Master of Music Degree Program
Students seeking the master’s degree should consult their applied lesson teacher, thesis advisor or division chair in preparing a tentative program to meet the degree requirements and in selecting an advisory committee.
Degree Requirements
Requirements for each degree program are outlined below. The Office of Graduate Studies in Music provides complete information concerning procedures, administrative details and GRE requirements for individual programs. Students applying for the MM in performance or jazz studies may satisfy the GRE requirement by completing an on-campus writing examination. Details are available in the Office of Graduate Studies.
The Graduation Preparation Course (GPC) provided for international students by the Intensive English Language Institute will not be accepted as a substitute for the GRE requirement.
Before the degree is granted, the candidate must pass a final comprehensive examination — either oral, written or both — covering the field of concentration and, if applicable, the thesis or research problem. Performance majors must take the examination after the completion of the MM degree recital requirement. The examination may be taken no more than three times.
Participation in Performance Laboratories
Participation in two terms/semesters of laboratory or ensemble is recommended for all master’s degree students. Students who major in band or orchestral instruments are required to participate, with or without credit, in two terms/semesters of laboratory; one term/semester is required for voice majors. Laboratories are a cappella choir, chamber choir, concert choir, men’s chorus, women’s chorus, grand chorus, symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, symphonic band, concert band, marching band, jazz labs and accompanying. To meet this requirement, students must choose laboratories approved by the major advisors. Credit may be earned by enrolling in the courses listed below (1 semester hour each).
Ensembles available for graduate student participation are: opera theater, collegium musicum, chamber orchestra, wind ensemble, brass choir, trumpet choir, horn choir, trombone choir, tuba-euphonium ensemble, flute choir, percussion ensemble, steel drum band, marimba ensemble, African ensemble, Gamelan ensemble, electric and acoustic guitar ensembles, NOVA ensemble, and smaller string, woodwind, brass, harp and jazz chamber ensembles. Major in Performance
Performance majors may specialize in piano, collaborative piano, organ, harpsichord, voice, conducting or any of the following orchestral instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, harp, guitar or woodwinds.
Students must receive a grade of B or better for all courses counting toward the degree, including deficiency courses.
The programs are described below. At the point of graduation, students pursuing the performance major will be listed as having a specialization in the appropriate area. Related Field
All master’s degree performance majors must include on their degree plan a related field of not fewer than 9 hours selected from the options list below. Collaborative Piano.
Required: audition; 9 hours selected from the courses listed below or additional courses in consultation with the coordinator of piano collaboration. Composition.
Application procedures and prerequisites are included in the Composition Student Handbook, which may be downloaded from the composition division web site: music.unt.edu/comp. Required: Conducting.
(Not open as a related field to those with a specialization in conducting.) Required: audition, 9 hours selected from: Contemporary Music.
Required: Early Music.
Required: A total of 9 hours must be completed. Ethnomusicology.
Required: Jazz Studies.
Required: audition; Music and Medicine
Required: Music Education.
Required: 9 hours selected from any 5000- or 6000-level MUED course. Musicology.
Required: 9 hours selected from Opera.
Required: 9 hours selected from Sacred Music.
Required: 9 hours selected from Theory.
Required: 9 hours selected from Applied Music.
(Available only to those with a conducting specialization.) Required: audition
- MUAC 5500 level (6 hours)
Specialization in Piano
To be admitted to the 32-hour program, each applicant must show proof of having played a solo senior recital or its equivalent. Also, each applicant must play an audition for the piano faculty. The audition must consist of three major works: (1) a contrapuntal work, preferably 18th century; (2) a complete sonata of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert; (3) any other standard work. All three are to be performed from memory.
After qualification, each term/semester’s repertoire shall include a virtuoso etude. Each candidate also must present a standard concerto and at least one non-traditional 20th-century work during the course of study.
The following courses are required. Additional Requirements
Related Field, 9 Hours
Select an area from those listed above.
Electives, 6 Hours
Six hours of electives are required for the major in piano.
Additional Requirements
In addition, the following repertoire must be memorized. The repertoire must consist of material that the candidate has studied since becoming a graduate student.
- Two complete programs must be presented publicly. The programs for the public recitals must be approved in advance by the piano faculty.
- One complete concerto drawn from the standard repertoire.
- Attendance at all area departmental recitals is required. Unexcused absences will result in the final course grade being lowered. For additional information, consult the divisional and area handbooks.
Specialization in Collaborative Piano
To be admitted to this 37-hour program, each applicant must first meet the entrance requirements for the specialization in piano by performing an audition of collaborative works from the list of approved works, consisting of one movement of a major sonata or other large work involving piano with another instrument, and a 10 minute vocal program representing art songs and operatic repertoire. In addition, the applicant must play a 5–10 minute solo piece from memory. Consult with the coordinator of collaborative piano in order to arrange for this audition. Collaborative Piano
Nine hours from the following courses, based on the chosen emphasis (MUAG 5261 and MUAG 5271 may be repeated): Chamber Music/Ensembles, 2 hours
Two terms/semesters chosen from the following 1-credit courses: Additional Requirements
Related Field, 9 hours
German, Italian and/or French recommended for vocal option. For other options, select an area from those listed above.
Electives, 6 hours
Suggested courses for electives:
- ;
- advanced language or diction study;
- or additional performance study.
Additional Requirements
Two recital programs representing the candidate’s chosen emphasis must be presented. Specialization in Organ
Before becoming a candidate for this degree, the applicant who is not a graduate of UNT in organ must perform before a faculty jury a 30-minute program representative of undergraduate repertoire.
