Mar 29, 2024  
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
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Music M.M.


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Admission Requirements

Students applying for admission to the Master of Music degree program must make application through the Graduate College website. There are different deadlines for international students, and for students who wish to apply for assistantships, which are also found on the Graduate College website. In addition to submitting an application and transcripts of all college-level work to the Graduate College, prospective students must present the following credentials:

  1. An overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 (or 3.00 in the last two years of undergraduate study).
  2. An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 in music.

Prospective students must also present credentials to the Department of Music. Under the Program Information section of the online application, please be sure to list your specific concentration. The following credentials must be presented to the Department of Music:

Master of Music-Performance

1) Two confidential letters of recommendation from former instructors attesting to the student’s ability to complete graduate work at an acceptable level.

2) A 500-word essay defining career goals and explaining how graduate studies in music will advance the applicant toward these goals. 

3) A successful on-campus performance audition.

Master of Music-Theory/Composition

1) Two confidential letters of recommendation from former instructors attesting to the student’s ability to complete graduate work at an acceptable level. 

2) A 500-word essay defining career goals and explaining how graduate studies in music will advance the applicant toward these goals. 

3) A portfolio of compositions including at least one work from three of the following categories: a) orchestra, band or chorus; b) solo instrument and piano or for solo piano; c) string quartet, brass quintet, woodwind quintet, or other small ensemble; d) set of songs for solo voice and piano; e) original composition scored for jazz ensemble. Additional works may be included.

Master of Music-Music Education

1) An undergraduate degree in Music Education or the equivalent is required for admission to the program.

2) Passing PPST I scores for Nevada found at www.ets.org.

3) Two confidential letters of recommendation from former instructors attesting to the student’s ability to complete graduate work at an acceptable level. 

4) A 500-word essay on the applicant’s philosophy of music education. 

3) An undergraduate degree in Music Education or the equivalent is required for admission to the program.

5) Provide portfolio evidence of two years of successful music teaching experience in the public school. This evidence may include, but is not limited to:

  • A current resume
  • A copy of your teaching credential
  • Representative lesson plans for two classes
  • Audio and/or video of your students’ learning or performing.
  • Programs and other materials demonstrating programs you have given in the past two years

Master of Music-Conducting

1) Two confidential letters of recommendation from former instructors attesting to the student’s ability to complete graduate work at an acceptable level.

2) A 500-word essay defining career goals and explaining how graduate studies in music will advance the applicant toward these goals. 

3) A videotape or DVD of a rehearsal and performance under the applicant’s direction.
 
4) An on-campus conducting audition.

Audition Requirements

All auditions must be presented by April 15 for fall semester admission and by October 15 for spring semester admission. Audition length, requirements, and contact information vary by area. Please consult the area coordinator for further information.

Placement Exams

Prior to registration, all Department of Music graduate students must take placement examinations in music history, theory, and aural skills/sight- singing, regardless of their area of concentration. Passing scores on these exams, or passing grades in the appropriate history or theory review courses (B or above) are required before students may enroll in graduate level history and theory courses. Credit for review courses will not be applied towards the degree.

Successful completion of MUS 690 - Bibliography  , with a minimum grade of B, is a pre-requisite for all graduate-level music history classes.

Music History Placement Examination

The examination is an assessment of accumulated knowledge. Students may wish to prepare, however, by reviewing the facts and concepts in J. Peter Burkholder, Donald J. Grout, and Claude V. Palisca, A History of Western Music, 7th edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2006), the volumes of the Prentice Hall History of Music series, or similar texts. Students who show deficiencies in music history will be required to register for MUS 603 - Graduate Music History Review 

The examination is given prior to the first day of instruction for the Fall semester. The exact date, time, and location may be found on the Department of Music website: http://music.unlv.edu/home.shtml

Students must take the exam at the designated time; no make-up examinations will be given. Students who fail to take the exam at the scheduled time must complete MUS 603  before enrolling in any other music history course. This course is offered in the Fall semesters only.

For more specific details concerning the placement exam, please consult the Music History Handbook, available on the Music Department website: http://music.unlv.edu/home.shtml or contact Dr. Anthony Barone (702) 895-5953, (anthony.barone@unlv.edu).

Graduate Music Theory and Aural Skills/Sight-singing Placement Examination
A sample graduate theory placement exam may be found on the Department of Music’s website: http://music.unlv.edu/home.shtml

The Graduate Aural Skills/Sight-singing Placement Examination consists of:

  1. Two-voice dictation
  2. Three-voice dictation
  3. Harmonic dictation
  4. Two-part rhythmic dictation
  5. Sight-singing of a melody in any of the modern clefs (treble, alto, tenor, bass). A single melody may contain clef changes.

