Program Description:
The School of Music offers three graduate degree programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. These include the Master of Music in Music Education and the Master of Music in Performance.
The Master of Music in Music Education degree is a professionally oriented program. It is designed to serve music educators from primary to postsecondary levels. Though all courses are pertinent to terminal degree programs, they are equally valuable for students who plan to study at the doctoral level. A variety of program options allows students to design programs that suit their professional goals and take into account their backgrounds and experience.
The School of Music offers three major options in program planning that lead to the Master of Music in Music Education degree. The options include the Thesis Option, the Project Option, and the Recital Option. Each contains requirements in music education, music history and literature, and music theory, as well as opportunities for performance. For the Thesis Option, the student prepares a thesis under the supervision of the thesis director; the Project Option requires one project under the supervision of a project director; and for the Recital Option, the student presents a full-length public recital and a research paper.
The Master of Music in Performance is a degree program designed to prepare graduates for professional careers as performing musicians and/or those who seek to pursue further study in music at the doctoral level. Areas of study include solo performance in the instrumental or vocal areas, and either instrumental or choral conducting. Each program of study includes requirements in music history, music research, and music theory, plus intensive study in the designated applied area. The required thesis comprises a public performance recital of approximately one hour’s length, with an accompanying scholarly research document related to the recital. Requirements also include a one-year residency of two consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment, beginning in the Fall Semester and an oral comprehensive examination at the completion of the program.
Admissions Requirements:
In addition to meeting the admission requirements of the Graduate School, applicants for admission to any of the three degree programs of the Graduate students in Music program (Master of Music in Music Education, Master of Music in Performance, or Master of Humanities with an emphasis in music) must present an undergraduate major in music from an accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate course work in music. In addition to the application and transcripts sent to the School of Graduate Studies, the applicant may submit the following to the School of Music: resume; three recommendations from teachers, administrators, or colleagues; and other supporting material the applicant may deem appropriate.
In addition to the requirements in the preceding paragraph, applicants for the Master of Music in Performance program must complete a successful performance audition in the intended emphasis (Choral Conducting, Instrumental Conducting, Instrumental Performance, Piano Performance, or Vocal Performance), which places the student at the equivalence of an undergraduate senior recital in the intended emphasis area. Additional materials (portfolio, letters of recommendation, repertoire lists, etc.) appropriate to the specific emphasis may be required in each emphasis by the appropriate program specialist and applied committee.
The applicant must also schedule an admissions interview with the director of Graduate Studies in Music prior to admission.
Upon admission, placement examinations in Music Theory and Music History must be taken no later than the first week of the first semester of study and passed prior to enrollment in the applicable courses.
Students admitted to the Graduate Studies Program in Music will be classified as regular, conditional, probationary, or non-degree seeking, as defined in the WSU Graduate Catalog. Moreover, any changes in status will be in accordance with policies outlined in the Graduate Catalog. In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, removal of the conditional status requires achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in the first 12 hours of academic study in the program. Applied music, ensembles, chamber music, workshops, and independent study of any type may not be counted in the 12 hours needed to remove conditional status.
Only regularly organized academic classes at the 6000 or 7000 level may be included in this average.
Students who wish to apply to study applied music must audition for the appropriate Applied Music Board.
Students in the Master of Music in Music Education degree program who do not hold a standard teaching licensure at the time of admission will be required to earn Ohio licensure.
Program Learning Outcomes:
- Be able to perform with a high degree of musicianship, technical security, and artistry.
- Be familiar with a wide range of repertoire appropriate for their instrument or voice.
- Be able to perform in both solo and ensemble settings and be familiar with successful rehearsal techniques appropriate to each setting.
- Be aware of appropriate pedagogical strategies and techniques to enable them to function as studio teachers.
- Acquire a proficiency in current research methods and trends including all forms and technologies available for the study of music.
- Develop the ability to sight-read music of diverse styles and genres, as well as to learn appropriate use of improvisation within historical context.
- Enhance collaborative skills through performance with chamber music (duets, trios, duo-piano, etc.
- Demonstrate (where degree appropriate) ability and proficiency in operatic singing.
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