Music (MM)

School of Music

http://www.uni.edu/music/graduate_students/index.html
115 Russell Hall
Cedar Falls, IA 50614

Head: Dr John Vallentine
Phone: (319) 273-2024
E-mail: John.Vallentine@uni.edu

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Julia Bullard
Phone: (319) 273-3074
E-mail: Julia.Bullard@uni.edu

Read the UNI Catalog descriptions:

Students wishing to take a course for graduate credit in the School of Music or wishing to pursue a degree program in this department must consult with the Associate Director for Graduate Studies in Music prior to registration for the course. Detailed information concerning requirements and procedures will be provided, and specific evidence of previous accomplishments will be reviewed.

The Master of Music degree is a professional degree designed to prepare the graduate for:

1. enhanced opportunity in public and private school music teaching
2. a college teaching career
3. a performance career as a professional musician or composer
4. further graduate work at the doctoral level. The following majors are offered:

• Composition
• Conducting
• Jazz Pedagogy
• Music Education
• Music History
• Performance
• Piano Performance and Pedagogy

An applicant for a graduate degree program in the School of Music should possess the baccalaureate degree in music or a demonstrated equivalent. The student should have attained a high degree of proficiency in one or more of the following areas: performance, theory-composition, conducting, music education, or music history. In addition to the common regulations and requirements applicable to all master's degree programs, the following are required for admission to the specific major:

Composition majors: portfolio and, if possible, recordings of compositions.

Conducting majors: in-person audition and interview with at least two members of the Graduate Conducting faculty. It is also recommended the applicant have two years of conducting experience beyond the baccalaureate degree. A DVD or digital video file recording may be submitted in lieu of the in-person audition, but may not satisfy the audition requirement. Recordings should be of high quality and show the applicant in rehearsal situations, though performance recordings may also be included. Video recordings should include two or three works of varying styles, and be taken so as to clearly indicate the conductor's facial and other physical gestures.

Jazz Pedagogy: in-person audition and interview.

Music Education majors: in-person or telephone interview with a member of the Graduate Music Education faculty.

Music History majors: scholarly paper.

Performance majors and Piano Performance and Pedagogy majors: in-person audition (a recording would be accepted if the in-person audition would pose undue hardship).

A prospective major must take a written diagnostic examination in the areas of theory, music history, expository writing skills, and in the area of claimed competency, if different from the above (e.g., piano, brass, or woodwind instruments). This examination normally is taken immediately prior to initial registration as a graduate student. If a student is required to take remedial courses to make up any deficiency in preparatory work, those courses will not be counted toward degree requirements.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the Master of Music programs.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required of all majors enrolled for the thesis/recital option. Students completing the thesis option (not a recital and abstract) must have 6-9 semester hours of ____ 6299 (5xx:299) Research. A minimum of 12 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required of all majors enrolled for the non-thesis option [course prefix MUSIC, MUS APPL, MUS ED, MUS ENS, MUS HIS MUS LIT, MUS TECH, MUS THEO (520-595)].

Successful completion of an oral and written comprehensive examination is required of all students in this degree program. This examination normally will take place after the candidate has completed the course work required for the degree. The grade B- or above is required for all courses in the Graduate Music Core as well as all core courses in the specific degree plans. Under extenuating circumstances, exceptions to this policy must be approved by the instructor of record, the Associate Director of Graduate Studies and the Director of the School of Music. For more information go to www.uni.edu/music.

Students who plan to receive the degree Master of Music (M.M.) must meet the graduate regulations and requirements for the master’s program and the specific major requirements.

Students interested in this program must submit a completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study and should contact the School of Music for other admission requirements.  Graduate Information and application for graduate admission can be found at www.grad.uni.edu/admission.

