Master of Music

This is an archived copy of the 2017-2018 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit catalog.shsu.edu.

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
  • Music Therapy

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.

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. Students should visit School of Music  for specific information and dates.

  • 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 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 5330Analytical Techniques3
MUSI 6398Research Techniques3
MUSI 5XXXMusic History3
Select one of the following Music History courses (MUSI 5XXX):3
Seminar In Baroque Music
Seminar In Classical Music
Sem In Nineteenth-Century Mus
Sem In Twentieth-Century Mus
Total Hours9

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

Specific Track Requirements

Instrumental Performance Track
Courses
XXXX 5201Ind Performances-XXXX (Applied Lessons in Instrument)8
MUEN 5112Graduate Ensemble2
MUSI 6181Recital I1
MUSI 5388Seminar In Literature3
MUSI 5398Adv Study in Appl Discipline3
Electives
Select one of the following:3
Pedagogy Of Theory
Score Reading
MUSI 5XXX
Music History
Other approved course
Performance Elective
Select one of the following:1
Recital II
XXXX 5201
Ind Performances-XXXX (Applied Lessons in Instrument)
Other approved course
Total Hours21

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
Courses
MUEN 5112Graduate Ensemble2
MUSI 6181Recital I1
MUSI 5388Seminar In Literature3
MUSI 5398Adv Study in Appl Discipline3
VOIC 5201Ind Performances-Voice8
Electives
Select one of the following:3
Pedagogy Of Theory
Score Reading
MUSI 5XXX
Music History
Other approved course
Performance Elective
Select one of the following:1
Chamber Music
Recital II
Other approved course
Total Hours21

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
Courses
MUEN 5110Accompanying Seminar2
MUSI 5388Seminar In Literature3
MUSI 5398Adv Study in Appl Discipline3
MUSI 6181Recital I1
MUSI 6182Recital II1
PIAN 5201Ind Performances-Piano8
Electives
Select one of the following:3
Pedagogy Of Theory
Score Reading
MUSI 5XXX
Music History
Other approved course
Total Hours21

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/harmonic minor scales
  • sight-reading
Collaborative Piano/Chamber Music Track
MUEN 5110Accompanying Seminar4
MUEN 5118Chamber Music2
MUSI 6181Recital I 11
MUSI 6182Recital II 11
MUSI 6183Recital III 11
MUSI 5388Seminar In Literature3
PIAN 5201Ind Performances-Piano8
Elective with advisor approval1
Total Hours21
1

At least one of the recitals must be vocal emphasis and at least one must be 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 instrumental sonata from the standard repertoire
  • a set of three songs of standard art song literature
  • a solo piano work of candidate’s choice
  • major/harmonic minor scales
  • 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
Courses
COND 5001Applied Conducting8
MUEN 5112Graduate Ensemble2
MUSI 5388Seminar In Literature3
MUSI 5398Adv Study in Appl Discipline3
MUSI 6181Recital I1
Electives
Select one of the following:3
Pedagogy Of Theory
Score Reading
MUSI 5XXX
Music History
Other approved course
Performance Elective
Select one of the following:1
Recital II
XXXX 5201
Applied lessons
Other approved course
Total Hours21

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
Courses
COMP 5201Applied Composition4
COMP 5202Applied Composition Large Ens4
MUEN 5112Graduate Ensemble2
MUSI 5363Pedagogy Of Theory3
MUSI 5367Score Reading3
MUSI 6181Recital I1
Electives
Select one of the following:4
XXXX 5201
Applied lessons
MUSI 5XXX
Music History
Other approved course
Total Hours21

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
Courses
MUSI 5363Pedagogy Of Theory3
MUSI 5398Adv Study in Appl Discipline3
MUSI 6099Thesis6
Select two of the following with approval of advisor:6
Seminar In Baroque Music
Seminar In Classical Music
Sem In Nineteenth-Century Mus
Sem In Twentieth-Century Mus
Electives with advisor approval3
Total Hours21

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
Courses
MUSI 5322Philos & Theory of Mus Therapy3
MUSI 5323Grad Music Ther Practicum3
MUSI 6099Thesis6
MUSI 6332Adv Music Therapy Practice3
Electives with advisor approval3
One course in research and statistics3
Total Hours21

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.

Music Therapy Equivalency

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.

First Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
MUSI 23383MUSI 23393
MUSI 33653MUSI 13043
MUSI 13033MUSI 33373
MUSI 31171MUSI 31181
MUSI 43953MUSI 33663
BIOL 24014MUSI 43963
 MUSI 31101
 17 17
Second Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
MUSI 33663MUSI 43973
MUSI 41101MUSI 43983
MUSI 53223 
MUSI 63983 
PSYC 33313 
PSYC 33743 
 16 6
Third Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
MUSI 53XX Music History3MUSI 53303
MUSI 50692MUSI 63323
MUSI 53233PSYC 53873
PSYC 53XX Other Elective3 
 11 9
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours 
MUSI 60993 
MUSI 50683 
 6 
Total Hours: 82