Teaching Assistantships - Graduate Program - School of Music

Resources
Graduate Teaching Assistantship Application (pdf)
MU Graduate School (apply online)

Dan Willett
Associate Director, School of Music
215 Fine Arts Building
Columbia, MO 65211-6120
email: WillettD@missouri.edu
phone: 573-882-0933

Introduction

Each year, the School of Music offers a number of graduate assistantships to qualified master’s and doctoral students with exceptional ability. Assistantship responsibilities may include teaching, performance, research, or operational support (or some combination thereof).

Most assistantships in the School of Music are quarter-time (.25) appointments and expect—on average—10 hours of work per week. Half-time (.50) appointments (there are fewer positions at this level) expect—on average—20 hours work per week. In addition to the stipend, the educational fees (tuition) for coursework required for degree study will be waived during the appointment period. Full-time enrollment is expected unless permission to drop below full-time is granted by the Director of the School of Music. Other required fees must be paid by the student.

The School of Music anticipates the following assistantship openings for graduate students who will begin their studies in Fall 2012. Review of assistantship applications (see the link above) will begin January 15, and continue until the positions are filled. Assistantship applicants must also have an application for graduate admission on file with the Graduate School and the School of Music.

Band (1 positions, 0.50 time)
Duties may include teaching and administration in all areas of the band program, including athletics bands. Applicants for this position may be M.M. wind conducting majors, Ph.D. music education majors, or majors in related areas, such as woodwind, brass, or percussion performance. For more information, contact Dr. Brad Snow, Director of Athletics Bands, snowdo@missouri.edu, (573) 882-9475.

Choral Conducting (2 positions, 0.25 time)
Duties may include conducting a choral ensemble, assisting with rehearsal conducting, and assisting in the management of the choral area. For more information, contact Dr. Paul Crabb, Director of Choral Activities, crabbrp@missouri.edu, (573) 882-2071.

Composition and Music Theory (6 positions, 0.25 time)
Duties may include assisting freshman or sophomore theory classes, teaching Fundamentals of Music (for non-music majors), or providing support for the Creating Original Music Project (COMP) (two positions). Applicants for these positions may be M.M. composition or music theory majors or majors in other areas with appropriate skills. For more information, contact Dr. Neil Minturn, Composition and Music Theory Area Coordinator, minturnn@missouri.edu, (573) 882-7680.

Concert Hall/Recording/Publicity Services (1 or 2 positions, 0.25 time)
Duties may include front-of-house, backstage, and recording-booth support for concerts in Whitmore Recital Hall and/or administrative assistance with concert and publicity services. Applicants from any major area will be considered. Relevant experience preferred. For more information, contact Dr. William Lackey, Admissions Coordinator, lackeyw@missouri.edu, (573) 882-4471.

Large Ensembles Office/Administrative Support (1 position, 0.25 time)
Duties, as assigned by the Coordinator of Large Instrumental Ensembles, may include front-desk work in the Large Ensembles Office, room management and rehearsal setup, and assistance with ensemble logistics and concert coordination. Applicants from any major area will be considered. Relevant experience preferred. For more information, contact Brooke Danielsen, Coordinator of Large Instrumental Ensembles, danielsenb@missouri.edu, (573) 882-4471.

Missouri String Project Assistant (1 position, 0.25 time)
Duties may include supporting the Missouri String Project, a community string education program based in the School of Music, in a variety of musical and administrative areas. Applicants for this position must be M.M. string performance majors or Ph.D./master’s music education majors with a string background. For more information, contact Professor Leslie Perna, Director of the Missouri String Project, pernal@missouri.edu, (573) 882-2748.

Missouri Youth Orchestra Assistant (1 position, 0.25 time)
Duties may include supporting the Missouri Youth Orchestra (MYO), a community youth orchestra based in the School of Music, in a variety of musical and administrative areas. Applicants for this position must be M.M. performance majors or Ph.D./master’s music education majors (with an appropriate instrumental background) and will be interviewed by the MYO Director in addition to their admissions audition/interview. For more information, contact Dr. William Lackey, Admissions Coordinator, lackeyw@missouri.edu, (573) 882-4471.