Major in Composition

This major is offered on the thesis/recital option only, and requires a minimum of 35 semester hours. A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

Additional Requirements:

1. Performance recital of candidate-generated compositions.
2. Recital abstract.

Major in Conducting

This major is offered on the thesis/recital option only, and requires a minimum of 36 semester hours. A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

Additional requirements:

1. Two consecutive semesters (fall/spring) of residency with fulltime status (minimum of 9 graduate hours per semester).
2. Conducting recital.
3. Recital abstract.
4. Conducting document (research paper).
5. Score reading:
1. Choral Conducting Majors - Ability to read and perform at the keyboard (allowing some time for advance preparation) an SATB open score of medium difficulty (e.g., Palestrina motet).
2. Instrumental Conducting Majors - Ability to read and interpret a moderately complex instrumental score.
6. Students are required to enroll in applied music in their performance area during the semester that they present their required recital.

Major in Jazz Pedagogy

This major is offered on the thesis/recital option only, and requires a minimum of 36 semester hours. A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

Additional requirements:

1. Jazz performance recital
2. Recital abstract
3. Jazz bass proficiency
4. Jazz piano proficiency
5. Jazz drum set proficiency

Major in Music Education

This major is available on the thesis and non-thesis options, contingent on availability of faculty. Both options require a minimum of 33 semester hours. A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required for the thesis option and a minimum of 12 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required for the non-thesis option.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

Thesis Option (contingent on availability of faculty):

Note: A maximum of 2 hours of ensembles MUS ENS xxxx (530:xxx) and 4 hours of applied music MUS APPL xxxx (540:xxx) may be counted toward fulfilling minimum degree requirements.

Major in Music History

This major is offered on the thesis option only, and requires a minimum of 31 semester hours. A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

Additional requirement:

Reading proficiency in either German or French.

Major in Performance

This major is offered on the thesis/recital option only, and requires a minimum of 32-36 semester hours (depending on specialization chosen). A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required of all majors.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

Specialization:

A.  Wind, Percussion, Keyboard or Strings

B. Voice

C.  Multiple Woodwind

Additional requirements:

1. Two consecutive semesters (fall/spring) of residency with fulltime status (minimum of 9 graduate hours per semester);
2. Performance recital of at least sixty (60) minutes in length;
3. Recital abstract;
4. Two successful applied jury examinations (grades B or higher);
5. Voice specialization must:
• Demonstrate diction proficiency (by diagnostic examination) in English, Italian, German, and French. Otherwise one must successfully complete MUS TECH 1300 (560:030) /MUS TECH 1320 (560:032) and/or MUS TECH 1310 (560:031) /MUS TECH 1330 (560:033) .
• Have successfully completed one semester of college-level study in two languages other than English prior to entering UNI. Otherwise one must fulfill this requirement during the residency at UNI.
6. Students are required to enroll in applied music in their performance area during the semester they present their recital.
7. Multiple Woodwind specialization must:
• Demonstrate proficiency on a third woodwind instrument (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, or saxophone).
• Students studying bassoon as one of the three required instruments must take at least one hour of Double Reed Making MUS TECH 3100/5100 (560:110g) Section 1: Bassoon.  Students studying oboe as one of the three required instruments must take at least one hour of Double Reed Making MUS TECH 3100/5100 (560:110g) Section 2: Oboe.
• Students must perform on at least two of the 5 woodwind instruments listed above on the graduate recital.
• Students studying flute as the primary or secondary instrument must take MUS ED 3380/5380 (570:138g) Instrumental Pedagogy: Flute.
• Students studying clarinet as the primary or secondary instrument must take MUS ED 3380/5380 (570:138g) Instrumental Pedagogy: Clarinet.All students on this specialization must take MUS ED 3380/5380 (570:138g) Instrumental Pedagogy: Woodwinds.

Major in Piano Performance and Pedagogy

This major is offered on the thesis/full recital and non-thesis/half solo recital and pedagogy project options. Both options require a minimum of 34 semester hours. A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required of all majors enrolled for the thesis/full recital option. A minimum of 12 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required of all majors enrolled for the non-thesis/half solo recital and pedagogy project option.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

Additional requirements:

Final project-
Options:

• Full solo recital/recital abstract
• Half solo recital and pedagogy project (workshop or research paper)
• Students are required to enroll in applied music in their performance area during the semester they present their recital.