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Graduate Catalog 2007-08 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Master of Music
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Advisors:
David S. Smith (music_grad@wmich.edu),
Room 2144, 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 sixty (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.
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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~hrs.)
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
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~hrs.)
Admission Requirements/Procedures
1. Bachelor’s degree in music or its equivalent
Including sixty (60) semester hours of acceptable work in music. 2. Two years of conducting experience in public school or equivalent experience recommended.
3. A videotape (VHS) demonstrating the applicant’s conducting skill
Must be received on or before February 15. Applicants who pass this initial screening will be invited for a conducting audition in March or April. 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) demonstrate, if a choral applicant, keyboard competency and singing proficiency.
~ All applicants will participate in an interview with faculty in their conducting area. By May 1, the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music will inform applicants of the results of their audition. 5. The Proficiency Examinations in music theory, history, and literature
Must be completed prior to the applicant’s first semester of enrollment. Remediation may be prescribed as a result of deficiencies in any of the audition/Proficiency Examination areas. Concentration 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 hrs.)
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) - MUS 6810 - Research in Musical Behavior 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 - MUS 6910 - Special Project in Music Education 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.) b) - MUS 7000 - Master’s Thesis Credits: 6 hrs.
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 hrs.)
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, music therapy, 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
2. Elective music courses (6-9).
3. Non-music electives
Selected from one of the following departments and including at least one course in statistics: Anthropology, Blind Rehabilitation and Mobility, Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Mathematics and Statistics, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Sociology, Special Education, Speech Pathology and Audiology, Education and Professional Development (6-9). Performance (Minimum of 30 hrs.)
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
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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