About Instrumental Performance

The Frost School of Music’s Department of Instrumental Performance (MIP) has programs tailored to meet the needs and interests of students – like you – who aspire to performance careers. Graduates of these programs often pursue careers as:

• symphony musicians,
• university professors,
• concert soloists,
• chamber musicians, or
• band/orchestra conductors.

As an instrumental performance major, you will focus on developing and honing your performance skills on a selected brass, percussion, string, or woodwind instrument with assistance from faculty who have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers and performing musicians.

While the curriculum emphasizes technical and musical development, it also includes:

• music theory,
• music history,
• literature, and
• teaching methods.

In addition to piano study, students in the MIP Department are required to perform multiple student recitals, participate in chamber ensembles as well as major large ensembles such as:

• the Frost Symphony Orchestra,
• the Frost Wind Ensemble,
• the Frost Symphonic Winds and/or others.

Ensemble placement for woodwind, brass and percussion players is determined by the conducting and applied faculty following Student Ensemble Placement Auditions, click the button below for detailed information regarding audition material, procedures, and audition times.   All string players should contact your studio teachers for more audition details.

A highlight of the Chamber Music program is The Bergonzi String Quartet, which in residence and provides a model of excellence in performance and the teaching of chamber music.

In addition to ensembles and chamber music, weekly forums provide performance majors with informal performance opportunities, as well as masterclasses and performances by faculty and guest artists.

The Miami metropolitan area is home to the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, host to a number of resident companies including:

• the Florida Grand Opera,
• the Miami City Ballet, and
• the New World Symphony.