Piano Prescreening & Audition Procedures - Manhattan School of Music

Information for prospective piano students applying to Manhattan School of Music.

Piano Prescreening Requirements

Piano applicants are required to submit a video recording for prescreening purposes in order to be considered for an invitation to a live audition in New York City. The recording must include all of the repertoire as listed below. Prescreening recordings must be uploaded directly to your application. It is not required that the format be a professional or studio recording, but the sound quality must be as good as possible. All recordings must be unedited.

Undergraduate (BM)

Two works of contrasting style. 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.
Graduate (MM)

Two works of contrasting style. 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.
Professional Studies (PS)

A complete solo recital program representing at least three contrasting style periods. Playing time should total approximately 60-70 minutes.
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) & Artist Diploma (AD)

A complete solo recital program representing at least three contrasting style periods. Playing time should total approximately 60-70 minutes. Please note: current Manhattan School of Music students are not exempt from the prescreening requirement for the Doctor of Musical Arts and the Artist Diploma programs.

Piano Audition Requirements

Auditions are approximately 10 minutes in length (doctoral auditions are approximately 20 minutes in length). Each applicant chooses their first work and the faculty will choose additional works from the audition repertoire list provided by the applicant.

Applicants must perform all works from memory.

Undergraduate (BM)
- Prelude and fugue or another work of J.S. Bach which contains a fugue.
- Complete sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, or Beethoven.
- Complete work or works from the 19th century.
- Complete work from the 20th or 21st centuries.
Please feel free to include additional works that you believe will enhance your program.
Graduate (MM)
- Complete work from the Baroque era.
- Complete sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, or Beethoven.
- Complete work of the 19th century.
- Complete work of the 20th or 21st centuries.
Please feel free to include additional works that you believe will enhance your program.
Professional Studies (PS), Doctoral (DMA), & Artist Diploma (AD)

Full-length recital which includes pieces from four contrasting style periods. One piece MUST be a contemporary work.