Master of Music (MM)
The Master of Music (MM) program provides graduate level study in the following options: (1) Performance, which will result in the improvement of students’ musical skills and techniques, as well as knowledge of music literature beyond the scope of undergraduate training; (2) Conducting, which will provide graduate level knowledge in choral, instrumental, and orchestral conducting; and (3) Pedagogy (Music Education), which will provide graduate level knowledge to teach at the elementary, secondary, college, and university levels; and 4) Ethnomusicology, which will provide music students the opportunity for concentrated study with an emphasis on the folk styles, instruments, literature, and music history of Mexico.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the graduate program in music, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or related field.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources.
- Letter of intent detailing reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
- Submission of an essay on professional goals
- Resume including educational background and work experience.
- Personal interview
- Additional requirements specific to concentration selected:
MM – Conducting – The applicant will need to provide video recording of conduction a large ensemble.
MM – Music Education – The applicant will need to provide video recording of sample teaching including corresponding lesson plan. Length should be approximately 30 minutes. This recording may be either a guest coaching of a UTRGV ensemble (to be arranged by the graduate advisor and/or the ensemble director), or video of classroom/private teaching.
MM – Performance – The applicant must perform an audition, either for the spring audition committee or for a graduate faculty committee organized by the appropriate applied teacher or graduate advisor. Specific repertoire, scales, and memorization requirements are available from the appropriate applied professor. The applicant will also be asked to sight read. Following the audition, the committee will recommend or not recommend the applicant for admission. Voice students seeking a degree in Music Performance must meet prerequisites in both conversational language study and lyric diction in French, German, and Italian. Deficiency in any of these areas will require additional course work.
MM – Ethnomusicology – The applicant must submit a writing sample on a topic in music research. Any students seeking a degree in Ethnomusicology must take diagnostic exams to measure proficiency in Spanish and English. Deficiency in either of these areas will require additional course work.
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
Program Requirements
Students will select an area of concentration (conducting, music education, performance or ethnomusicology) and a faculty member to serve as mentor in the declared area of specialization. The student and faculty member will determine the curriculum within the guidelines of the degree program
Conducting Concentration:
Required Course (3 Credits)
Choose ONE of the following
Music Theory (6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
Music History (6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
| MUSI 6360 | Music History & Literature | 3 |
| MUSI 6362 | Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century | 3 |
| MUSI 6366 | Music History and Literature ? Wind Band | 3 |
| MUSI 6367 | Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance | 3 |
| MUSI 6368 | Music History and Literature - Baroque | 3 |
| MUSI 6369 | Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage | 3 |
| MUSI 6381 | Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical) | 3 |
| MUSI 6382 | Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic) | 3 |
Applied Instrument and Pedagogy (18 Credits)
Music Elective (3 Credits)
Chosen with advisor’ consent
(MUSI 6208 is recommended for Choral Conducting track)
MUSI 6XXX
| Additional Music Elective | 3 |
| MUSI 6208 | Lyric Diction | 2 |
Capstone Requirement
| Written Comprehensive Exam | |
| Oral Comprehensive Exam | |
Ethnomusicology Concentration:
Required Courses (9 Credits)
Seminars in Culture Areas (3-6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
| MUSI 6335 | Music of Greater Mexico | 3 |
| MUSI 6336 | History of Border Music & Performance | 3 |
| MUSI 6373 | Music of Africa and the African Diaspora | 3 |
| MUSI 6374 | Music of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
Seminars in Music and Culture (3-6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
Ensemble Coursework (2 Credits)
Choose from MUEN 61XX (ensemble) courses (taken 2 times)
Electives in Supporting Disciplines (6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
Note: Other appropriate electives approved by the Academic Advisor may be selected
Music Electives
Chosen from the following: (1-7 Credits)
Choose from MUAP (Applied Instrumental/Voice) courses (2 Credits)
Choose from MUEN (Large or Chamber Ensemble) courses (1 Credit)
Choose from MUSI (Music Theory) courses (3 Credits)
Choose from MUSI (Music Education) courses (3 Credits)
Choose from MUSI (Music History and Literature) courses (3 Credits)
| MUSI 6360 | Music History & Literature | 3 |
| MUSI 6362 | Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century | 3 |
| MUSI 6366 | Music History and Literature ? Wind Band | 3 |
| MUSI 6367 | Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance | 3 |
| MUSI 6368 | Music History and Literature - Baroque | 3 |
| MUSI 6369 | Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage | 3 |
| MUSI 6381 | Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical) | 3 |
| MUSI 6382 | Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic) | 3 |
Electives (3 Credits)
(Any Music or Supporting Electives)
Capstone Requirement
Thesis (6 Credits)
Multiple Instrument Performance Concentration
Required Courses (3 Credits)
Choose ONE of the following
