Overview
There are two master’s degrees available in the School of Music: one with a major in music leading to the Master of Music degree, and the other with a major in music education leading to the Master of Music Education degree. Emphasis areas in the Master of Music are Conducting, Music History & Literature, Music Theory, Performance, Collaborative Piano, and Woodwind Performance & Pedagogy. The Master of Music in Collaborative Piano focuses on repertoire preparation, technical control, collaborative awareness of balance, texture, musical flexibility, interpretation of text, and confidence in performance.
Admission Requirements
Acceptance into the master’s degree programs of the School of Music requires expectations beyond those in the Graduate Bulletin. Admission to graduate study does not imply admission to candidacy for a master’s degree. A maximum of nine (9) hours of graduate work earned before one has gained admission to the School of Music can be applied toward a master’s degree. Members of all under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Students seeking regular admission to master’s level programs at The University of Southern Mississippi must:
- Have a “B” average or better on music courses in the undergraduate degree
- Have a grade point average of at least 2.75 (A = 4.0) on the last two years of undergraduate study
- Pass a candidacy audition
- Official GRE Test Scores
- Resumé
- Writing Sample that demonstrates your ability to write original research.
- Submit at least three strong letters of recommendation and/or undergo a successful personal interview.
Students who are unable to meet regular admission standards may be considered for conditional admission. For details concerning conditional admission, see Admission Requirements and Procedures .
Please note: The Graduate Record Examination is not required for the MM degree in performance. Students who are admitted conditionally must pass a candidacy audition (if required) before completing 9 hours of coursework.
Candidacy Audition
All students must perform for the appropriate area faculty: two contrasting selections from the standard piano repertoire and three chamber works representing three different periods in music, single movements are acceptable. One of these movements must be for at least three instruments including piano.
The remaining two works should include a sonata with an instrument and piano and a work with voice and piano. The audition may be on videotape, DVD, or CD recording.
This audition must be deemed Satisfactory before one can be accepted into the School of Music (i.e., before completing nine (9) hours of graduate work). Early auditions are encouraged, and a high level of performance proficiency is expected.
Pre-screening recording (video):
- Two contrasting movements from a standard duo sonata for piano and instrument: eg. Beethoven, Brahms, Prokofiev, Franck, Schumann, Poulenc, Mozart
- Two contrasting art songs from the German, French, or English vocal repertoire: eg. Schumann, Schubert, Duparc, Fauré, Barber, Vaughan Williams
Live Audition (Required if Auditioning for GA position):
- Two contrasting movements from the standard duo instrumental repertoire e.g. Brahms, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Franck
- The first movement from a Mozart orchestral reduction. Choose one from the following:
- Violin: K. 216 in G major, K. 218 in D major, or K. 219 in A major
- Flute: K. 313/285c in G major
- Oboe: K. 314/271k in C major
- Clarinet: K. 622 in A major
- Bassoon: K. 191 in Bb major
- Prepare 2 songs in each language from the following list (Total six songs). We will select two total for you to perform at your audition.
German:
J. Brahms Meine Liebe ist grün or Wie melodien zieht es mir
F. Schubert Gretchen am Spinnrade or Im Frühling
R. Schumann Mondnacht or Widmung
French:
H. Duparc Extase or Chanson Triste
C. Debussy Il pleure dans mon coeur or C’est l’extase
G. Fauré Mandoline or Notre amour
English:
S. Barber The Desire for Hermitage or The Monk and his Cat
A. Copland Heart! We Will Forget Him!
R. Vaughan Williams The Vagabond or The Roadside Fire
- Sight-reading with a partner
Program Requirements and Academic Policies
All entering master’s students are required to take a Diagnostic Entrance Examination in music theory and in music history & literature. The purposes of this examination are 1) to determine whether the student has foundation-level deficiencies that need to be addressed in order for her/him to be successful in graduate courses and on the comprehensive examination; and 2) to provide information that will guide the student and his/her advisor in selecting useful and appropriate academic courses.
Diagnostic Examinations are administered on campus in fall, spring, and summer each Thursday and/or Friday preceding the first day of classes or as announced by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Newly admitted students should always see the Coordinator for the most up-to-date information.
