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Master of Music (MM)

General Information and Academic Regulations

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Dan Willett
Director of Graduate Studies
215 Fine Arts Building
Columbia, MO 65211-6120
email: Willettd@missouri.edu
phone: 573-882-0933

ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL. To be accepted for studies toward a master's degree in music, a student must fulfill both the minimum admission requirements of the MU Graduate School and the specific requirements of the School of Music. Admission to the Graduate School is dependent on the following criteria:

  • Evidence that the applicant has earned an appropriate baccalaureate degree equivalent to that granted by the University of Missouri.
  • The MU Graduate School requires a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of B (3.0 on a scale of A=4.0) or better for the last 60 hours of undergraduate education.
  • All graduate students in Music Education are required to submit the Miller Analogies Test scores as part of their application materials. For MM and MA students applying for Winter or Summer 2005, the general test scores of the Graduate Record Examination are required. Students applying for Fall 2005 and thereafter are NOT required to take the GRE.

School acceptance is required prior to Graduate School admission. A recommendation by the Director of Graduate Studies in Music or Music Education and the respective area faculty is submitted based upon:

  • Transcript examination to determine an appropriate undergraduate program or content which serves as a prerequisite for graduate studies in music.
  • Applied audition or tape review to ascertain the level of performance.
  • Evaluation of original works submitted by prospective composition majors.

Requirements for the Master of Music Degree

PROGRAM PLANNING FOR M.M. DEGREES. The Master of Music degree may be earned with a major in performance, collaborative piano and pedagogy, music theory, composition, or conducting. In addition to a major field, a required core of studies in music includes performance, music history, theory, and research skills. The remaining portion of a program may be comprised of electives in supportive areas or approved applied/ensemble experiences. The principal function of the graduate program is to provide students with opportunities for continued development of individual musical talents and scholarly competence. This degree is designed to prepare the graduate for a career in performance, college teaching, or continued graduate studies toward a doctoral degree. Program planning and development of the initial semester schedule occurs during registration each semester.

  • Advisory exams are given in theory and music history (2 hours each). These examinations are administered by the Director of Graduate Studies during registration for the fall, winter, and summer sessions. Deficiencies are met through study in appropriate courses for graduate credit.
  • Applied auditions are held to determine studio placement and level of study.

SPECIFIC PREREQUISITES BY AREA. Entrance into the Master of Music degree program is based on the completion of the Bachelor of Music degree (or demonstrated equivalent) with the same major as that to be pursued at the graduate level. In the event that a candidate does not meet the required prerequisites for a specific curriculum, then the appropriate course(s) will be added to the degree program.

  • THEORY
    3 credits of 18th or 16th Cent. Counterpoint
    2 credit hours of orchestration
    2 credit hours of a theory elective
    16 credits of applied instruction (or equiv.)
    4 credits of music history (equivalent study to Music 2307-2308)
  • COLLABORATIVE PIANO
    Senior Recital (Music 4970)
    2 courses in either French or German
    2 courses in French, German, or Italian diction
    1 upper level music history
    3 credits in 18th Century Counterpoint
  • PIANO PEDAGOGY
    1 upper level music history
    3 credits in 18th Century Counterpoint
    (Senior Recital and undergraduate courses in Piano Pedagogy or Teaching Experience are desirable, but not required for admission.)
  • STRINGS
    Senior Recital (Music 4970)
  • BRASS/PERCUSSION
    Senior Recital (Music 4970)
  • WOODWINDS
    Senior Recital (Music 4970)
  • COMPOSITION
    3 credits of 18th or 16th Cent. Counterpoint
    2 credit hours of orchestration
    8 credit hours of composition
    4 credit hours of music history (equivalent study to Music 2307-2308)
    16 credits of applied instruction (or equiv.)
  • PIANO
    Senior Recital (Music 4970)
    1 upper level Music History
    3 credits of 18th Century Counterpoint
  • VOICE
    Senior Recital (Music 4970)
    Lack of proficiency in French, Italian, or German diction will require study of diction, or of both diction and language as a prerequisite.
  • CONDUCTING
    2 undergraduate conducting courses
    Demonstrate conducting competence through a live conducting audition and interview

COURSEWORK DISTRIBUTION. In addition to fulfilling regular degree requirements, a minimum of 16 hours must be completed at the graduate level.

FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION. All candidates for the M.M. or M.A. degree must successfully complete the Final Comprehensive Examination appropriate to their degree programs. These written examinations are administered at the completion of required course work.

  • Students in Music Education are required to take a three-hour examination which includes hour exams in Music History, Music Theory, and Music Education. Those pursuing the M.A. degree in Education (M.A.Ed.) will also have an oral examination over their thesis.
  • Students in Music Theory, Music Composition, and Music History are required to take two-hour exams in Music Theory and Music History.
  • Music Performance and Conducting majors, in addition to two-hour exams in Music Theory and Music History, will be examined by their major area on aspects of their field-e.g., pedagogy, repertory, technique, etc.
  • The final recommended graduate status of each student resides with the Master's Degree Examining Committee.

GRADUATE RECITAL. In addition to the Final Comprehensive Examination, all Performance majors in the Master of Music degree present a Graduate Recital as the final project for the M.M. degree. In addition, piano majors present a memorized performance of a concerto with orchestra or second piano. Accompanying majors are required to present three recitals. One is to be a combined solo and chamber music recital; the other two are to be given as accompanist to a vocalist and an instrumentalist respectively. Conducting majors must present two conducting recitals, each 45 minutes in length with a University ensemble.

RECITAL HEARING. A Recital Hearing is required before any recital presented for credit, including all degree recitals. The hearing must be scheduled at least two weeks before the date of the recital.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THEORY MAJORS AND COMPOSITION MAJORS. Theory majors must satisfactorily complete a thesis on an approved topic, and composition majors must complete a substantial compositional project. Both theory and composition majors are given a final oral examination by a faculty committee over their projects.

GRADUATION APPROVAL. A signed report by the faculty committee involved (the final oral exam committee for Theory or Composition Majors; the hearing committee for applied majors) must be forwarded to the Graduate School indicating the satisfactory completion of these requirements before graduation can be approved for any student on the Master of Music Degree.

TOEFL SCORES. International students whose first language is not English are required to achieve a TOEFL score of 500 for admission to the graduate music program at MU.