Music

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Music's Master of Music degree is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to perfect musical skills while working with internationally recognized faculty and excellent ensembles. This objective is pursued through rigorous private study as well as research and literature courses. Faculty scholarship intersects with the curriculum through performance opportunities such as the Great American Jazz Festival and preparation of research presentations for regional and national music conferences. The Master of Music program is well suited to students who have completed Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Performance and/or Music Education. Degrees offered include Master of Music degree in performance, choral or instrumental conducting, and jazz studies. In sum, the department is committed to preparing graduate students' performance, scholarship, and professionalism, leading them to fruitful careers in music.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able:

Knowledge of Literature of Discipline (req)

Demonstrate knowledge of applicable solo and ensemble literature

Independent Research/ Professional Practice (req)

• Work on musical problems by combining (as appropriate to the issue) their capabilities in performance, aural, verbal and visual analysis, composition/improvisation, and history and repertoire.
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of styles and performance practices, including historical and cultural traits.

Professional Skills (opt)

• Prepare performances at a level appropriate for a professional musician.
• Create original or derivative music and music research at a professional level.

Assessment Approaches

The Master of Music program utilizes direct measures to assess student mastery of the defined student outcomes. The approach focuses on three chief components of their performance within the program:

1. Scholarship. This measure is assessed via term papers within literature, theory, and history courses. Students will compose term papers each semester. This includes a paper within the first semester in the foundational Music Bibliography course, preparing students for later papers. A scoring rubric is utilized as the principal assessment tool reflecting grades for term papers.
2. Performance. This measure is assessed through a series of musical performances, spaced throughout the program and including solo, chamber, and ensemble works. Students will perform repertoire appropriate to their degree of study. Individual students may also be required to perform additional repertoire and/or present verbal descriptions pertaining to history, style, performance practice, etc as it relates ot their repertoire. Oral and written feedback is provided to students following performances.
3. Professionalism. This measure is assessed through recital performances and, in some cases, an oral examination in the final semester. A scoring rubric is utilized as the principal assessment tool reflecting grades for recitals and oral examinations.

Direct measures of student achievement are complemented by a number of potential indirect assessments that include alumni surveys, student perception surveys, employer surveys and admission rates to graduate programs.

Outcomes include: generate performances at a professional level; recall and analyze applicable solo and ensemble literature; create original or derivative music at a professional level; outline styles and performance practices and specific historical and cultural traits. Design sophisticated music by implementing (as appropriate to the issue) capabilities in performance, aural, verbal and visual analysis, composition/improvisation, and history and repertory.