Sue Wang

Education Planner Scavenger Hunt

SECTION ONE:
Program Name: Piano Performance
Program Type: Undergraduate
Institution Name: Eastman School of Music (within the University of Rochester)
Location: Rochester, New York
Institution Type: Institute (within a university)
Credential: Bachelor of Music
Program Length: 4 years
Tuition Costs: Approx. $68,040 per year including room and board (approx. $272,160 for 4 years),
approx. $52,736 per year not including room and board (approx. $210,944 for 4 years). However,
nearly everyone is provided with financial aid (anywhere from $15,000 to $42,000) based on merit (i.e.
ranking) and on financial status.
Application Fee: $125 ($75 if the application is submitted before November 1st)

SECTION TWO:
What are the Institution Admission Requirements?
The student must have graduated high school.
The student must be fluent in English. International students whose native language is not English
must demonstrate a good grasp of the English language by submitting a TOEFL score less than two
years old (the minimum score requirements differ depending on the program and credential) as well as
submitting an essay describing their experience with the English language.
International students must be able to enroll full-time for at least 12 credit hours per semester in order
to obtain a student visa if admitted.
An ACT or SAT score is required if the student is homeschooled.
What are the Program Admission Requirements?
Proficiency at playing piano
Diplomas, awards, and/or achievements involving music (specifically piano) are recommended but not
required
Submit the pre-screening form and a pre-screening recording (in the form of a compact disc or tape) by
December 1 of the previous year. The pre-screening recording must be a minimum of 20 minutes and
must meet certain repertoire requirements (at least two works in different styles plus a virtuoso etude).
 Sue Wang

If pre-screening is successful, a live audition must be scheduled. The audition program must be
performed from memory and must also meet certain repertoire requirements (a work by Bach
containing a fugue; a complete classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert; a Romantic
work written in the 19th century; a work from the 20th or 21st century; and one virtuoso concert etude).
What steps must I complete to be eligible for this program?
1. Do well in high school
2. Take music extracurriculars in high school and have musical achievements
3. Place more focus on piano and music in general
4. Prepare for the pre-screening and audition by learning and polishing the required repertoire ahead of
time
5. Submit an application - including a resume, personal statement, and recommendation letter(s)

SECTION THREE
What can I expect to learn in this program?
Generally, this program will make me grow as a musician and not just a pianist. I will be able to explore
a wide range of repertoire, and through that, develop a large performance repertory. My piano playing
will become more refined as a result of both my academic studies (music theory, analysis, history, etc.)
and the instruction from the piano professors. I will be able to investigate the more academic side of
music more deeply as well as broaden my range of knowledge. The exposure to many different areas of
music (including early music, contemporary classical, jazz, chamber, orchestral, and opera) and serious
musicians whose focuses are in different areas will help me gain insights into these areas and thus help
me become a more well rounded musician, which will help my pianistic interpretations. I will get many
opportunities to play in chamber ensembles, which will help me develop my ensemble skills. Frequent
performance opportunities (including concerto performances, solo recitals, chamber recitals,
masterclasses, and studio classes) will make me more confident and more knowledgeable as a
performer.
After I have completed this program what future employment and career opportunities exist?
After I complete the program, I will likely return to school to continue my studies. However,
assuming that I enter the workforce upon finishing the program, the Eastman School of Music is
widely recognized as one of the best music schools in the world and most of its graduates have no
problems finding jobs in their respective fields. Some of the opportunities I may have include:
performing chamber music as part of a chamber group, playing collaborative piano with instrumental
or vocal soloists, becoming a music educator, and even permanently becoming part of a chamber group
or duo. As a pianist, my opportunities would be slightly more limited, because the piano isnt generally
found in the orchestra (unlike instruments like the cello, where there are many spots available in the
orchestra). However, pianists are highly in demand for things like accompaniment/collaborative piano.
 Sue Wang

SECTION FOUR
Institution Contact Information: Website - https://www.esm.rochester.edu
Date information was checked with the Institution: August 3, 2017