Music, MM

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Banner Code: AR-MM-MUSI

Performing Arts Building, Room A417
Phone: 703-993-1380
Web: gmu.edu/departments/music

Faculty

James Gardner, Chair

Professors: Camphouse, Carroll, Engebretson, J. Gardner (chair), Maiello, Miller, Monson (associate chair), Smith

Term professor: Balakerskaia, Hearden, Johonnott, Lapple

Associate professors: Billingham, T. Owens

Term associate professors: Casagrande, Ker-Hackleman, Rendler

Assistant professors: Bergman, Guessford, Nickens, Novak, Robinson

Adjunct Faculty: Beach, Beckwith, Behrend, Berkshire-Brown, Berger, Conlon, Crabill, East, Gerber, Haroutounian, Healey, Hughes, Kilkenny, McCarthy, M. Owens, Parrell, Rittenhouse, Roberts, Snitzler, Stephansky, Sternbach, Taylor, von Villas, Watters, Wenner

The expansion of professional education in the arts is paramount for the growth and development of a rich and vital cultural community and a supporting network of individual artists. The dynamics of contemporary society suggest that the influence of the arts on public life will continue to expand well into the 21st century. Each year, opportunities increase for creative work by performers, composers, sculptors, painters, dancers, actors, historians, theoreticians, and musicologists.

The MM degree is offered as an educational channel to meet the intellectual and career needs of qualified students. It is a comprehensive and advanced program of study with a choice of concentrations in performance (single or multiple instruments), music education, composition, conducting, and pedagogy and performance. The MM with a concentration in music education does not provide licensure to teach music in public or private schools.

Admission Requirements

In addition to fulfilling admission requirements for graduate study, applicants are expected to hold a baccalaureate degree in music or another discipline, with courses equaling the music requirements (minus the 7- to 8-credit teaching sequence) for the BA in music offered at Mason.

The following admission requirements must also be met:

Performance: audition (single or multiple instruments)
Conducting: audition
Composition: submission of a portfolio of compositions
Music education: interview with music faculty and submission of a two- to three-page paper on the applicant’s philosophy of music education
Pedagogy and performance: audition in the primary applied teaching area is required. Applicants are expected to have large and small ensemble experience on the major instrument and presented a full solo recital or equivalent. All music teaching experience should be summarized.

Diagnostic Entrance Exam

All students are required to complete placement examinations in music theory, sight singing and ear training, and basic keyboard skills. These examinations must be taken prior to the beginning of the first semester of graduate study. A sufficient placement score can reduce or eliminate prerequisites for some of the 600-level and above courses in music theory and history. The exam is offered during a three-hour period, usually on the Saturday before the first day of classes of the fall and spring semesters. For the summer schedule, see the director of graduate studies.

Foreign Language Exams (Vocal Performance Emphasis)

Students in the MM degree program (emphasis in vocal performance) must take proficiency exams in French, German, Italian, and English to demonstrate diction competency. Students may be required to take MUSI 525, 526 Performance Seminar for Singers and Accompanists I, II.

Comprehensive Exit Exam

All students are required to pass a comprehensive exit exam administered during the graduation semester or, in the case of students selecting the thesis option in the music education concentration, on completion of 24 credits of course work and immediately before beginning work on the thesis. August graduates must take this exam during the preceding spring term. This exam is usually a three-hour written test, with questions based primarily on course work the student has taken toward the degree at Mason.

Academic Policies

Please see College of Visual and Performing Arts for college academic policies.

Degree Requirements

A student must successfully complete the appropriate 30 credits in graduate music courses. With approval of the department, 3 nonmusic graduate credits may be taken.

The student is admitted as concentrating in one of five areas: performance (single or multiple instrument/voice), music education, composition, conducting, or pedagogy/performance. All students are required to complete the 11 credits described below as General Requirements plus 19 credits in one of the six areas identified below as Additional Requirements. There are some limited possibilities for double concentrations. For details, see the director of graduate studies.

General Requirements for the MM (for all six options) (11 credits):

Ensemble (2)
MUSI 611 - Analytical Techniques Credits: 3
MUSI 630 - Topics in Music History and Literature Credits: 3
MUSI 662 - Introduction to Research in Music Credits: 3

Additional Requirements

▲ Concentration in Composition (CPO):

9 credits of MUSI 728 - PMI Composition Credits: 2-3 (repeatable)
MUSI 613 - Graduate Orchestration Credits: 3
MUSI 630 - Topics in Music History and Literature Credits: 3
MUSI 790 - Graduate Recital Credits: 1

Electives

Electives (3)

▲ Concentration in Conducting (CDC):

9 credits of MUSI 729 - PMI Conducting Credits: 2-3 (repeatable)
MUSI 613 - Graduate Orchestration Credits: 3
MUSI 610 - Topics in Music Theory Credits: 3
or
MUSI 630 - Topics in Music History and Literature Credits: 3
or
MUSI 712 - Composition for Conductors and Performers Credits: 3
MUSI 790 - Graduate Recital Credits: 1

Electives

Electives (3)

Note:

The number of students accepted in the graduate conducting concentration is limited by the extent to which it is possible to provide students with practical experience. In most cases, each student accepted is offered an opportunity to gain conducting experience by serving as an assistant conductor of a university ensemble.