Piano

The Meadows Advantage

As one of a select group of 40 talented undergraduate and graduate pianists from around the world you will experience a vibrant, stimulating atmosphere in which to develop your artistic skills. Meadows has a tradition of excellence in piano performance and has been a leader in the field of piano pedagogy from its earliest years.

Our renowned international faculty is committed to preparing you for a professional career in performance, pedagogy, accompanying, chamber music, music education, composition, or music therapy. Our students consistently excel as winners in international and national competitions and are regularly accepted into the world’s finest graduate institutions and summer music festivals. Because of our strong faculty, a rigorous musical education, plentiful performance opportunities, and a state-of-the-art facility, you will have abundant opportunities and the personal attention needed to develop your gifts. A generous endowment for the purchase and maintenance of pianos ensures that our piano majors practice on the finest grand pianos. For the student pianist with smaller hand spans, SMU is one of only a handful of universities in the nation that offers the opportunity to study, perform and teach on Steinway pianos fitted with narrower keyboards. The piano department ensures that these alternatively sized keyboards conform to the highest international standards through the adoption of and adherence to the DS Standard®.

At SMU, you will encounter a rich musical experience on a beautiful campus within close proximity to the downtown Dallas Arts District. As a result, you will not only have access to all the advantages of being a student in the Division of Music at this prominent university, but will be within easy reach of more than 500 cultural events a year. The world class Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera, Dallas Chamber Music Society, Chamber Music International, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and other arts organizations all interact with SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts to create a vital cultural life for you. Our 300 music students form a close-knit community for you to engage with and learn from while enjoying university life.

Undergraduate Degrees for Pianists

Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance
Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy
Bachelor of Music in Composition
Bachelor of Arts in Music (w/Pre-Med, Pre-Law or other double major options)
Music Minor
Arts Management Minor
Arts Entrepreneurship Minor
Meadows Young Artist Program

Graduate Degrees for Pianists

The Master of Music in Performance degree prepares students to pursue a career in performance or to undertake further studies at the doctoral level. The MM in Piano Performance and Pedagogy prepares students to teach and perform or to undertake further studies at the doctoral level, positioning them to become college studio professors. The performance degree is completed in four semesters of study with a minimum of 30 credits required for graduation (36 credits required for Pedagogy). The Performer Diploma and Artist Diploma are two-year programs (20 credits) for musicians in their final stages of preparation for professional performance careers.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

If undergraduate need-based financial aid is desired, the FAFSA and CSS Profile must be completed. All applicants are considered for academic and music scholarships. We will do our best to provide a financial aid package that makes an education in the Meadows School of the Arts affordable.

Graduate financial assistance is available through merit scholarships, graduate assistantships, and work-study positions. The FAFSA is required for work-study and graduate assistantships.