The following courses are required for the 32-hour program. Three hours selected from
(This requirement is waived for those electing musicology as a related field.) Additional Requirements
Related Field, 9 Hours
Select an area from those listed above. For those electing conducting as a related field, MUAG 5810 is required and may count toward the 9-hour related field course options.
Electives, 3–6 Hours
Three to six hours of electives also are required to complete the 32-hour specialization in organ.
Additional Requirements
All students must demonstrate proficiency at a level equivalent to the Associate Examination of the American Guild of Organists.
In addition, two recital programs must be performed publicly, the first of which may be 45 minutes; the second program of 50-55 minutes, counts as the actual MM program. The repertoire for both programs must consist of material that the candidate has studied since becoming a graduate student. The program for the public recital must be approved in advance by the organ faculty.
Performance majors are required to play one major work from memory on the degree recital.
Attendance at all area departmental recitals is required. Unexcused absences will result in the final course grade being lowered. For additional information, consult the divisional and area handbooks. Specialization in Harpsichord
To be admitted to the program, each applicant must show proof of having played a solo senior recital or its equivalent. The applicant who is not a graduate of UNT in harpsichord must perform before the faculty a 30-minute program representative of undergraduate repertoire.
The following courses are required for the 32-hour program. Additional Requirements
Related Field, 9 hours
Select an area from those listed above.
Additional Requirements
Two complete recital programs must be prepared, one of which must be presented publicly. The repertoire for both programs must consist of material that the candidate has studied since becoming a graduate student. The harpsichord and early music faculty must approve the program for the public recital in advance. The student is required to play 10 to 15 minutes of the recital from memory.
The student must demonstrate proficiency at playing from figured bass pieces equivalent to compositions of Telemann, Quantz, Corelli, Handel and Marais. Thirty minutes of ensemble music for which the student plays continuo must be presented publicly. It is expected that this requirement will be completed in Collegium performances. Specialization in Voice
Students wishing to specialize in voice must meet the following requirements to qualify for admission to candidacy.
- A repertoire as extensive as that required for the Bachelor of Music degree with a major in voice at UNT.
- Performance from memory before a faculty jury a program of at least 20 minutes that includes selections in Italian, French, German and
English, as well as an aria from an opera and one from an oratorio. Detailed instructions for the audition should be obtained from the chair of the division of vocal studies prior to or at registration. Students will be required to take, without graduate credit, the undergraduate diction courses in those languages in which they do not demonstrate proficiency.
The following courses are required for the 32-hour program. Additional Requirements
Related Field, 9 Hours
Select an area from those listed above.
Electives, 7 Hours
Seven hours of electives also are required for the major in voice.
Additional Requirements
Students are required to take jury examinations in each term/semester of enrollment in voice until the recital is successfully completed.
During the final term/semester of graduate study, the student will be required to present one complete recital from memory. Any recital being presented as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree in voice must be approved both in program content and in performance quality by the voice faculty. The performance of the recital must be approved at a hearing by the voice faculty at least three weeks prior to the date of public presentation. Specialization in an Orchestral Instrument
Before being admitted to graduate study with a specialization in an orchestral instrument, candidates will perform an audition before a faculty jury. This audition must consist of repertoire appropriate to the area and degree.
The following courses are required for the 32-hour program. Additional Requirements
Related Field, 9 Hours
Select an area from those listed above.
Electives, 9 Hours
Nine hours of electives also are required for the specialization in an orchestral instrument.
Additional Requirements
In addition, all majors will perform a complete recital in public, consisting of music that the candidate has studied since becoming a graduate student at the University of North Texas. The repertoire for this recital will be determined by the student’s major teacher, subject to approval of the area faculty. The recital performance will be passed upon by a majority of those faculty members in attendance from the student’s area of performance. Specialization in Woodwinds
To be admitted to the program the applicant must pass auditions on the principal and two other woodwind instruments.
The following courses are required for the 32-hour program. Additional Requirements
Related Field, 9 Hours
Select an area from those listed above.
Electives, 4 Hours
Four hours of electives also are required for the specialization in woodwinds.
Additional Requirements
Graduation requirements include relevant minimum standards for the principal instrument and the four other woodwinds. The candidate will perform a recital on the principal instrument and two of the other woodwind instruments to complete the program. Appropriate minimum standards and requirements on the remaining two woodwind instruments will be met in jury examination. Repertoire and memorization requirements will be determined by the student’s teacher, subject to approval of the woodwind faculty. Recital performance will be passed upon by a majority of the woodwind faculty members in attendance. Specialization in Conducting
Applicants for the Master of Music degree in performance with a specialization in conducting must hold the Bachelor of Music degree or its equivalent. This program is open to a limited number of students based on the availability of conducting opportunities. Applicants are requested to submit a complete dossier, including transcripts, curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, programs, high-quality video recordings (DVD or VHS) of the applicant conducting (include, if possible, excerpts from both a rehearsal and a performance) and a statement of career objectives. All materials should be submitted by the first Monday in December to the College of Music Office of Admissions.
On the basis of the written applications and tape evaluations, selected choral studies and orchestral studies conducting applicants will be asked to come to the campus for an audition and interview at their own expense. Applicants will audition before the conducting faculty with a university ensemble appropriate to the major area of emphasis (band, choir, opera or orchestra).
The following courses are required for the 36-hour program. Additional Requirements
Related Field, 9 Hours
Select an area from those listed above.
Additional Requirements
Students with a related field in applied music are required to take jury examinations each term/semester and pass a final proficiency hearing after completion of the required hours in applied music.
Candidates will conduct a public performance in their primary area. This recital will be evaluated by at least three members of the conducting faculty. |
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