Piano Prescreening & Audition Procedures - Manhattan School of Music

Requirements for Classical Piano

Piano applicants must submit a prescreen video in order to be considered for an invitation to an in-person or recorded audition.

Step 1: Prescreen

Include ALL required repertoire for the degree level you are applying to, as listed in the dropdown menu below.
Upload your prescreen recordings directly to your application.
Prescreen Deadline: December 1.
Videos do not have to be a professional or studio recording, but the sound quality should be of high quality and should accurately reflect your musicianship.
Each piece or movement should be uploaded as a separate video. However, each individual video must be unedited.
All works must be performed from memory.

Step 2: Audition

Applicants who pass the prescreen round will be invited to audition.

Prepare ALL of the required audition repertoire for the degree level you are applying to, as listed in the dropdown menu below, from memory.
Note that audition repertoire requirements may differ from prescreen requirements. However, applicants may choose to include selections from their prescreen submissions in the audition where requirements overlap.
MSM offers in-person and recorded final auditions, except for the Doctoral of Musical Arts & Artist Diploma programs, which require an in-person audition.
All submitted videos should clearly show the pianist’s right side of the face, hands on the keys, and feet on the pedals.

Carefully review the specific repertoire requirements for your degree level in the dropdown menu below.

Undergraduate: Bachelor of Music (BM)
Step 1: Prescreen

Two or more works of contrasting style from memory. You may include individual movements of multi-movement works. Playing time should total approximately 15-20 minutes. Please choose works that best represent your individual artistry.

Step 2: Audition
- One work from the Baroque era
- A complete sonata from the Classical period
- A work or works written in the 19th century
- A work or works written in the 20th or 21st centuries
In addition to pieces from the standard repertoire, the MSM Piano Faculty strongly encourages you to include works written by composers from your home country or pieces written by underrepresented creators such as women (e.g., Clara Schumann, Tania Leon), composers from Asia (e.g., Toru Takamitsu, Isang Yun), African Americans (e.g., George Walker, Florence Price) or others.
Master of Music (MM)
Step 1: Prescreen

Two or more works of contrasting styles. You may include individual movements of multi-movement works. Playing time should total approximately 15-20 minutes. Please choose works that best represent your individual artistry.

Step 2: Audition
- A solo recital program of 50-65 minutes including pieces from at least three contrasting style periods.
- One or more pieces must be written in the 20th or 21st century.
In addition to pieces from the standard repertoire, the MSM Piano Faculty strongly encourages you to include works written by composers from your home country, or pieces written by underrepresented creators such as women (e.g., Clara Schumann, Tania Leon), composers from Asia (e.g., Toru Takamitsu, Isang Yun), African Americans (e.g., George Walker, Florence Price) or others.
Professional Studies (PS), Professional Performance Diploma (PPD), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) & Artist Diploma (AD)
Step 1: Prescreen

A complete solo recital program representing at least three contrasting style periods. Playing time should total approximately 60-70 minutes.

Step 2: Audition
- A complete solo recital program representing at least three contrasting style periods.
- Playing time should total approximately 60-75 minutes.
- Please build a program that reflects your individual artistry and musical interests.
In addition to pieces from the standard repertoire, the MSM Piano Faculty strongly encourages you to include works written by composers from your home country or pieces written by underrepresented creators such as women (e.g., Clara Schumann, Tania Leon), composers from Asia (e.g., Toru Takamitsu, Isang Yun), African Americans (e.g., George Walker, Florence Price) or others.