss the main differences between an intervallic versus a multi-key approach to teaching music reading at the beginning level. Give three examples of methodology used in each approach.
c. Choose one piece from the following intermediate repertoire collections and discuss the piece in terms of what you, the teacher must know about this piece in order to successfully teach it. Some examples of items you should know are form, style and technical demands. Also discuss how much of this piece you will assign to an average student at the first lesson and how you will tell this student to practice this piece the first week. Attach a copy of the music to the essay. Marks in the music are encouraged.
J.S. Bach: Little Preludes and Fughettas, BWV 939, 927, 924; choose a Prelude or a Fughetta
Friedrich Kuhlau: One First Movement from Sonatinas, Op. 55, nos. 1, 2, 3; Op. 88, no. 3
Robert Schumann: One piece from Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood), Op. 15
Bela Bartok: No. 1, 2, 3 or 4 from Rumanian Folk Dances
Dmitri Kabalevsky, One Rondo from Four Rondos, Op. 60
Robert Starer: One piece from Sketches in Color, Vol. I
d. Name three contemporary educational piano composers who often write in the romantic style; discuss their compositional styles by including titles and descriptions of at least three of their works; describe how their writing has helped to fill the void of accessible music in the romantic style for late elementary and early intermediate piano students. You only need to attach one work by each composer.
2. Provide a list of all piano repertoire studied to date.
3. Write a statement of purpose that includes your background in teaching, describes your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in piano pedagogy and your professional goals in teaching and performing.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Arrange to have letters of recommendation from three music professionals familiar with your preparation for graduate study sent to the School of Music graduate program adviser.
More Information
Audition Dates
Submission of Supporting Materials
Contact Information
School of Music Graduate Program Advisor
John Koegel
(657) 278-7685
Piano & Organ Division Coordinator
Alison Edwards (657) 278-8238
Master of Music in Performance: Keyboard Area
Piano
Audition Requirements and Other Essentials
The Master of Music in Performance is an applied-based degree requiring 30 units of study in private lessons, ensembles, chamber music, music history and literature, and music theory. The Cal State Fullerton School of Music faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized performers, scholars and composers. Students thrive in an environment that sustains challenging, vital music-making, with due regard for specialized individual attention. For those intending to pursue doctoral studies, the Master of Music degree normally leads to the DMA.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Entrance Auditions as well as Scholarship Auditions for the Master of Music in Performance degree are normally held in February (for Fall semester entrance). Entrance Auditions also may be scheduled each semester (Fall and Spring) at a time and location agreeable to the applicant and the audition committee, but no later than the week just prior to the start of the semester. Under certain circumstances, a video audition may be used for preliminary assessments of ability; however, a live audition is always required.
The applicant should be prepared to perform from memory at least 30 minutes of music to include works from three different stylistic periods. One of these works must include at least one movement that is contrapuntal; there must also be at least one work of high virtuosity. In the case of a multi-movement work, the complete work should be prepared.
A comprehensive repertoire list of works that the applicant has studied and performed, arranged chronologically by composer’s birth year, should be provided at the time of the audition. This list should include both solo works and concertos.
Letters of Recommendation
Arrange to have letters of recommendation from three music professionals familiar with your preparation for graduate study sent to the School of Music graduate program adviser.
More Information
Audition Dates
Submission of Supporting Materials
Contact Information
School of Music Graduate Program Advisor John Koegel (657) 278-7685
Piano & Organ Division Coordinator Alison Edwards (657) 278-8238
Master of Music in Performance: Keyboard Area
Collaborative Piano
Audition Requirements and Other Essentials
The Master of Music in Performance is an applied-based degree requiring 30 units of study in private lessons, ensembles, chamber music, music history and literature, and music theory. The Cal State Fullerton School of Music faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized performers, scholars and composers. Students thrive in an environment that sustains challenging, vital music- making, with due regard for specialized individual attention. For those intending to pursue doctoral studies, the Master of Music degree normally leads to the DMA.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Entrance Auditions as well as Scholarship Auditions for the Master of Music in Performance degree are normally held in February (for Fall semester entrance). Entrance Auditions also may be scheduled each semester (Fall and Spring) at a time agreeable to the applicant and the audition committee, but no later than the week just prior to the start of the semester (please contact Keyboard Area Coordinator, Dr. Rob Watson to schedule it). Under certain circumstances, a video audition may be used for preliminary assessments of ability; however, a live audition is always required.
The applicant should be prepared to perform from memory a major work for solo piano (e.g., a sonata) demonstrating both technical and musical command of the keyboard. As well, two contrasting works for instrument and piano, and two contrasting art songs should be performed. For collaborative works, the applicant is expected to provide the instrumentalist and the singer for the audition. If your residence is beyond the greater southern California region, it may be possible for the School of Music to supply a soloist from the students of CSUF.
The following examples are offered to suggest the level of difficulty of the collaborative portion of the audition repertory:
Examples of Instrumental works
Brahms: Clarinet Sonata in F minor, first movement Franck: Violin Sonata in A, second movement Schumann: Fantasy Pieces For Clarinet and Piano
Examples of Art songs
Schumann: Wehmut, op 39 Schubert: Liebesbotschaft Debussy: Green
Barber: The Daisies Strauss: Nichts!
Sight-playing and foreign language diction may also be examined as part of the audition.
A comprehensive repertoire list of works that the applicant has studied and performed, arranged chronologically by composer’s birth year, including works for solo piano, instrument(s) and piano, voice and piano, and operatic material.
Letters of Recommendation
Arrange to have letters of recommendation from three music professionals familiar with your preparation for graduate study sent to the School of Music graduate program adviser.
More Information
Audition Dates
Submission of Supporting Materials
Contact Information
School of Music Graduate Program Advisor John Koegel (657) 278-7685
Piano & Organ Division Coordinator Alison Edwards (657) 278-8238
Master of Music in Performance: Keyboard Area
Organ
Audition Requirements and Other Essentials
The Master of Music in Performance is an applied-based degree requiring 30 units of study in private lessons, ensembles, chamber music, music history and literature, and music theory. Organ students benefit from specialized instruction in topics such as organ history and repertoire. The Cal State Fullerton School of Music faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized performers, scholars and composers. Students thrive in an environment that sustains challenging, vital music-making, with due regard for specialized individual attention. For those intending to pursue doctoral studies, the Master of Music degree normally leads to the DMA.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Entrance Auditions as well as Scholarship Auditions for the Master of Music in Performance degree are normally held in February (for Fall semester entrance). Entrance Auditions also may be scheduled each semester (Fall and Spring) at a time and location agreeable to the applicant and the audition committee, but no later than the week just prior to the start of the semester. Under certain circumstances, a video audition may be used for preliminary assessments of ability; however, a live audition is always required.
The applicant should be prepared to perform at least 30 minutes of music to include works from three different stylistic periods. One of these works must include at least one movement that is contrapuntal; there must also be at least one work of high virtuosity. In the case of a multi-movement work, the complete work should be prepared.
A repertoire list of works that the applicant has studied and performed, arranged chronologically by composer’s birth year, should be provided at the time of the audition.
Letters of Recommendation
Arrange to have letters of recommendation from three music professionals familiar with your preparation for graduate study sent to the School of Music graduate program adviser.
More Information
Audition Dates
Submission of Supporting Materials
Contact Information
School of Music Graduate Program Advisor John Koegel (657) 278-7685
Piano & Organ Division Coordinator Alison Edwards (657) 278-8238
