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
Program Delivery
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- 5.6% faster than the average
- 116,300 number of jobs
- $69,690 potential earnings
Music directors and composers
- 1.7% slower than the average
- 58,000 number of jobs
- $52,250 potential earnings
Musicians and singers
- 0.9% little or no change
- 175,600 number of jobs
- $N/A potential earnings
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) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 525 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 71 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 74 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
- Minimum 50 PTE score
- Minimum 100 Duolingo test score
For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies admission website. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- Spring Semester
- Summer Term
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Recognize, identify, interpret and perform representative literature from different historical periods, countries and composers.
- Apply advanced performing skills in solo and ensemble settings, including tone production, accuracy, intonation, instrumental/vocal technique, musicality/expression, vocal language and diction and stage presence/presentation.
- Discuss, utilize and achieve high-quality results from efficient and effective practice techniques, including time management, achievable goals and use of appropriate technical skills, musical expression skills and focused work ethic.
- Have an enhanced understanding of interpretation and expression in music.
- Identify, explain and utilize performance pedagogy appropriate to the specific area of study.
- Identify, associate, differentiate and utilize performances practices appropriate to the literature of the various stylistic periods.
- Utilize and discuss score study of literature performed and also representative literature from various historical periods and composers.
Full Description
The Master of Music degree in Performance is designed to prepare the student for professional music activities, including solo performance, orchestral playing, ensemble playing, collaborative performance, studio teaching; as well as doctoral study. The program emphasizes development of skills, knowledge and background in the following areas: literature and repertoire, performance skills, practice skills, interpretation and expression, performance pedagogy, historical performance practices, music history and music theory.
The Performance major includes the following optional concentrations:
- The Chamber Music concentration is for intensive coaching and performance of string quartet literature.
- The Collaborative Piano concentration provides focused study on performance, chamber music, accompanying and literature.