Music Education (1 position, 0.25 time)
Duties may include teaching music skills or methods courses for elementary and early childhood education majors, and assisting faculty in the music education area. For more information, contact Dr. Wendy Sims, Director of Music Education, simsw@missouri.edu, (573) 882-3238.

Music History (1 position, 0.25 time)
This assistantship is directed at M.A. music history candidates and includes a two-year commitment with varying responsibilities and opportunities: assisting music history faculty in the preparation of courses, serving as the teaching assistant for a large-enrollment course for non-majors, supervising a course informed by concert attendance (for non-majors), and/or teaching two five-week courses, each devoted to the music of a single composer (for non-majors). For more information, contact Dr. Michael J. Budds, Music History Area Coordinator, at buddsm@missouri.edu or 573-882-0927.

New Music Ensemble
(6 positions: flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, piano, 0.25 time each)
The New Music Ensembles (NME) is a six-member, graduate-level ensemble, which supports the School’s composition program and performs outreach concerts of new music. All six positions are available for Fall 2012 entering students. Applicants for these assistantships will normally be M.M. performance majors with a particular interest in new music performance. Applicants in other areas, such as composition, music theory, etc., my also apply but must demonstrate performance skills at the M.M. level. M.M. performance audition procedures will be followed for all applicants, though candidates for these assistantships must perform one or more additional, representative works of new music. Click here (PDF) for more information about audition repertoire. For more information, contact Dr. William Lackey, Admissions Coordinator, lackeyw@missouri.edu, (573) 882-4471.

Orchestral Conducting (1 position, 0.25 time)
This position is directed at M.M. orchestral conducting candidates. Duties include rehearsal and performance conducting, and administration in all areas of the orchestra program. For more information, contact Professor Edward Dolbashian, Director of Orchestral Activities, dolbashiane@missouri.edu, (573) 882-2736.

Percussion (1 position, 0.25 time)
Duties may include teaching of non-majors; assisting with studio classes, group lessons, and percussion ensembles including MU Steel (steel drum band); maintenance of percussion equipment; assisting with the percussion techniques class; and assisting with the overall administration of the percussion program. For more information, contact Dr. Julia Gaines, Associate Professor of Percussion, gainesju@missouri.edu, (573) 882-0345.

Piano (3 or 4 positions, 0.25 time)
Duties may include a combination of responsibilities, including possibly teaching of majors in group piano, teaching majors and non-majors in individual applied lessons, studio accompanying, opera accompanying, choral accompanying, assisting in pedagogy library. For more information, contact Dr. Janice Wenger, Keyboard Area Coordinator, at wengerj@missouri.edu, (573) 882-0932.

Saxophone (1 position, 0.25 time)
Duties may include teaching of non-majors, assisting with majors’ instruction, and supporting the saxophone studio in a variety of musical and administrative areas. For more information, contact Professor Leo Saguiguit, Assistant Professor of Saxophone, saguiguitl@missouri.edu, (573) 884-1724.

String Quartet (4 positions: violin I & II, viola, cello, 0.25 time each)
This assistantship opportunity is directed at M.M. string performance majors with a strong background and interest in chamber music. Both established string quartets and individual applicants will be considered. Duties include daily rehearsals, performances representing the School of Music, and teaching undergraduate string students or coaching chamber ensembles. For more information, contact Professor Eva Szekely, String Area Coordinator, szekelye@missouri.edu, (573) 882-0930.

Trumpet (Second trumpet in Faculty Brass Quintet, 1 position, 0.50 time)
Duties include rehearsing and performing with the Faculty Brass Quintet, teaching applied trumpet lessons, and assisting with trumpet ensemble and studio class. For more information, contact Dr. Iskander Akhmadullin, Associate Professor of Trumpet, akhmadullini@missouri.edu, (573) 882-8021.

Violin (1 position, 0.25 time)
Duties may include teaching of non-majors, assisting with majors’ instruction, and supporting the violin studios in a variety of musical and administrative areas. For more information, contact Professor Eva Szekely, String Area Coordinator, szekelye@missouri.edu, (573) 882-0930.

Graduate Assistantships

Introduction