SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Program Links: Performance, Conducting, Musicology, Composition, Course Descriptions
The School of Music offers the Master of Music degree with areas of emphasis/tracks in Performance, Conducting, Musicology, and Composition.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the graduate program in music must submit the Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the one-time application fee to the Office of Graduate Studies. In addition, the following are required:
1. Students must complete the School of Music admission requirements:
- Submit School of Music application form
- Submit three letters of recommendation
- Complete an audition and/or interview (see individual tracks for specific requirements)
2. A submission of scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required. For a final admissions decision, GRE scores do not constitute the sole criterion for consideration of the applicant, nor do GRE scores constitute the primary criterion to end consideration of an applicant. The applicant’s test scores will be compared with those of other applicants from similar socioeconomic backgrounds to the extent that those backgrounds can be properly determined and identified by the School of Music’s admissions process.
3. Transcripts from all previous college level academic work are required and should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies. An undergraduate/Baccalaureate degree from a NASM accredited institution or equivalent international degree is required.
4. International students must submit an official TOEFL score of at least 213 on the computer based exam or at least 550 on the paper-based exam.
General Degree Requirements
1. All students pursuing graduate degree programs must take and satisfy the Graduate Music Diagnostic Exam, administered by the SHSU music faculty, prior to the first semester of residence. The Exam includes questions concerning music history, music theory, aural skills, and if required, foreign language and diction (Vocal Performance, Choral Conducting, and Collaborative Piano/Chamber Music only). The purpose of the Graduate Music Diagnostic Exam is to evaluate each student’s general musical knowledge and identify deficiencies. Students deficient in any area may be required to take the appropriate undergraduate courses to correct the deficiencies and then retake the Diagnostic Exam. Please see the website for specific date information.
- Successful completion of a comprehensive oral examination is required for graduation. This exam, which is administered by a committee of three music faculty, is given during the final semester. Oral examination committees are appointed by the Graduate Advisor in consultation with the Graduate Committee and student. Students must be enrolled the semester in which they take comprehensive examinations.
- All graduate music students must complete the following core hours and the specific track ours to meet the required minimum of 30 hours beyond the undergraduate degree:
Master of Music Core (9 hours):
MUS 530 Analytical Techniques (3 hours)
MUS 698 Research Techniques (3 hours)
MUS 5XX Music History (3 hours)
Choose one of the following:
MUS 531 Seminar in Baroque Music
MUS 532 Seminar in Classic Music
MUS 537 Seminar in Nineteenth-Century Music
MUS 538 Seminar in Twentieth-Century Music
All degrees require a final graduate recital, project or thesis.
Specific Track Requirements
Instrumental Performance Track, 21 hours
XXX 501X Applied Lessons (8 hours)
MUS 681X Recital I (1 hour)
MUS 588 Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUS 598X Advanced Studies in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)
ENS 512 Ensemble (2 hours)
Electives selected from the following (3 hours):
MUS 563 Pedagogy of Theory
MUS 567 Score Reading
MUS 5XX Music History
Other approved course
Performance Elective selected from the following (1 hour):
MUS 682X Recital II
ENS 518 Chamber Music
Other approved course
Students seeking admission to the Instrumental Performance track must pass an entrance audition administered by the appropriate faculty member, or group of faculty members, in the area of study. Students should contact the major professor in their area of interest for the appropriate level of repertoire required.
Vocal Performance Track, 21 hours
VOI 501X Applied Voice (8 hours)
MUS 681X Recital I (1 hour)
MUS 588 Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUS 598X Advanced Studies in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)
ENS 512 Ensemble (2 hours)
Electives selected from the following (3 hours):
MUS 563 Pedagogy of Theory
MUS 567 Score Reading
MUS 5XX Music History
Other approved course
Performance Elective selected from the following (3 hours):
MUS 682X Recital II
ENS 518 Chamber Music
Other approved course
Students seeking admission to the Vocal Performance track must pass an entrance audition administered by the appropriate faculty in the area of study. Audition requirements include the following memorized repertoire: an operatic aria, an oratorio aria, a French, German, Italian and English art song.
Students interested in the Vocal Performance track are required to pass the foreign language and diction portion of the Graduate Diagnostic Exam. Students must show competence in languages including English, French, German and Italian. Students deficient in either area will be required to take the appropriate undergraduate courses.
