Salem College’s Master of Music is unique in the United States. Not only does the Salem program enhance students’ performance artistry and increase their pedagogical skills but also helps them to regain or lengthen their careers through an emphasis on injury-preventive keyboard technique. This emphasis was created in response to a high rate of playing-related injuries among pianists and organists worldwide, which often jeopardized their futures in music. Graduate students may also study injury-preventive keyboard technique as a stand-alone certificate that is offered in-person and online. The Master of Music program is open to qualified pianists and organists who would like to further their professional development.

During this program, students focus on enhancing their musical artistry and increasing pedagogical skills while completing a concentration in injury-preventive keyboard technique. The Master’s degree has enrolled students from across the globe that have playing-related injuries or that wish to teach injury-preventive technique.  The most important result is recovery from their injury and a return to their performing and teaching careers. This occurs only after rigorous, science-based neuromuscular retraining in principles of good biomechanics through a neuropedagogical, interdisciplinary approach.

Graduates frequently use the word ”transformative” to describe the program and its outcome. As one professor of piano at Charles Darwin University, Australia stated, participating in the Certificate Program “was a turning point in my career.”

• Salem’s Graduate Music Students continue to excel as health leaders worldwide, giving presentations on musicians’ wellness, injury-preventive technique and pedagogy, and neuropedagogy in state, national and international conferences and festivals.
• For example, students have given presentations in piano conferences focused exclusively on health and wellness, won association specific awards affording the ability to give master classes, and served as an interpreter and instructor in international injury-preventive piano technique for an international music center.

Upon completing the program and concentration, graduates are able to perform and teach, demonstrating injury-preventive technique.  Previously injured keyboardists are usually able to resume their academic studies or performing careers.

• Completed application, including:
  • Two recommendation forms
  • Artistic statement
  • Completed background check
  • Authorization for Release of Information form
  • Sealed official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
• Pre-screening video recording
• Live or virtual audition (for more information see the graduate catalog)
• Background check