Mar 29, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2009-10 
    
Graduate Catalog 2009-10 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Music


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Advisors: David S. Smith (music_grad@wmich.edu),
Room 2132, Dalton Center

Brian Wilson (brian.wilson@wmich.edu),
Room 2305, Dalton Center

The Master of Music is designed to enhance the student’s teaching, performing, research, and creative abilities in music.  The School of Music offers course work leading to a Master of Music degree in five different areas of concentration:  Composition, Conducting, Music Education, Music Therapy, and Performance.  Western’s School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and all areas of concentration carry curriculum approval from that accrediting association.  The Music Therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association.

Admission Requirements

A Bachelor of Music degree, or its equivalent, including 60 semester hours of acceptable work in music, is required for admission.  Students are admitted to graduate study in music on the basis of transcripts.  Exceptions to admission requirements may be granted if competency can be demonstrated through Proficiency Examinations.  Admission to the School of Music does not imply that the student will be permitted to pursue a specific area of concentration (performance, composition, etc.).  Program of study will not be determined until Proficiency Examinations are taken and the student has completed 6-10 semester hours of course work.  At that time a recommendation for degree candidacy will be approved if the student has demonstrated a sufficient level of scholarship and musicianship.

Proficiency Examinations are administered prior to entry to the graduate music program.  Areas of examination include performance, music history/literature, music theory, music therapy, functional piano, and conducting (including aural skills).  The areas in which the student will be tested are determined by the choice of area of concentration.

Program Requirements


The Graduate Coordinator/Advisor in the School of Music works closely with each student in planning and implementing a degree program which will accommodate the student’s professional needs and interests and, at the same time, will realize the full value and depth of the University’s graduate offerings. The student’s needs are determined by an evaluation of the results of Proficiency Examinations and a review of the first 6-10 semester hours of course work taken. After this evaluation and review, the Graduate Coordinator/Advisor provides information to the student regarding probable success in the degree program and any time limitation that may apply to the student’s completion of degree requirements. The program of study in each of the five areas of concentration is as follows:

Composition (Minimum of 30 hours)


Admission Requirements/Procedures


Proficiency Examinations in theory, history/literature, and placement interview-auditions in piano, composition, electronic composition, musical acoustics, and counterpoint. Before the student will be admitted to this area of concentration, the composition faculty must review and approve the student’s prior compositional work.

Concentration requirements


1. Required courses:


2. Cognate music studies:


Applied music, music education, history/literature, theory, jazz studies (9-12). Must include at least one 6000-level course.

3. Electives to make a total of at least 30 semester hours.


Must include a 6000-level music theory and a 6000-level music history course, unless already required in the program

4. Proficiency in keyboard must be demonstrated, but course work may not apply to degree.


Conducting (Minimum of 31 hours)


Admission Requirements/Procedures


  1. Bachelor’s degree in music or its equivalent including 60 semester hours of acceptable work in music.
  2. Two years of conducting experience in public school or equivalent experience recommended.
  3. A DVD or videotape (VHS) demonstrating the applicant’s conducting skill must be received on or before February 1. Applicants who pass this initial screening will be invited for a conducting audition prior to March 15.
  4. A live audition will be administered on the Western Michigan University campus by three full-time members of the conducting faculty, with one being outside the applicant’s conducting area. Applicants will (a) conduct an appropriate University ensemble on a work or on works to be selected in consultation with the appropriate conducting faculty member; (b) demonstrate aural perception and score reading skills; and (c) Choral applicants must demonstrate keyboard competency, singing proficiency, and diction proficiency (English, French, Italian and German).
    • Applicants will be informed of their audition results within ten (10) days of their audition date by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music. Applicants must be accepted to the conducting program prior to their first semester of enrollment.
  5. The Proficiency Examinations in music history/literature and theory must be completed prior to the applicant’s first semester of enrollment. Applicants must achieve a passing score in each area of the examination. Remediation may be prescribed as a result of deficiencies in any of the audition/Proficiency Examination areas. Undergraduate courses prescribed to remedy deficiencies will not count toward degree requirements. 

Concentration Requirements


1. Core Requirements:


2. Area Requirements:


3. Cognate:


Six (6) hours of course work in a secondary area of specialization to be determined in consultation with the candidate’s major professor and graduate coordinator. To be chosen from the applied, composition, theory, history/literature, jazz, or music education areas. Cognate must include at least one 6000-level course.

Music Education (Minimum of 30 hours)


Admission Requirements/Procedures


A Bachelor of Music degree, or its equivalent, with a major in music education, and a teaching certificate are required for admission. Proficiency Examinations in theory and history/literature.

Concentration Requirements


And Either:


Culminating option (choose a, b, or c)
  • a)

  • Credits: 2 hrs.
  • Every student is required to register for one of these culminating projects, each of which includes an oral exam. For students anticipating doctoral studies, a thesis is strongly recommended.)

  • or

  • Credits: 2 hours
  • Every student is required to register for one of these culminating projects, each of which includes an oral exam. For students anticipating doctoral studies, a thesis is strongly recommended.)

  • b)

  • Credits: 6 hours
  • c)

  • eight (8) hours of pre-approved graduate courses, including written comprehensive exam.

2. Electives in music education (5-8).


3. Cognate music studies:


Theory, history/literature, jazz studies (8-10).

4. Electives to make a total of 30-36 semester hours.


Must include a 6000-level music theory and a 6000-level music history course, unless already required in the program.

Music Therapy (Minimum of 30 hours)


Admission Requirements/Procedures


A Bachelor of Music degree or its equivalent (60 hours of music courses) and a major in music therapy are required for admission.  Students who have a Bachelor of Music degree, but do not have a major in music therapy, may complete the required undergraduate courses, including the six-month internship, for Board Certification while the graduate program is in progress.  This undergraduate credit, however, will not apply to the graduate degree.  Equivalency requirements may be obtained from the Director of Music Therapy in the School of Music.

Upon entrance to the program, the student will take Proficiency Examinations in theory, history/literature, and functional piano.  Information derived from these examinations plus that derived from the audition, transcripts, and initial interviews will be used to determine the program of study.

Concentration Requirements


1. Required courses:


2. Elective music courses (Credits: 6 - 9 hours).


3. Non-music electives (Credits: 6 - 9 hours)


Electives must be selected from one of the following departments and including at least one course in statistics: Anthropology, Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Mathematics and Statistics, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Sociology, Special Education, Speech Pathology and Audiology, Education and Professional Development, Blindness and Low Vision Studies, Holistic Health and Gerontology.

Performance (Minimum of 30 hours)


Admission Requirements/Procedures


Proficiency Examinations in theory and history/literature. The performance Proficiency Examination will determine if the student will be permitted to pursue this major area of concentration. Sight-reading may be requested. Vocal majors must demonstrate piano skills and a proficiency in French, German, and Italian diction. Deficiency course work will not apply toward the degree.

Concentration Requirements


1. Required courses:


2. Cognate music studies:


Composition, music education, history/literature, theory, jazz studies (9-12). Must contain at leasy one 6000-level course.

3. Ensemble requirements:


A minimum of two (2) credits of chamber ensembles and two (2) credits of conducted ensembles. (Keyboard majors are required a minimum of two (2) credits of chamber ensembles.) A maximum of six (6) credits of ensembles may be applied toward the Performance degree requirements.

4. Electives to make a total of at least 30 semester hours.


Must include a 6000-level music theory and a 6000-level music history course, unless already required in the program.

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