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:

  1. Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or related field.
  2. Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
  3. Three  letters  of  recommendation  from  professional  or  academic sources.
  4. Letter of intent detailing reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
  5. Submission of an essay on professional goals
  6. Resume including educational background and work experience.
  7. Personal interview
  8. 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
MUSI 6334Research Methods in Music

3

MUSI 6338Music Ethnography & Fieldwork Methods

3

Music Theory (6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
MUSI 6350Music Theory

3

MUSI 6351Music Theory - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6352Music Theory - Counterpoint

3

MUSI 6353Music Theory ? Composition/Arranging

3

MUSI 6354Music Theory Analysis

3

MUSI 6355Music Theory - Music of the Americas

3

MUSI 6356Music Theory Pedagogy

3

 

Music History (6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
MUSI 6360Music History & Literature

3

MUSI 6362Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6366Music History and Literature ? Wind Band

3

MUSI 6367Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance

3

MUSI 6368Music History and Literature - Baroque

3

MUSI 6369Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage

3

MUSI 6381Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical)

3

MUSI 6382Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic)

3

 

Applied Instrument and Pedagogy (18 Credits)

MUAP 6283Applied Conducting

2

MUAP 6283Applied Conducting

2

MUAP 6283Applied Conducting

2

MUAP 6283Applied Conducting

2

MUEN 6121Wind Orchestra

1

MUEN 6122Symphonic Winds

1

MUEN 6123Symphony Orchestra

1

MUSI 6201Seminar in Instrumental Conducting

2

Or

MUSI 6202Seminar in Choral Conducting

2

MUSI 6201Seminar in Instrumental Conducting

2

Or

MUSI 6202Seminar in Choral Conducting

2

MUSI 6203Seminar in Instrumental Literature and Resources

2

Or

MUSI 6204Seminar in Choral Literature and Resources

2

MUSI 6199Solo Recital

1

 

Music Elective (3 Credits)

Chosen with advisor’ consent

(MUSI 6208 is recommended for Choral Conducting track)

MUSI 6XXX
Additional Music Elective

3

MUSI 6208Lyric Diction

2

Capstone Requirement

Written Comprehensive Exam

Oral Comprehensive Exam

Ethnomusicology Concentration:

Required Courses (9 Credits)

MUSI 6337Foundations of Ethnomusicology

3

MUSI 6338Music Ethnography & Fieldwork Methods

3

Seminars in Culture Areas (3-6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
MUSI 6335Music of Greater Mexico

3

MUSI 6336History of Border Music & Performance

3

MUSI 6373Music of Africa and the African Diaspora

3

MUSI 6374Music of Latin America and the Caribbean

3

Seminars in Music and Culture (3-6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
MUSI 6370Seminar in Music and Culture

3

MUSI 6371World Music Cultures

3

MUSI 6372Studies in Music & Gender

3

MUSI 6375Music, Race & Ethnicity

3

MUSI 6370: topic varies

Ensemble Coursework (2 Credits)

Choose from MUEN 61XX (ensemble) courses (taken 2 times)

Electives in Supporting Disciplines (6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
ANTH 6333U.S. and Other World Cultures

3

ANTH 6345Anthropological Method and Theory

3

ANTH 6348Peoples and Cultures of Mexico

3

ANTH 6385Topics in Anthropology

3

HIST 5340Readings in Latin American History

3

HIST 5345Readings in Borderlands History

3

SOCI 6362Mexican American Society

3

SOCI 6363Border Studies

3

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)
MUAP 6231Applied Piano

2

MUAP 6233Applied Voice

2

MUAP 6235Applied Percussion

2

MUAP 6241Applied Trumpet

2

MUAP 6243Applied French Horn

2

MUAP 6245Applied Trombone

2

MUAP 6247Applied Baritone/Euphonium

2

MUAP 6249Applied Tuba

2

MUAP 6261Applied Violin

2

MUAP 6263Applied Viola

2

MUAP 6265Applied Cello

2

MUAP 6267Applied Double Bass

2

MUAP 6269Applied Guitar

2

MUAP 6271Applied Flute

2

MUAP 6273Applied Oboe

2

MUAP 6275Applied Clarinet

2

MUAP 6277Applied Saxophone

2

MUAP 6279Applied Bassoon

2

MUAP 6281Applied Composition

2

MUAP 6283Applied Conducting

2

Choose from MUEN (Large or Chamber Ensemble) courses (1 Credit)
Choose from MUSI (Music Theory) courses (3 Credits)
MUSI 6350Music Theory

3

MUSI 6351Music Theory - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6352Music Theory - Counterpoint

3

MUSI 6353Music Theory ? Composition/Arranging

3

MUSI 6354Music Theory Analysis

3

MUSI 6355Music Theory - Music of the Americas

3

MUSI 6356Music Theory Pedagogy

3

MUSI 6357/MUSI 4321Contemporary Techniques

3

Choose from MUSI (Music Education) courses (3 Credits)
MUSI 6340Seminar in Music Education

3

MUSI 6341Foundations of Music Education

3

MUSI 6342Psychology of Music in Education

3

MUSI 6343Seminar in Advanced Conducting

3

MUSI 6344Seminar in Elementary Music Education

3

MUSI 6345Seminar in Secondary Music Education

3

MUSI 6346Classroom Management

3

MUSI 6347Technology in Classroom

3

MUSI 6348History of American Music Education

3

Choose from MUSI (Music History and Literature) courses (3 Credits)
MUSI 6360Music History & Literature

3

MUSI 6362Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6366Music History and Literature ? Wind Band

