4. Special Requirements for Master’s Degrees

4.1 Residency

The normal time for completion of the requirements for the M.M. degree is four semesters. A minimum of 30 semester hours is required for most degree programs, 31 for the M.M. in Piano Pedagogy and Performance, and 36 for the M.M. Church Music. Double majors and dual degree programs such as the M.M./M.Div. require more credit hours and therefore more semesters to complete.

4.2 Ensemble Requirement

Enrollment in an ensemble, as assigned by the Conducting faculty, is required throughout the term of residence for most degree programs. Ensemble participation is not required of Piano Performance majors or Collaborative Piano majors. Students in Piano Pedagogy may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in two semesters of Studio Accompanying (MUEN 5036), Piano Ensemble, or Chamber Music. Organ performance majors will fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in two semesters of a choral ensemble. Vocal performance majors will be placed in a choral ensemble during their first year of study. They may elect to use opera (MUEN 5004) to satisfy their ensemble requirement in their second year if they are cast in a role.

4.3 Guidelines for Graduate Study in Piano

An entrance audition is required for acceptance into any one of the three tracks of the Master of Music degree in Piano: Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy and Performance, or Collaborative Piano.
A qualifying examination is presented to the Piano faculty during the first year of residence prior to the student’s recital as confirmation of the area of concentration. Students applying to change from one track to another or to add a second piano-based major while in the master’s program must re-audition for acceptance into the second track.
Master’s level students in Piano must complete the performance requirement in one track (Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy and Performance, or Collaborative Piano) before beginning recital preparation in a second track.
Graduate students in Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy and Performance, and Collaborative Piano must present a jury in semesters they do not give a degree recital.
Graduate students in Music Theory, Composition, Musicology, and Church Music must perform a jury each semester they are registered in Piano until all degree requirements in piano have been passed.

4.4 Guidelines for Conducting Practicum and Culminating Document for M.M. in Conducting

Each student takes the culminating course Orchestral/Band/Choral Conducting Performance Practicum during their last semester (the student’s major determines the specific practicum.) The Conducting Practicum consists of two major components: conducting experience and a written document. The Practicum is graded by the student’s major professor/mentor, in conjunction with the student’s graduate committee. This committee will include conducting faculty, i.e., the Director of Orchestras, Director of Bands, and Director of Choral Activities.

For the performance component of the Practicum, the student conducts a variety of works from the repertoire of their discipline with School of Music ensembles or ad hoc groups within the School of Music sanctioned by the major professor and the student’s committee for a total time of at least thirty (30) minutes.

For the written component of the Practicum, each student writes a culminating document as assigned by the student’s major professor/mentor. This paper may include, but is not limited to a summary of the student’s conducting experiences, composer biographies and historical backgrounds, musical analysis, and rehearsal procedures in relation to the works that have been or will be performed. The document should display evidence of significant research and mature writing style. The culminating document is evaluated by the graduate committee and is part of the grade given for the Performance Practicum. Students must submit a copy of the document to the individual members of the graduate committee at least 10 days prior to their oral examination.