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:
Electives-Credits
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)
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.
Total Concentration Credits: 5 semester hours
Vocal Pedagogy recommended for independent study, 1 credit
Ensemble Credits: 1 to 4 credits
Instrumental Performance Concentration
Total Concentration Credits: 5 semester hours
Ensemble Credits: 4
Chamber Music Credits: 1
Keyboard Performance Concentration
Total Concentration Credits: 5 semester hours
Keyboard Lit recommended. Total credits: 2
Chamber Music/Ensemble/Accompanying. Total Credits 3
Composition Concentration
Students in the Composition concentration must demonstrate proficiency in counterpoint and orchestration. If proficiency is not met, remedial coursework may be required.
Total Concentration Credits: 5 semester hours
Independent Study: 2 credits
Eletives: 2 credits
Applied Instruction (vocal or instrumental): 1 credit
Conducting Concentration
Total Concentration Credits: 5 semester hours
Ensemble Credits: 4
Applied Study (instrumental or vocal): 1
Music Education
The Master of Arts in Music, Music Education Concentration provides a hybrid course of study that will be taught primarily online. Students will spend one week during one summer on the EIU campus immersed in music-making and study. This format allows students who are full-time teachers to obtain a master's degree while working and from a distance. The program allows for rolling enrollment.
Total core credits: 12 semester hours
Students in the music education concentration must complete a research project. The core courses for this concentration include:
Music Education Concentration
Total Concentration Credits: 20 semester hours
A total of 5 credit hours must be earned from a combination of 4980A/B/D
Credit hours earned from 5702A and 5702B must total 6.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are available for the fall and spring semesters in band, jazz, accompanying, percussion, music theatre, computer laboratory supervision, and other areas. Consideration of applications begins February 15, recipients of assistantships will be notified by April 15. Additional information on graduate assistantships may be obtained by contacting the Coordinator of Graduate Studies or Chair, Department of Music, EIU.
Information sourced from the 2019-2020 EIU Graduate Catalog.