Piano Performance Track, 21 hours
PNO 501X Applied Piano (8 hours)
MUS 681X Recital I (1 hour)
MUS 682X Recital II (1 hour)
MUS 588 Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUS 598X Advanced Studies in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)
ENS 512 Ensemble (2 hours)
OR
ENS 518 Chamber Music (2 hours)
Elective selected from the following (3 hours):
MUS 563 Pedagogy of Theory
MUS 567 Score Reading
MUS 5XX Music History
Other approved course
Students seeking admission to the Piano Performance track must pass an entrance audition administered by the appropriate faculty member, or group of faculty members, in the area of study. Audition requirements include: a complete sonata by Haydn, Mozart (excluding K. 545), or Beethoven (excluding Op. 49); two additional piano works from contrasting musical styles; major/minor scales and sight-reading.
Collaborative Piano/Chamber Music Track, 21 hours
PNO 501X Applied Piano (8 hours)
MUS 681X Recital I (1 hour)*
MUS 682X Recital II (1 hour)*
MUS 588 Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUS 513 Practicum in Accompanying (2 hours)
ENS 510 Accompanying Seminar (3 hours)
ENS 518 Chamber Music (2 hours)
Elective with advisor approval (1 hour)
*One recital must be a vocal emphasis and one recital must be an instrumental emphasis
Students seeking admission to the Collaborative Piano/Chamber Music track must pass an entrance audition administered by the appropriate faculty member, or group of faculty members, in the area of study. Audition requirements include: a complete violin or cello sonata by Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms or Franck; a set of three songs of standard artsong literature, a solo piano work of candidate’s choice; major/minor scales and sight-reading.
Students interested in the Collaborative Piano/Chamber Music track are required to pass the foreign language and diction portion of the Graduate Diagnostic Exam. Students deficient in either area will be required to take the appropriate undergraduate courses.
Conducting Track, 21 hours
CND 501X Applied Conducting (8 hours)
MUS 681X Recital I (1 hour)
MUS 588 Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUS 598X Advanced Studies in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)
ENS 512 Ensemble (2 hours)
Electives selected from the following (3 hours):
MUS 563 Pedagogy of Theory
MUS 567 Score Reading
MUS 5XX Music History
Other approved course
Performance Elective selected from the following (1 hour):
MUS 682X Recital II
XXX 501X Applied lessons
Other approved course
Students seeking admission to the Conducting Track (both Choral and Instrumental) must complete an interview and submit a conducting video of a recent concert and/or rehearsal, and audition on their primary instrument/voice. Those students with piano skills will be given preference for admission to the Choral Conducting track.
Students interested in the Choral Conducting track are required to pass the foreign language and diction portion of the Graduate Diagnostic Exam. Students deficient in either area will be required to take the appropriate undergraduate courses.
Composition Track, 21 hours
CMP 501X Applied Composition (4 hours)
CMP 502X Applied Composition—large ensemble (4 hours)
MUS 681X Recital I (1 hour)
MUS 563 Pedagogy of Theory (3 hours)
MUS 567 Score Reading (3 hours)
ENS 512 Ensemble (2 hours)
Electives selected from the following (4 hours):
XXX 501X Applied Lessons
ENS 512 Ensemble
MUS 5XX Music History
Other approved course
Students seeking admission to the Composition track must complete an interview with the appropriate composition faculty and submit a portfolio of recent compositions. Students must also demonstrate piano proficiency by performing a short prepared piece or two (totaling no more than five minutes), and by sight-reading during the interview. Students deficient in this area must take the appropriate undergraduate courses.
Musicology Track, 21 hours
MUS 598X Advanced Studies in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)
MUS 563 Pedagogy of Theory (3 hours)
MUS 699 Thesis (6 hours)
Select from the following with approval of advisor (6 hours):
MUS 531 Seminar in Baroque Music
MUS 532 Seminar in Classic Music
MUS 537 Seminar in Nineteenth-Century Music
MUS 538 Seminar in Twentieth-Century Music
Electives with advisor approval (3 hours)
Students seeking admission to the Musicology track must complete an admission interview with the musicology coordinator and submit a sample of academic writing.
Students who graduate with an emphasis in Musicology are required to pass a language proficiency examination in either German or French. The language requirement should ideally be fulfilled by the end of the second semester of residence.