Professional Studies Diploma in Collaborative Piano

Develop your capacity as a performer, collaborator, and coach in a learning environment as distinctive as the world-class faculty mentoring you. Through rigorous training, private lessons, immersive classes and ensembles, and a variety of performance opportunities, you'll grow as a pianist versed in both instrumental and vocal collaboration. Start your career in New York City, taking advantage of unique opportunities to learn and play with working professionals. At Mannes, you'll chart your own course while engaging with a diverse and thriving community that will support you in becoming a whole musician and 21st-century artist.
At Mannes, you'll find the flexibility and freedom you need to direct your development as a collaborative artist. Receive rigorous conservatory training from a faculty of renowned revolutionary musicians while exploring new music, improvisation, real-world experiences, and cross-disciplinary projects.

Students selected for a degree in Collaborative Piano enter the program as highly proficient pianists. The atmosphere of the program places an emphasis on intimacy, trust, community, and risk taking.

In this program, each student develops their capacity as a pianist as they engage in the close study of multiple languages, the art of phrasing and interpretation, and the analysis of lieder and poetry. Students develop their interpersonal skills as they build an understanding of collaboration with singers and instrumentalists in different musical situations.

Collaborative Piano students become an integral part of the Voice department and Mannes Opera productions and engage in masterclasses with renowned collaborative pianists, music directors, and singers.

Play at landmark venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Collaborate in cutting-edge performances with our many ensembles, including Mannes American Composers Ensemble and the College of Performing Arts Theater Orchestra. Train to collaborate with other outstanding performers as you gain the skills needed to start your own label, manage your own publicity, and create your own groundbreaking work.

Graduate degree applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or the equivalent degree from a foreign college or university. Applicants in the process of completing the bachelor's degree may apply for admission. Admission to the program requires completion of the bachelor's degree. Complete Essay In prose form, and in 200 to 500 words, please answer one of the following questions: Choice 1 Describe the biggest risk you've ever taken. Choice 2 Why did you decide to pursue music as a career? Choice 3 The New School brings together a dynamic group of students interested in the performing arts, visual art, design, entrepreneurship, social change, and critical thought. We would like to know more about your interest in joining our community and why you would be a good fit for The New School. We are particularly interested in knowing what will make you a valuable member of your specific school, college, program, area of study, or campus. Choice 4 Please describe in detail your interest in music improvisation, new music technologies, music entrepreneurship, and/or public engagement. Please also describe how you feel music education can help you pursue your career goals in these areas. Submit Your Portfolio or Prescreen Applicants to the Composition, Conducting, Piano, and Voice programs must submit a portfolio or prescreen materials, as detailed on our audition requirements page. After review, those whose portfolios or prescreen materials pass will be invited to submit any additional final recordings and/or schedule an admission video interview. Submit Two Letters of Recommendation Two letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic references are required. Recommendations must be submitted by recommenders directly via the online application portal. Instructions are included in the online application. Submit College Transcripts Applicants must upload an unofficial transcript, mark sheet, or academic record for each institution (even if you didn’t receive a degree) in the Academic History section of the online application. All uploaded transcripts must be accompanied by a key, a legend, or the back copy of the transcript. Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. Records from non-U.S. institutions must have grades or marks and contain a copy of diploma if the degree has been conferred. Make sure your name appears on the transcript/record. Scanned documents must be clear and legible. Minimum required scores are: TOEFL iBT — 79 IELTS — 6.5 PTE — 53