Students who show deficiencies in music theory and/or aural skills/sight-singing will be required to register for MUS 604 - Graduate Theory Review  and/or MUS 602 - Graduate Ear Training Review  .

The Graduate Music Theory and Aural Skills/Sight-singing Placement Examination is given prior to the first day of instruction for the Fall semester and the Spring semester. The exact date, time, and location may be found on the Department of Music’s website: http://music.unlv.edu/home.shtml

Students must take the exam at the designated time; no make-up examinations will be given. Students who fail to take the exams at the scheduled time must complete MUS 604 and MUS 602 before enrolling in any other music theory course.

For more specific details concerning the placement exam, please contact the Department of Music Office or the Graduate Coordinator (702) 895-3332.

Degree Requirements


All graduate students in music must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all degree-required courses. Only courses for which the student earns a final grade of “A”, “A-“, “B+”, “B”, or “S” may be applied to teh graduate degree. A graduate student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 (B) in a given term will be placed on probation for the following term. If a 3.0 cumulative GPA is not attained by the end of the probationary term, the student will either be granted a final opportunity to raise her/his GPA or may be dismissed from the program.

The Department of Music reviews the academic performance of graduate students at the end of each academic year and reviews the academic performance of graduate students on assistantships at the end of each semester.

If the department determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress towards the degree, it will request that the Graduate Dean separate the studend from the department or place the student on probation. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 for three successive semesters will be automatically dismissed from the program.

Ensemble Enrollment

Participation in large ensembles is required throughout the student’s residency. Some areas may have more specific large or small ensemble requirements. Students should consult their advisor for more details.

M. M. Comprehensive Exams

All candidates for the Master of Music degree in Applied Music, Theory/Composition, and Conducting are required to take written and oral comprehensive examinations. Candidates for the Master of Music degree in Music Education are required to take a written comprehensive examination and may also be required to take an oral examination.

The Master of Music comprehensive examinations consist of a written examination, and an oral examination. The comprehensive exams are taken during the term in which the student intends to graduate. For more specific information, please consult your advisor or the Department of Music Graduate Handbook.

The minimum number of credits required for the Master of Music degree varies with each option or subplan. No more than eight hours of 500-level course work may be applied to the candidate’s degree program. The individual requirements for each of the option areas are as follows:

 
 

Performance

 

A. Applied Major Option - Total Credits: 30

    Bibliography ( MUS 690) 3
    Music History 6
    Music Theory 3
    Applied Music 8
    Recital 2
    Pedagogy and Literature 3
    *Ensemble 2
    Electives (with approval) 3
       
 

B. Accompanying Piano Option - Total Credits: 30

    Bibliography MUS 690 3
    Music History 6
    Music Theory 3
    Applied Music includes two recitals, one with vocalists, one with instrumentalists 8
    Pedagogy and Literature (vocal or instrumental) 3
    *Ensembles 2
    Accompanying ( ) 2
    Electives (with approval) 3
       
 

C. Multiple Woodwind Option - Total Credits: 38

    Bibliography MUS 690  3
    Music History 3
    Music Theory 3
    Major Instrument 8
    **Secondary Instruments (4 credits each) 8
    Recital 2
    Pedagogy and Literature 6
    *Ensemble 2
    Electives (with approval) 3
       
 

D. Jazz Performance Option - Total Credits: 30

    Bibliography MUS 690  3
    Jazz History

 3

    Jazz Theory  3
    Jazz Pedagogy  3
    Jazz Keyboard  3
   

Applied Lessons

 8
    Ensembles (1 large, 1 small)  2
    Recital  2
    Music History Elective  3
       
  Notes:
  * Participation in one major ensemble and one chamber ensemble.
  ** To be selected based on the entrance audition in consultation with the advisor. Requirements for each secondary instrument may be satisfied by examination at the discretion of the department. Equivalent credits shall be taken on another woodwind instrument or as an elective.
       