Music Theory (6 Credits)
Choose TWO of the following
Music History (6 Credits)
Choose TWO of the following
| MUSI 6360 | Music History & Literature | 3 |
| MUSI 6362 | Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century | 3 |
| MUSI 6366 | Music History and Literature ? Wind Band | 3 |
| MUSI 6368 | Music History and Literature - Baroque | 3 |
| MUSI 6369 | Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage | 3 |
| MUSI 6381 | Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical) | 3 |
| MUSI 6382 | Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic) | 3 |
Performance (18 Credits)
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUEN 61XX
| Chamber Music/Large Ensemble | 1 |
MUEN 61XX
| Chamber Music/Large Ensemble | 1 |
MUEN 61XX
| Chamber Music/Large Ensemble | 1 |
MUEN 61XX
| Chamber Music/Large Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSI 6199 | Solo Recital | 1 |
| MUSI 6199 | Solo Recital | 1 |
Music Electives (3 Credits)
| Additional music elective | 3 |
| Written Comprehensive Exam | |
| Oral Comprehensive Exam | |
Music Education Concentration:
Required Courses (6 Credits)
Music Theory (6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
Music History (6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
| MUSI 6360 | Music History & Literature | 3 |
| MUSI 6362 | Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century | 3 |
| MUSI 6366 | Music History and Literature ? Wind Band | 3 |
| MUSI 6367 | Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance | 3 |
| MUSI 6368 | Music History and Literature - Baroque | 3 |
| MUSI 6369 | Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage | 3 |
| MUSI 6381 | Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical) | 3 |
| MUSI 6382 | Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic) | 3 |
Music Electives (6 - 9 Credits)
(depends on thesis track)
| Selected from MUSI, MUEN, and MUAP courses | |
Music Education (6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
Capstone Requirement (6 Credits)
Choose one of the following options:
Thesis
Project
| MUSI 6390 | Final Project | 3 |
MUSI 6XXX
| Additional Music Elective | 3 |
| Completion of Final Project | |
Final Requirement
| Written Comprehensive Exam | |
| Oral Comprehensive Exam | |
Performance Concentration:
Required Course (3 Credits)
Choose ONE of the following
Music Theory (6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
Music History (6 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
| MUSI 6360 | Music History & Literature | 3 |
| MUSI 6362 | Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century | 3 |
| MUSI 6366 | Music History and Literature ? Wind Band | 3 |
| MUSI 6367 | Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance | 3 |
| MUSI 6368 | Music History and Literature - Baroque | 3 |
| MUSI 6369 | Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage | 3 |
| MUSI 6381 | Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical) | 3 |
| MUSI 6382 | Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic) | 3 |
Performance Coursework (15 Credits)
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUAP 62XX
| Applied Lessons instrument (tertiary) | 2 |
MUEN 61XX
| Chamber Music/Large Ensemble | 1 |
MUEN 61XX
| Chamber Music/Large Ensemble | 1 |
MUEN 61XX
| Chamber Music/Large Ensemble | 1 |
MUEN 61XX
| Chamber Music/Large Ensemble | 1 |
MUSI 62XX
| Pedagogy of Instrument/Voice | 2 |
| MUSI 6199 | Solo Recital | 1 |
Capstone Requirement (6 Credits)
Choose one of the following options:
Thesis (6 Credits)
Non-Thesis (6 Credits)
MUSI 63XX
| Additional Music Elective | 3 |
MUSI 63XX
| Additional Music Elective | 3 |
| Oral Comprehensive Exam | |
| Written Comprehensive Exam | |
Additional music electives: Voice students are recommended to take: lyric diction, vocal/choral literature, 2nd performance project
Theory-Composition Concentration
Required Courses (3 Credits)
Music Theory (9 Credits)
Choose from the following
Music History (6 Credits)
Choose from the following
| MUSI 6360 | Music History & Literature | 3 |
| MUSI 6362 | Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century | 3 |
| MUSI 6366 | Music History and Literature ? Wind Band | 3 |
| MUSI 6367 | Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance | 3 |
| MUSI 6368 | Music History and Literature - Baroque | 3 |
| MUSI 6369 | Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage | 3 |
| MUSI 6381 | Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical) | 3 |
| MUSI 6382 | Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic) | 3 |
Composition (12 Credits)
Capstone Requirement
Thesis (3 Credits)
Elective
MUSI 6XXX
| Additional Music Elective | 3 |
| Written Comprehensive Exam | |
| Oral Comprehensive Exam | |
Total Credit Hours: 36
Additional Requirements
The performance degree requires a minimum of a 60-minute public recital (MUSI 6199) of music repertoire appropriate to the level of graduate study. A recital committee will decide what portion of the music will be performed from memory. The student must pass a pre-recital hearing a minimum of 10 days prior to the recital date.
The Thesis (MUSI 7300, MUSI 7301) will require a research study designed to produce new and original conclusions and knowledge. The student must prepare a formal proposal that must be approved by the thesis committee. Approval of the final paper by the thesis committee will be a required for graduation. The student must also successfully defend the thesis.
The Final Project (MUSI 6390) will require preparation of an original project approved by an advisory committee in the Department of Music and Dance. This final project can be completed by various means and should reflect the interests and expertise of each student.
All students in the Master of Music Program must pass a general written and oral comprehensive exam designed and administered by the student’s advisory committee at the end of the degree program.