Students who do not pass the history diagnostic exam must enroll in MUS 630. Students who do not pass the theory diagnostic exam must enroll in MUS 620. These courses must be included within the first two semesters of graduate work. Exceptions to this requirement may be granted for the summer semester only and will be considered on an individual basis.
Undergraduate music theory and/or history courses may be required as prerequisites to further study in graduate music theory or history. Students who do not pass the music theory review, or the history review (or required undergraduate courses) will not be allowed to enroll in further study in music history or music theory until the grade of “B-” or better is earned in the required course(s).
Advisory committee
Early in the first term of full-time residence or before nine (9) hours of graduate credit have been earned, the student and the major professor select those faculty who will serve as the student’s Advisory Committee. Master’s committees must include three members: 1) the major professor, 2) another professor from the major area, 3) a representative from Music Theory or Music History. Changes to this formula must be pre-approved in writing by the School of Music Director. These faculty members will help the student plan his/her program of study, attend and grade his/her recital, and prepare and grade his/her comprehensive exam.
Special Problems Courses (MUS 692, 792, MED 692, 792)
Students cannot enroll in special problems courses without appropriate approval. Petitions requesting permission to enroll are available on the School of Music website at https://www.usm.edu/music/forms-0
Petitions must be submitted to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies by the end of SOAR open registration. Special Problems courses demand a minimum of 45 hours work for each hour of credit earned. It is expected that the result of any problem undertaken be available for faculty examination; copies of term papers, examinations, or compositions must be turned in to the Music Office for this purpose.
Comprehensive Exam
A written comprehensive exam is required. The test will be prepared and graded by the student’s Graduate Advisory Committee; it will cover the area of the major field. Master’s comprehensive exams dates will be posted by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in the summer of the ensuing Academic Year. Announcements are made approximately two (2) months prior to the exams. The dates will be in October (fall dates may vary), April, and July. The exact dates of the examinations are determined by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies and are publicized as soon as the University’s Academic Calendar is available.
Students must register for the exam two months in advance with the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. The Coordinator of Graduate Studies must receive the results of the comprehensive examination in time to notify the University Registrar and the Graduate Office (i.e., no later than the last day of general exams for presenting signed theses to the Graduate Office).
A student who fails the Comprehensive Examination may repeat the exam once; the test must be repeated within one year of the first comprehensive examination.
Recital Requirements
Two degree recitals comprised of an equal representation of vocal, instrumental, and concerto/orchestral reduction literature will be completed in the second year of study. The student will enroll in MUS 715 for 1 credit hour the semester of each recital.
Before scheduling a recital, the student must contact all members of the Advisory Committee and work to find a date that all can attend. In order for the recital to be given, a majority of the Advisory Committee (at least 2 of 3) must be in attendance. If members of the committee are unable to attend, a quality recording must be provided. At least fourteen days before the recital, the student must issue a written or emailed invitation to each member of his or her committee. If recitals are required by the student’s degree plan, the Advisory Committee will:
- Approve the repertoire in writing (students must fill out a Recital Repertoire Approval Form and return it to the Graduate Coordinator no later than one month prior to the recital date), attend the recital, and then all members must grade the recital as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
- At least 2 of the 3 members must judge the recital satisfactory for it to count.
- Should a recital be judged Unsatisfactory, another recital, at a date determined by the Advisory Committee, must take place.
- Should a recital be canceled or postponed until a succeeding semester, the recital will be graded “E” (course in progress). When the grade of “E” is given, the student must re-register for the course and receive a letter grade for that course.
- A student who receives two grades of Unsatisfactory in meeting degree recital requirements will not be allowed to continue as a candidate.
Jury Requirements/Final Examinations
Students who are enrolled in MUP (Music Performance) Private Lessons in their principal applied area and who are seeking the Master of Music degree with emphasis in performance must perform a jury for the appropriate applied faculty. All other master’s students enrolled in MUP Private Lessons Collaborative Piano will perform a jury for their first and second semesters of study. At the finish of each semester and summer term, the applied teacher must complete a “Final Jury/Examination Form” for each student and file it with the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Students enrolled in applied music who do not take a final examination or a jury will receive the grade “I” or “F.” All grades of “I” must be completed by the end of the next semester (excluding summer term) or they will automatically be changed to an “F.” The applied teacher must record and submit any exception to this policy to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies; signatures of all appropriate area faculty must be included on this form.
