Master of Music

Program Description | Admission Requirements | Degree RequirementsCourses


Program Description

The Master of Music is specifically designed to develop the musician, scholar, therapist, or educator for a professional career in music. This degree is offered with tracks in the following areas: Performance, Collaborative Piano/Chamber Music, Conducting, Composition, Musicology, and Music Therapy.


Admissions

Students seeking admission to the graduate program in music must submit all documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions. In addition, the following are required:

1. Graduate Application

2. Application fee

3. 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)

4. 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.

5. 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 in music is required.

6. 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.


Degree Requirements

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, 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 will be required to retake and pass the Diagnostic Exam before they can schedule their M.M. comprehensive oral examination. 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 hours to meet the required minimum of 30 hours beyond the undergraduate degree:

Master of Music Core (9 hours):
MUSI 5XXX Music History (3 hours)
Choose one of the following:

All degrees require a final graduate recital, project, or thesis.

Specific Track Requirements

Instrumental Performance Track
21 hours
XXXX 5201 Applied Lessons (8 hours)
MUSI 6181 <MUS 681X> Recital I (1 hour)
MUSI 5388 <MUS 588> Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUSI 5398 <MUS 598> Foundations in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)
MUEN 5112 <ENS 512> Graduate Ensemble (2 hours)
Electives selected from the following: (3 hours)
MUSI 5363 <MUS 563> Pedagogy of Theory
MUSI 5367 <MUS 567> Score Reading
MUSI 5XXX Music History
Other approved course
Performance Elective selected from the following: (1 hour)
MUSI 6182 <MUS 682X> Recital II
XXXX 5201 Applied
Or 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
VOIC 5201 <VOI 501> Applied Lessons (8 hours)
MUSI 6181 <MUS 681X> Recital I (1 hour)
MUSI 5388 <MUS 588> Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUSI 5398 <MUS 598> Foundations in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)
MUEN 5112 <ENS 512> Graduate Ensemble (2 hours)
Electives selected from the following: (3 hours)
MUSI 5363 <MUS 563> Pedagogy of Theory
MUSI 5367 <MUS 567> Score Reading
MUSI 5XXX Music History
Or other approved course
Performance Elective selected from the following: (1 hour)
MUSI 6182 <MUS 682X> Recital II
MUEN 5118 <ENS 518> Chamber Music
Or 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
PIAN 5201 <PNO 501X> Applied Piano (8 hours)
MUSI 6181 <MUS 681X> Recital I (1 hour)
MUSI 6182 <MUS 682X> Recital II (1 hour)
MUSI 5388 <MUS 588> Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUSI 5398 <MUS 598> Foundations in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)

MUEN 5112 <ENS 512>

OR

MUEN 5118 <ENS 518>

Graduate Ensemble

OR

Chamber Music

(2 hours)
Electives selected from the following: (3 hours)
MUSI 5363 <MUS 563> Pedagogy of Theory
MUSI 5367 <MUS 567> Score Reading
MUSI 5XXX Music History
Or 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
PIAN 5201 <PNO 501X> Applied Piano (8 hours)
MUSI 6181 <MUS 681X> Recital I* (1 hour)
MUSI 6182 <MUS 682X> Recital II* (1 hour)
MUSI 6183 <MUS 683> Recital III* (1 hour)
MUSI 5388 <MUS 588> Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUEN 5110 <ENS 510> Accompanying Seminar (4 hours)
MUEN 5118 <ENS 518> Chamber Music (2 hours)
Elective with advisor approval (1 hour)

* One recital must be a vocal emphasis, one recital must be a string emphasis, and one recital must be a woodwind/brass 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
COND 5201 <CND 501> Applied Conducting (8 hours)
MUSI 6181 <MUS 681X> Recital I (1 hour)
MUSI 5388 <MUS 588> Seminar in Literature (3 hours)
MUSI 5398 <MUS 598> Foundations in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)
MUEN 5112 <ENS 512> Graduate Ensemble (2 hours)
Electives selected from the following: (3 hours)
MUSI 5363 <MUS 563> Pedagogy of Theory
MUSI 5367 <MUS 567> Score Reading
MUSI 5XXX Music History
Or other approved course
Performance Elective selected from the following: (1 hour)
MUSI 6182 <MUS 682X> Recital II
XXXX 5201 Applied lessons
Or 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
COMP 5201 <CMP 501> Applied Composition (4 hours)
COMP 5202 <CMP 502X> Applied Composition—large ensemble (4 hours)
MUSI 6181 <MUS 681X> Recital I (1 hour)
MUSI 5363 <MUS 563> Pedagogy of Theory (3 hours)
MUSI 5367 <MUS 567> Score Reading (3 hours)
MUEN 5112 <ENS 512> Graduate Ensemble (2 hours)
Electives selected from the following: (4 hours)
XXXX 5201 Applied Lessons
MUEN 5112 <ENS 512> Graduate Ensemble
MUSI 5XXX Music History
Or 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
MUSI 5398 <MUS 598> Foundations in the Applied Discipline (3 hours)
MUSI 5363 <MUS 563> Pedagogy of Theory (3 hours)
MUSI 6399 <MUS 699> Thesis (6 hours)
Select from the following with approval of advisor: (6 hours)
MUSI 5331 <MUS 531> Seminar in Baroque Music
MUSI 5332 <MUS 532> Seminar in Classic Music
MUSI 5337 <MUS 537> Seminar in Nineteenth-Century Music
MUSI 5338 <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.

