College of the Arts
School of Music
www.kent.edu/music

About This Program

Turn your passion for music performance into a fulfilling career as a solo performer, orchestral musician or studio teacher with the Master of Music degree. With a focus on literature, repertoire, performance skills and historical performance practices, our program prepares you for a wide range of professional music activities, as well as further study at the doctoral level. Read more...

Contact Information

• Matthew Holm | mholm2@kent.edu

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Music

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Audition
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 50 PTE score
  • Minimum 100 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students register for 4 credit hours of applied music throughout two semesters.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

¹

MUS 61174 requires a Graduate Theory Placement score of 03. Students who earn a Graduate Theory Placement score of 01 and/or 02 will be required to take independent study on Written Theory Review and/or independent study on Aural Theory Review.

²

MUS 68687 is taken twice for 2 credit hours each time.

³

Students register for 2 credit hours of applied music during the two semesters in which they register for MUS 68687.

⁴

All elective courses require special approval.

⁵

Students with voice specialization must take MUS 58610.

Composition Concentration Requirements

¹

MUS 61174 requires a Graduate Theory Placement score of 03. Students who earn a Graduate Theory Placement score of 01 and/or 02 will be required to take independent study on Written Theory Review and/or independent study on Aural Theory Review.

²

Students register for 2 credit hours of applied music during the semester in which they register for MUS 68687 and 4 credit hours during one other semester.

Conducting Concentration Requirements

¹

Students register for 2 credit hours of applied music during the semester in which they register for MUS 68687.

²

In MUS 68687, conductors will do their recital in conducting.

³

MUS 61174 requires a Graduate Theory Placement score of 03. Students who earn a Graduate Theory Placement score of 01 and/or 02 will be required to take independent study on Written Theory Review and/or independent study on Aural Theory Review.

Graduation Requirements

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Work independently and make effective artistic, intellectual and professional decisions in their area of specialization.
2. Prepare and communicate their artistic choices and musical research through oral/written means.
3. Use knowledge and skills in music theory/history to service their interpretation and performance in the area of specialization.

School of Music Graduate Study

Full Description

The Master of Music degree in Performance is designed to prepare students for professional careers in music.

The Performance major includes the following optional concentrations:

• The Composition concentration provides students the opportunity to compose works for various mediums and see them through to performance.
• The Conducting concentration provides students the opportunity to develop advanced competencies in musicianship and analysis and a broad gestural vocabulary, building on their baccalaureate training.

Voice, instrumental and piano performance students who do not declare a concentration have the opportunity to build their technical and interpretive skills to prepare informed and artistic performances.