 

Theory/Composition

 

A. Theory/Composition Option - Total Credits: 32

    Bibliography MUS 690  3
    Music History 6
    Music Theory 6
    Applied Music 4
    Composition (private instruction) 8
    Recital 2
    Elective (with approval) 3
       
 

B. Jazz Theory/Composition Option - Total Credits: 32

    Bibliography MUS 690  3
   

Jazz History

3

    Jazz Theory 3
   

Jazz Pedagogy

3
    Jazz Keyboard 3
    Applied Lessons 4
    Composition 8
    Recital 2
    Elective (Music History) 3
       
 

Music Education

 

A. Music Education Option - Total Credits: 33

    Bibliography MUS 690  3
    Music History 6
    Music Theory 3
    Music Education:  ,  ,  
9
    Music Education elective 3
    Electives (with approval to include Applied Music or Conducting) 9
       
 

Note:  The maximum number of workshop credits is three.

 
       
 

B. Orff Schulwerk Option - Total Credits: 33

 
    Bibliography MUS 690  3
    Music History 6
    Music Theory 3
    Music Education:  ,  
6
    Orff Levels I-III:   ,  ,   9
    Electives (with approval to include Applied Music or Conducting) 9
       
  C. Music Graduate Licensure Program  
       
 

Conducting

 
 

A. Choral Option - Total Credits: 35

 
    Bibliography MUS 690  3
    Music History 6
    Music Theory 3
    MUS 721C 3
    Electives (with approval) 3
    Applied:  
   

MUS 723 - Advanced Choral Conducting 

3
    MUS 766-Private Graduate Conducting 8
    Recital 2
    Ensembles 2
       
 

B. Orchestral Option - Total Credit Hours: 35

 
    Bibliography MUS 690  3
    Music History 6
    Music Theory 3
    MUS 721A 3
    Electives (with approval) 3
    Applied:  
      3
    MUS 766-Private Graduate Conducting 8
    Recital 2
    Ensembles:  ,    2
       
 

C. Wind Band Option - Total Credits: 35

 
    Bibliography MUS 690  3
    Music History 6
    Music Theory 3
    MUS 721B 3
    MUS 722B 3
    Electives (with approval) 3
    Applied:   B 8
    Recital 2
    Ensembles:   2

 

Music Graduate Licensure Program


The Music Graduate Licensure Program is a graduate program offered by the Department of Music leading to an elementary or secondary teaching license and a Master of Music (M.M.).

Students are not admitted during the summer; however, potential candidates may enroll in select courses, as non-admitted graduate students, while awaiting admission to the program. Students should apply for admission to the Graduate College. Once accepted to the Graduate Licensure Program, students should complete the course requirement worksheets they receive and contact their advisors to schedule initial appointments.

Admission Requirements

  1. Students must have an earned Bachelor’s degree with overall GPA of 2.75 or above in the Comprehensive Subject Area (Vocal/General or Instrumental).
  2. Content coursework related to general music core for music majors that mirrors the music education majors must be on transcript (music theory, music history, conducting, piano, private instruction and ensembles.)
  3. Passing scores in reading, writing, and mathematics on the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test examination.
  4. Passing scores on the Music Theory and Music History entrance examinations.
  5. Passing scores on the Teacher Licensure Examinations for Nevada School Law, Nevada Constitution and U.S. Constitution or related coursework.
  6. Documentation of immunizations with UNLV Admissions and Records.
  7. Field-based experiences (practicum and student teaching) require fingerprinting in compliance with the Clark County School District (CCSD) policy.

Coursework Requirements


Students are required to complete the courses as delineated in each phase of the program, both prior to and after, student teaching. In the Graduate Licensure Program, students complete the prerequisites and requirements for licensure (with student teaching) prior to completing the Masters degree.

Continuous enrollment must be maintained unless a letter requesting exemption for the semester in question is submitted. Once admitted, students must take a 500, 600 or 700 level course each semester.

The Plan of Study Sheets should be used as a reference to guide you through your program.

Licensure Requirements

Graduate Licensure Program Requirements

Vocal/General

Program and Research Core: 9 Credits

 

 

 

 

Program Emphasis:  24 Credits

 

 

 

 

Please select one (1) of the following:

 

 

Please select one (1) of the following:

 

 

 

 

Music History (3 credits)

Music Theory (3 credits)

 

Internship:  3 Credits

 

 

Culminating Experience:  1 Credit

MUS 697 - Music Culminating Experience

 

Instrumental

Program and Research Core: 9 Credits

 

 

 

 

Program Emphasis:  24 Credits

 

 

 

MUS 722 - Instrumental Conducting Seminar 

Please select one (1) of the following:

 

 

 

Music History (3 credits)

Music Theory (3 credits)

 

Internship:  3 Credits

 

 

Culminating Experience:  1 Credit

MUS 697 - Music Culminating Experience

 

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