3

MUSI 6367Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance

3

MUSI 6368Music History and Literature - Baroque

3

MUSI 6369Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage

3

MUSI 6381Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical)

3

MUSI 6382Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic)

3

Electives (3 Credits)

(Any Music or Supporting Electives)

Capstone Requirement

Thesis (6 Credits)
MUSI 7300Thesis I

3

MUSI 7301Thesis II

3

Completion of Thesis

Multiple Instrument Performance Concentration

Required Courses (3 Credits)

Choose ONE of the following
MUSI 6334Research Methods in Music

3

MUSI 6338Music Ethnography & Fieldwork Methods

3

Music Theory (6 Credits)

Choose TWO of the following
MUSI 6350Music Theory

3

MUSI 6351Music Theory - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6352Music Theory - Counterpoint

3

MUSI 6354Music Theory Analysis

3

MUSI 6355Music Theory - Music of the Americas

3

MUSI 6356Music Theory Pedagogy

3

Music History (6 Credits)

Choose TWO of the following
MUSI 6360Music History & Literature

3

MUSI 6362Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6366Music History and Literature ? Wind Band

3

MUSI 6368Music History and Literature - Baroque

3

MUSI 6369Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage

3

MUSI 6381Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical)

3

MUSI 6382Music 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 6199Solo Recital

1

MUSI 6199Solo Recital

1

Music Electives (3 Credits)

Additional music elective

3

Written Comprehensive Exam

Oral Comprehensive Exam

Music Education Concentration:

Required Courses (6 Credits)

MUSI 6334Research Methods in Music

3

MUSI 6341Foundations of Music Education

3

Music Theory (6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
MUSI 6350Music Theory

3

MUSI 6351Music Theory - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6352Music Theory - Counterpoint

3

MUSI 6353Music Theory ? Composition/Arranging

3

MUSI 6354Music Theory Analysis

3

MUSI 6355Music Theory - Music of the Americas

3

MUSI 6356Music Theory Pedagogy

3

MUSI 6350: topic varies

Music History (6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
MUSI 6360Music History & Literature

3

MUSI 6362Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6366Music History and Literature ? Wind Band

3

MUSI 6367Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance

3

MUSI 6368Music History and Literature - Baroque

3

MUSI 6369Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage

3

MUSI 6381Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical)

3

MUSI 6382Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic)

3

MUSI 6360: topic varies

Music Electives (6 - 9 Credits)

(depends on thesis track)
Selected from MUSI, MUEN, and MUAP courses

Music Education (6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
MUSI 6313Modern Band Pedagogy

3

MUSI 6340Seminar in Music Education

3

MUSI 6342Psychology of Music in Education

3

MUSI 6343Seminar in Advanced Conducting

3

MUSI 6344Seminar in Elementary Music Education

3

MUSI 6345Seminar in Secondary Music Education

3

MUSI 6346Classroom Management

3

MUSI 6347Technology in Classroom

3

MUSI 6348History of American Music Education

3

Capstone Requirement (6 Credits)

Choose one of the following options:
Thesis
MUSI 7300Thesis I

3

MUSI 7301Thesis II

3

Completion of Thesis

Project
MUSI 6390Final 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
MUSI 6334Research Methods in Music

3

MUSI 6338Music Ethnography & Fieldwork Methods

3

Music Theory (6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
MUSI 6350Music Theory

3

MUSI 6351Music Theory - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6352Music Theory - Counterpoint

3

MUSI 6353Music Theory ? Composition/Arranging

3

MUSI 6354Music Theory Analysis

3

MUSI 6355Music Theory - Music of the Americas

3

MUSI 6356Music Theory Pedagogy

3

MUSI 6350: topic varies

Music History (6 Credits)

Chosen from the following:
MUSI 6360Music History & Literature

3

MUSI 6362Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6366Music History and Literature ? Wind Band

3

MUSI 6367Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance

3

MUSI 6368Music History and Literature - Baroque

3

MUSI 6369Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage

3

MUSI 6381Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical)

3

MUSI 6382Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic)

3

MUSI 6360: topic varies

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 6199Solo Recital

1

Capstone Requirement (6 Credits)

Choose one of the following options:
Thesis (6 Credits)
MUSI 7300Thesis I

3

MUSI 7301Thesis II

3

Completion of Thesis

Oral Comprehensive Exam

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)

MUSI 6334Research Methods in Music

3

Music Theory (9 Credits)

Choose from the following
MUSI 6350Music Theory

3

MUSI 6351Music Theory - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6352Music Theory - Counterpoint

3

MUSI 6353Music Theory ? Composition/Arranging

3

MUSI 6354Music Theory Analysis

3

MUSI 6355Music Theory - Music of the Americas

3

MUSI 6356Music Theory Pedagogy

3

Music History (6 Credits)

Choose from the following
MUSI 6360Music History & Literature

3

MUSI 6362Music History and Literature - 20th and 21st Century

3

MUSI 6366Music History and Literature ? Wind Band

3

MUSI 6367Music History and Literature ? Medieval and Renaissance

3

MUSI 6368Music History and Literature - Baroque

3

MUSI 6369Music History and Literature - Music for the Stage

3

MUSI 6381Music History and Literature - 18th Century (Classical)

3

MUSI 6382Music History and Literature - 19th Century (Romantic)

3

Composition (12 Credits)

MUAP 6281Applied Composition

2

MUAP 6281Applied Composition

2

MUAP 6281Applied Composition

2

MUAP 6281Applied Composition

2

MUSI 6357/MUSI 4321Contemporary Techniques

3

MUSI 6199Solo Recital

1

Capstone Requirement

Thesis (3 Credits)
MUSI 7300Thesis I

3

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.