Music Major & Minor
Truman State University’s Piano Program offers a breadth of exciting opportunities for performers, scholars, and future music educators who want to make an impact on the world. Our unique learning environment is dedicated to the art of piano performance providing the perfect place to let your talent shine.
Performance Opportunities
As a music major or minor, you will work closely with compelling and supportive piano faculty in private instruction, studio classes, and chamber music coaching. Solo and chamber music performances are presented throughout the year by students, faculty, and visiting artists. Also, student pianists are invited to compete in Truman’s annual Gold Medal Competition for the opportunity to perform concerto movements with the University Symphony Orchestra. The beautifully designed and acoustically adjusted Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall houses two nine-foot Steinway grand pianos. Additionally, practice rooms with Steinway grands are available for reserved times for piano majors.
Investing in Your Education
Truman’s piano scholarship program provides two important awards. Our annual Piano Festival, which is held on the third Saturday of February, features the competition that determines these two awards. The most prestigious is the Truman Piano Fellowship, eight semesters of full tuition, room, and board. Also, at the Truman Piano Festival a second award of $1,000 per year for four years is offered.
Featured guest artists at the Truman Piano Festival include: Dr. Robert Carney (Southwest Baptist University, 2018), Dr. Joshua Pifer (Auburn University, 2017), Dr. Lisa Yui (Manhattan School of Music, 2016), Dr. Pamela Mia Paul (University of North Texas, 2015), Dr. Brian Hsu (Loyola University – New Orleans, 2014), Dr. Nicholas Roth (Drake University, 2013).
At the graduate level, $8,000 Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantships are awarded to outstanding students who are pursuing the degree, Master of Arts in Music. These awards also include a full-tuition waiver. For pianists, GTRA assignments are available in accompanying, class piano, and in applied piano.
For more information about the Piano Studio at Truman, please contact Dr. David McKamie or Dr. Lok Ng.
Wind Symphony to Perform “Wine-Dark Sea”November 12, 2018
Wind Symphony I will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at Baldwin Hall Auditorium. This performance features John Mackey’s symphony, “Wine-Dark Sea,” which depicts Odysseus long and treacherous journey home from war. Wind Symphony I will also perform works by Ron Nelson, Alfred Reed and Morton Gould. The concert is free and open […]
Woodwind Students Receive Awards at MMTA CompetitionsNovember 5, 2018
Congratulations to the seven Truman woodwind students who recently competed at the Missouri Music Teachers Association Conference that took place in Columbia, MO on November 1-2, 2018. Each performed three contrasting solos, which were evaluated by judges who provided written comments. Senior Donald Rabin (flute) was the only undergraduate to compete in the prestigious national […]