Music Therapy Track 21 hours
MUSI 5222 <MUS 522> Philosophy & Theory of Music Therapy (2 hours)
MUSI 6332 <MUS 632> Advanced Music Therapy Practice (3 hours)
Select one course from Graduate Practicum or Clinical Supervision (2 hours)
MUSI 5223 <MUS 523> Graduate Practicum 
MUSI 5224 <MUS 524> Clinical Supervision
MUSI 6221 <MUS 621> Research in Music Therapy  (3 hours)
MUSI 6399 <MUS 699> Master's Thesis (3 hours)
MUSI 5068 <MUS 568> Grad Seminar 
Electives with advisor approval (3 hours)
One course in research and statistics (3 hours)

Students seeking admission to the Music Therapy track must complete an admission interview with the music therapy faculty and submit a sample of academic writing and a video of a music therapy session.

Year 3: Fall Year 3: Spring Year 4: Fall

Music Therapy Equivalency 71 hours
Year 1: Fall
MUSI 2333 Intro to Music Therapy (3 hours)
MUSI 1303 <MUS 162> Fundamentals of Guitar (3 hours)
MUSI 3365W Observation and Measurement in Music Therapy (3 hours)
MUSI 3336 <MUS 336> Instrumental Skills for the Music Therapy Setting I (3 hours)
MUSI 3111 <MUS 311>, MUSI 4110 <MUS 410X>, or MUSI 4111 <MUS 411X> Practicum in Music Therapy (1 hour)
MUSI 3366 <MUS 366>, MUSI 4395 <MUS 495>, or MUSI 4396 <MUS 496> Music Therapy Techniques (3 hours)
Year 1: Spring
BIOL 2445 Human Anatomy (4 hours)
MUSI 2339 <MUS 239> Psychology of Music (3 hours)
MUSI 1365 or MUSI 1366 Fundamentals of Singing (3 hours)
MUSI 3110 <MUS 310> Study of Percussion (1 hour)
MUSI 3377 <MUS 377W> Instrumental Skills for the Music Therapy Setting II (3 hours)
MUSI 3111 <MUS 311>, MUSI 4110 <MUS 410X>, or MUSI 4111 <MUS 411X> Practicum in Music Therapy (1 hour)
MUSI 3366 <MUS 366>, MUSI 4395 <MUS 495>, or MUSI 4396 <MUS 496> Music Therapy Techniques (3 hours)
Year 2: Fall
MUSI 3111 <MUS 311>, MUSI 4110 <MUS 410X>, or MUSI 4111 <MUS 411X> Practicum in Music Therapy (1 hour)
MUSI 3366 <MUS 366>, MUSI 4395 <MUS 495>, or MUSI 4396 <MUS 496> Music Therapy Techniques (3 hours)
PSYC 3331 <PSY 331> Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
SPED 2301 <SPD 231> Intro to Special Education (3 hours)
MUSI 5222 <MUS 522> Philosophy & Theory of Music Therapy (2 hours)
Year 2: Spring
MUSI 4397 <MUS 497> Internship in Music Therapy (3 hours)
MUSI 4398 <MUS 498> Internship in Music Therapy (3 hours)
Year 3: Fall
MUSI 6221 <MUS 621> Research in Music Therapy (2 hours)
Choose between  (2 hours)
MUSI 5223 <MUS 523> Graduate Practicum (2 hours)
MUSI 5222 <MUS 522> Clinical Supervision (2 hours)
PSYC 53XX Elective in Psychology (3 hours)
Year 3: Spring
MUSI 6332 <MUS 632> Advanced Music Therapy Practice (3 hours)
PSYC 5387 <PSY 587>
OR
SOCI 53XX
Advanced Statistics
OR
Advanced Statistics
(3 hours)
Year 4: Fall
MUSI 6399 <MUS 699> Master's Thesis (3 hours)
MUSI 5068 <MUS 568> Grad Seminar (3 hours)

Students seeking admission to the Music Therapy Equivalency track must complete an admission interview with the music therapy faculty, pass a Music Therapy audition and submit a sample of academic writing.


Courses

Music (MUSI)

Return to top


Sam Houston State Logo

Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas 77341 | (936) 294-1111 | (866)BEARKAT Member TSUS
© Copyright Sam Houston State University | All rights reserved. | Contact Web Editor | Last Modified:Master of Music | Graduate Catalog 2013-15 | Sam Houston State University