Classical Piano

Welcome to the classical piano* webpage!  We typically serve around 50 piano students/semester, including music majors with piano as a primary instrument, majors with piano as a secondary instrument, music minors, and non-music majors. Our students have won prizes in solo and concerto competitions throughout North Carolina and the South, and have received scholarships/assistantships at the finest universities and conservatories in the country. We have sponsored guest artist recitals and masterclasses by world-renowned concert pianists such as Andre Watts and Peter Serkin, as well as residencies by leading pedagogues such as John Perry and Nelita True.

*click here for information regarding jazz piano.

STUDENT PIANIST PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITES

There are many opportunities for pianists to perform as soloists, accompanists and as members of small and large ensembles.

Solo:
     Studio class; piano area recitals; departmental recitals
     UNC Symphony Concerto Competition (upperclassmen only)
     Local/state/regional solo and concerto competitions
     Guest artist masterclasses

Ensemble/Accompanying:
     Studio accompanying for singers and instrumentalists
     Small ensemble:  University Chamber Players
     Large ensemble:  UNC Symphony; UNC Wind Ensemble

DEGREE OPTIONS

  1. Bachelor of Music:  8 semesters lessons; 8 semesters ensemble

  2. Bachelor of Arts:  lessons recommended but not required; 4 semesters ensemble

Many UNC students pursue a double major or have two primary instruments (e.g., piano and voice) within a music major. *Please note that music department scholarship holders are required to be enrolled in lessons and ensemble EVERY semester, regardless of degree.

INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION (APPLIED PIANO LESSONS)

Lessons are available BY AUDITION ONLY (see below) and to those at an intermediate level (Bach Inventions, Clementi Sonatinas, etc.) or higher.  Ability to read music is expected.

MUSC 100: Applied Piano Lessons.  ½ credit: one 25-minute lesson/week; 1 credit: one 50-minute lesson/week.  For non-music majors, music minors, and music majors with piano as a secondary instrument.
MUSC 200: Applied Piano Lessons.  2 credits; one 50-minute lesson/week plus participation in one hour of weekly studio class (students studying under the same instructor perform for each other).  Primarily for music majors with piano as their primary instrument; music minors and non-majors admitted by permission of instructor.
MUSC 300: Applied Piano Lessons.  3 credits; one 50-minute lesson/week, studio class participation, and completion of major performance project, such as a junior or senior recital.  May be taken twice.  Only for music majors with piano as their primary instrument.

GROUP/CLASS INSTRUCTION

MUSC 110:  Class Piano.  1 credit; limited to music majors with no or very little previous piano training.  Interested students should contact the Area Head of Keyboard, who will place them on a waiting list.  Class size is limited to 10 students.  This course is not offered every semester, but on an occasional basis.  *THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO GROUP PIANO CLASSES FOR NON-MUSIC MAJORS.

ENSEMBLE COURSES FOR PIANISTS

Gateway Courses:  Music majors (and minors, upon approval of instructor) with piano as their primary instrument are expected to take the following 3 “gateway” ensemble courses in their first 2 years:

MUS 212, section 3:  Piano Ensemble I:  Piano Duet.  1 credit.  Should be taken Fall semester, freshman year.

MUS 212, section 4:  Piano Ensemble II:  Vocal/Instrumental Accompanying.  2 semesters; 1 credit each semester.  Should be taken Spring semester, freshman/sophomore years. Vocal Accompanying is offered in Spring of odd-numbered years, Instrumental Accompanying in Spring of even-numbered years.  

Music majors with piano as their primary instrument are expected to take AT LEAST one semester of large ensemble, such as Carolina Choir/ Glee Club/Chamber Singers; other options are listed below under “large ensemble credit.”  The above-listed gateway ensemble courses, combined with one semester of large ensemble, fulfill the ensemble requirements for a BA in music.

Post-Gateway Courses (for BM students/scholarship holders):  MUS 212, section 5: Collaborative Piano. 1 credit/semester; repeatable. Upon completing the 3-semester gateway ensemble sequence, pianists may also receive ensemble credit for vocal/instrumental studio accompanying. 40 hours of work/semester is expected with one student singer or instrumentalist; this includes rehearsal time, accompanying all lessons, and a select number of performances at divisional recitals and end-of-semester juries. 

Large ensemble credit (one credit/semester; repeatable) is available for performing piano parts in large ensembles such as UNC Symphony and Wind Ensemble, as needed.  Singing in a choral group (e.g., Carolina Choir) will also give large ensemble credit and is repeatable.

Other ensemble credit opportunities (chamber music):
MUS 214, section 1:  University Chamber Players. 1 credit/semester; repeatable.  A large chamber work, complete, is learned/performed in the course of one semester.

Independent study:  students form a chamber group and receive coaching from a faculty member of their choice, pending approval of said faculty member.

AUDITIONS

For Lessons:  Auditions for lessons are held each semester on the second day of classes, starting at 5 PM.  Please follow the link for specifics regarding lesson auditions. 

Any additional questions may be directed to the Area Head of Keyboard Studies.  Note that while students may request teacher assignments, all music majors whose primary instrument is piano are placed in the studio of Dr. Tsong or Dr. Otten.

For Music Department Scholarships:  UNC Scholarship auditions for piano are typically held the last two Saturdays of January.  Requirements include 3 pieces of contrasting style, scales, and sight-reading.  We offer a sample masterclass for prospective students the night before both audition dates; if you would like to play in or audit the class, please arrange your travel plans accordingly.  Kenan Music Scholarship auditions are held the first Monday of March.  Potential candidates for the Kenan Music Scholarship Audition are chosen from the Scholarship auditions held in January.

Scholarship auditions can only be arranged ONLINE. To request an audition, please follow this link:  https://aswww2.oasis.unc.edu/musicsec/.

PIANO FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Mayron Tsong
Associate Professor; Area Head of Keyboard
Office:  Kenan Music Building 2111
Email: mtsong@email.unc.edu
Phone:  (919) 843-7962

Dr. Thomas Otten
Associate Professor; Area Head of Keyboard, Fall 2009-Spring 2011
Office: Kenan 2011
Email: totten@unc.edu
Phone: (919) 843-4629

Ms. Wonmin Kim
Adjunct Instructor
Office: Kenan 2103
Email: wk@unc.edu
Phone:  (919) 843-7949