Master of Music (M.M.) – Vocal Performance

Entrance Requirements

After completing the general admission requirements, a student who wishes to enter the Master of Music in Vocal Performance program must successfully complete an entrance recital of approximately 60 minutes duration for a faculty committee. This should include recital lieder, art songs, and contemporary works displaying vocal proficiency in at least three languages. Graduate credits in private music instruction apply toward degree requirements beginning with the semester during which the entrance recital is passed.

All students entering the Master of Music degree program in Vocal Performance must take the Music Theory Placement Examination and the Music History Placement Examination. These placement exams are administered by faculty in the Department of Music Theory, History, and Composition and are always offered in-person on the Saturday before a given term begins.

The student's undergraduate degree should be in voice, although advanced standing will be considered as a result of private work.

Foreign language prerequisites include two semesters of undergraduate study in each of the following languages: Italian, French, and German, with a grade of B or better, taken at an accredited college or university as approved by the advisor and dean. In lieu of taking undergraduate courses, students who place into ITAL 103, FREN 103, or GER 103 on the University's Modern Language Test will be considered to have satisfied the prerequisite requirement in the given language(s).

Coaching is available for graduate vocal performance majors by request in the semester in which a recital is scheduled. Further coaching is available with permission from the advisor. For this coaching, students pay the elective study (higher) private instruction fee.

Each Vocal Performance student is expected to audition for all opera productions and actively participate as assigned by the voice faculty. This may entail specific roles or participation in opera chorus as needed.

Program of Study Semester Hours
Voice Private Instruction 6
Analytical Techniques II MUS 712 3
Music History Elective 3
Introduction to Vocal Pedagogy and Physiology MUS 535 2
Survey of Solo Vocal Literature MUS 511 2
Electives appropriate to the curriculum (see below) 13
Solo Recital MUS 902 (see below) 3
Total 32

Electives appropriate to the curriculum:

Chorus (1,1)

Lyric Diction and Repertoire (3)

Combined Lyric Diction I,II MUS 572A, MUS 572B (2,2)

Opera Practicum (major role) MUS 538 (3)

Opera Practicum (minor role) MUS 538B (2)

Opera Practicum (minor role) MUS 538C (1)

Opera Workshop MUS 509, 509A (2,2)

Seminar in Vocal Performance MUS 661 (3,3)

Survey in German Lied MUS 702, 703 (2,2)

Survey of Solo Vocal Literature II MUS 511A (2)

History of Opera MUS 553 (3)

Stage Movement for Singers I,II MUS 536, MUS 536A (1,1)

Vocal Pedagogy Practicum MUS 535A (2)

Advanced French Repertoire MUS 572H (3)

Any graduate language courses in German, French, or Italian (max. 6)

Any graduate-level courses in Speech and Drama (max. 6)

Graduation Requirement

A memorized solo public recital (MUS 902) of 70 minutes duration is required, to be presented following successful completion of a private hearing before a committee of the music faculty.