Music

Program Mission: The Master of Arts in Music provides advanced preparation for teaching, performing, and/or further graduate study. A core of music courses required for the degree provides essential background in history, literature, research and theory. Other specialized courses, seminars and individual studies in performance, conducting, composition, theory, history and literature aid the student in achieving his or her career goals.

Admission Requirements: To be eligible for degree candidacy, applicants must meet all of the requirements for admission to the Graduate School (see “Admission to Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs”). Additional requirements include:

proof of a Bachelor’s Degree in Music or proof of a bachelor’s degree in another discipline with sufficient musical experience to warrant admission;
a complete application and résumé

and one of the following:

for performance applicants, an audition;
for conducting applicants, a video recording of a recent performance or rehearsal;
for composition applicants, scores and recordings of original compositions; and
for music education applicants, and an undergraduate degree in musicc education and a minimum of one year teaching experience.

Degree Audit: The graduate plan of study is the EIU Degree Audit, which is generated automatically in the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) at the time of degree or certificate candidacy. Modifications of the standard EIU Degree Audit are submitted by the graduate coordinator to the certification officer in the Graduate School at the time modifications are approved. The Degree Audit serves as an unofficial summary of requirements for the program. Degree and certificate candidates are advised to review the comprehensive summary of the Degree Audit process specified on the “Requirements for All Degree and Certificate Candidates” section of the Graduate Catalog. Individual programs may require candidates to submit plans of study in addition to the Degree Audit, candidates should consult with the program coordinator.

Degree Requirements

Degree requirements include those outlined for the master’s degree by the Graduate School (see “Requirements for the Master’s Degree”).

All students are required to complete core courses in history, research, analysis, and pedagogy in addition to courses from a selected concentration. Six concentrations are offered: Vocal Performance, Instrumental Performance, Keyboard Performance, Composition, Conducting, and Music Education. (In consultation with the Graduate Coordinator and with the approval of the Graduate Committee of the Department of Music, it is possible to develop a more specialized course of study that includes courses from various concentrations.)

Students in the performance, composition, and conducting concentrations must pass oral comprehensive examinations and complete a graduate performance project.

Vocal Performance, Instrumental Performance, Keyboard Performance, Composition, and Conducting

Total core credits: 27 semester hours

The core courses for Vocal Performance, Instrumental Performance, Keyboard Performance, Composition, and Conducting include the following courses:

MUS 5100 - Introduction to Research in Music. Credits: 3
MUS 5170 - Analytical Techniques. Credits: 3
MUS 5940 - Graduate Performance Project Credits: 0
MUS 5880 - Seminar in Music History. Credits: 3
MUS 4760 - Seminar and Practicum in Music Instruction Credits: 2
Electives-Credits Credits / Units: 2
Applied Study Credits/ 14 Credits in primary area, (3 credits each semester during the first year and 4 credits each semester during the second year) Credits / Units: 14

Vocal Performance Concentration

Students in the Vocal Performance concentration should be proficient in English, German, French, and Italian diction. If proficiency is not met, remedial coursework may be required.