Apr 23, 2024

2007-2008 Graduate Catalog

2007-2008 Graduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Master of Music

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The M.M. degree is a 32-semester hour program consisting of 13 semester hours of core requirements plus 19 semester hours taken within one of three areas of study: music education, music performance, or individualized study.

Admission

Normally, a baccalaureate degree in music or a diploma from an accredited conservatory or music school is required for admission to the M.M. program. In special circumstances, applicants whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than music may be admitted to a specific area of study within the M.M. program. Other admission requirements will vary, depending upon the area of study that is selected.

Music Education: Applicants are admitted to this area of study only upon the recommendation of a committee of the music education faculty after an interview and transcript evaluation. Students accepted in music education must take the School of Music diagnostic examinations in music theory and history administered immediately prior to the term for which they are admitted.

Performance: Applicants are admitted to this area of study only upon the recommendation of a committee of the performance faculty after an audition and transcript evaluation. Students accepted in performance must take the School of Music diagnostic examinations in music theory and history administered immediately prior to the term for which they are admitted.

Individualized Study: Applicants are admitted to this area of study only upon the recommendation of a committee of the music faculty after an in-depth examination for competence in music and/or other applicable fields. Depending upon the nature of the proposed course for study, the evaluation committee may require an applicant to take all or part of the School of Music diagnostic examinations in music theory and history, and/or other specialized diagnostic examinations, administered immediately prior to the term for which he or she is admitted.

Applicants for admission to the M.M. program are not required to take the General Test of the GRE. Applicants whose current preparation for advanced study is found to be deficient may be granted admission to the M.M. program with stipulations, and they will be required to make up all such deficiencies. Applicants who are admitted to the M.M. program in a specific area of study and who then wish to change to another area of study must meet all admission requirements for the new area of study before the change is approved. Applicants for admission to the M.M. program are normally notified of an admission decision as soon as administratively feasible following completion of all Graduate School and School of Music entrance requirements.

Requirements

In partial fulfillment of graduate requirements, a student pursuing the M.M. degree in the performance area of study must prepare and perform a full-length public recital. Students pursuing the M.M. degree within the music education or individualized areas of study may present a formal public recital, write a thesis, or complete a final project.

Students in the areas of music education and performance are permitted to take 6 semester hours of selected studies in music (MUSC 619, MUSC 639, MUSC 669, MUSC 689) as part of their program of courses. Students in the individualized area of study may take 12 semester hours of selected studies in music (MUSC 619, MUSC 639, MUSC 669, MUSC 689) as part of their program of courses.

All students pursuing the M.M. degree must fulfill the following core requirements.

Core Requirements (13)

Each student must also fulfill the requirements of one of the following areas of study.

A course in music history approved by the music history area coordinator in consultation with the music history faculty (3)
A course in music theory approved by the music theory area coordinator in consultation with the music theory faculty (3)

Either
MUSC 533 - Seminar in Musical Research Credits: 3
or
MUSC 584 - Techniques of Research in Music Credits: 3
as appropriate to the area of study and as approved by the student’s adviser, in consultation with the coordinator of graduate studies
Choose from the following (4)
MUSC 599A - Final Recital Credits: 1-4
or
MUSC 599B - Thesis Credits: 1-4
or
MUSC 599C - Composition Credits: 1-4
or
MUSC 599D - Final Project Credits: 1-4

Music Education (19)

See also “Teacher Certification” in this section and “Teacher Certification Information” in the Teacher Certification page.

Music education course work (6-9)
Music performance course work chosen from private keyboard, voice, or instrumental study (primary or secondary); music performance (including conducting); and/or ensembles (3)
Electives (4-7)

MUSC 585 - Foundations of Music Education Credits: 3

Performance (19)

One of the following tracks

1. Band and Orchestral Instruments

Private instrumental study (8)
Electives (5-6)

Ensembles (3)

MUSC 591 - Instrumental Ensemble Credits: 1
Additional ensemble courses Credits: 2

One of the following (2-3)

MUSC 464 - Workshop in Movement and Performing Awareness Credits: 3
MUSC 561 - Advanced Instrumental Techniques and Conducting Credits: 3
MUSC 570 - Music Instructional Techniques and Materials: Woodwinds Credits: 2
MUSC 571 - Music Instructional Techniques and Materials: Brasses Credits: 2
MUSC 572 - Music Instructional Techniques and Materials: Percussion Credits: 2
MUSC 574 - Music Instructional Techniques and Materials: Strings Credits: 2

2. Keyboard Instruments

Private keyboard study (6)

MUSC 565 - Accompanying Credits: 1
MUSC 591 - Instrumental Ensemble Credits: 1
J. Keyboard Ensemble (1)

One of the Following (11)

Solo Performance

Private keyboard study (2)
Electives (4)

MUSC 538 - Seminar in Piano Literature Credits: 2
or
MUSC 539 - Seminar in Organ Literature Credits: 2
MUSC 575 - Keyboard Methods and Materials Credits: 3
A. Piano (3), or
B. Harpsichord (3), or
C. Organ (3)

Keyboard collaborative arts

Electives (6)

MUSC 537 - Chamber Music Studies Credits: 3
MUSC 565 - Accompanying Credits: 1
MUSC 591 - Instrumental Ensemble Credits: 1
J. Keyboard Ensemble (1)

3. Voice

Private voice study (8)
Electives (6)
MUSC 590B - Opera Workshop (1)

MUSC 581 - Pedagogy of Singing Credits: 3
MUSC 590 - Vocal Ensemble Credits: 1
A. Chamber Choir (1)
or
B. Opera Workshop (1)
or
MUSC 595 - Concert Choir Credits: 1

Individualized Study (19)

A student may design an individualized area of study with course work selected from existing courses, seminars, independent study, internships, or special projects, offered both on and off campus. While this individual area of study may share some features of other areas of study, its thrust should be distinctive. Individualized study may consist in part of interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary courses which combine music study with such areas as anthropology, art, business, computer science, dance, theater, electronics, ethnic studies, mental health, or special education; or they may concentrate entirely on music. Examples of individualized study areas pursued by M.M. students include music history, music theory, composition, world music, jazz, recording techniques, and computer music and new media technology.

After acceptance, each student will be assigned an adviser with whom he or she will prepare an individualized proposal. This proposal must be approved by a committee representing the School of Music, which may in turn seek the advice of another department whose courses are included in the proposal. Normally, at least one half of the individualized area of study will be in the School of Music. At the conclusion of study, the student must substantiate to the committee that the specified goals have been met.