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Masters

Masters Requirements

The M.M. in performance and M.M. in conducting are professional degrees in music designed for those who want to augment and refine those skills. The M.M. in Music Education is designed for professional music teachers in public and private schools who wish to update and increase their musical and pedagogical knowledge.

Applications may be completed online at the NDSU Graduate School. A complete application will include three recommendations, transcripts and a scholarly writing example. Applicants should notify the graduate music coordinator, Dr. Charlette Moe, of their intention to apply. For applicants in performance and conducting, an on-campus visit and audition are required. Following acceptance into the master’s program, applicants will complete a diagnostic exam, which will be used by their advisors to plan appropriate coursework. As a result of this diagnostic exam, students may be required to take the 702 Music Theory and/or 704 Music History survey courses.

All coursework must be passed with a minimum grade of B. Comprehensive written examinations in the student’s primary area and in music academic studies must be passed near the end of or after coursework. The final oral examination (administered by the student’s committee) occurs after the written comprehensive exam.

Conductors and performers will prepare a recital as their capstone experience. Those in the music education track will complete a written practicum. Both experiences will be planned with guidance by the candidate’s committee. The committee will include three graduate faculty members: the advisor, a representative from music academic studies, and at least one other music faculty member.

Master of Music in Instrumental Performance 

Available for Bassoon, Clarinet, Euphonium, Flute, Horn, Oboe, Percussion, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, and Tuba.

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 709Ensemble Performance (1,1,1)3
MUSC 722Instrumental Pedagogy2-3
MUSC 731Applied Study8
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 764Instrumental Literature2-3
MUSC 780Recital4
TheoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
3
HistoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
3
Electives(In consultation with advisor)1-2
 TotalMin. 30

Master of Music in Piano Performance 

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 709Graduate Ensemble (1,1,1)3
MUSC 731Applied Study8
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 780Recital4
LiteratureOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 643 Keyboard Literature
MUSC 770 Topics in Keyboard Literature
2-3
PedagogyOne course to be take from:
MUSC 623 Piano Pedagogy I
MUSC 624 Piano Pedagogy II
MUSC 723 Advanced Piano Pedagogy
MUSC 724 Topics in Piano Pedagogy
2-3
TheoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
3
HistoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
3
Electives(in consultation with advisor)1-2
TotalMin. 30

Master of Music in Collaborative Piano 

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 705Graduate Diction Survey I3
MUSC 731Applied Study10
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 750Studies in Collaborative Piano (2,2,2)6
MUSC 764Applied Instrumental Literature (1)1
MUSC 780Recital (3)3
TheoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
3
HistoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
3
Total31

Master of Music in Vocal Performance 

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 709Ensemble Performance (1,1,1)3
MUSC 721Vocal Pedagogy2-3
MUSC 731Applied Study8
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 780Recital4
TheoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
3
HistoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
3
LiteratureOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 767 Vocal Lit I: Baroque, Classic
MUSC 768 Vocal Lit II: Romantic
MUSC 769 Vocal Lit III: 20th Century/Contemporary
3
Electives(In consultation with advisor)1-2
TotalMin. 30

Master of Music in Choral Conducting 

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 731Applied Study (Conducting)8
MUSC 748Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 780Recital4
TheoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
3
HistoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
3
LiteratureTwo from:
MUSC 760 Medieval/Renaissance Choral Literature
MUSC 761 Baroque Choral Literature
MUSC 762 Classical/Romantic Choral Literature
MUSC 763 Contemporary Choral Literature
6
MUSC 709Ensemble Performance (1,1)2
MUSC 721Advanced Vocal Pedagogy and Repertoire2
TotalMin. 30

Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting 

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 731Applied Study (Conducting)8
MUSC 748Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 780Recital4
TheoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
3
HistoryOne course to be taken from:
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
3
LiteratureMUSC 765 Band Lit: History/Development
MUSC 766 Band Lit: Chamber Music
3
3
MUSC 709Ensemble Performance (1,1)2
MUSC 731Appied Study (Instrument)2
TotalMin. 30

Master of Music in Music Education 

##Find more details on our Online MM Music Education page.

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 701Psychology of Music3
MUSC 703Foundation of American Music Education3
MUSC 790Seminar in Contemporary Issues in Music Education3
MUSC 702Graduate Theory Survey3
MUSC 704Graduate Music History Survey3
MUSC 731Applied Study2
Music Electives (9 credits)
To be selected from:MUSC 713: Advanced Choral Methods (3)
MUSC 714: Advanced Elementary Methods (3)
MUSC 715: History of Choral Literature (3)
MUSC 758: Jazz Methods and Pedagogy in Music Education (3)
MUSC 765: Band Literature: History & Development (3)
MUSC 766: Band Literature: Chamber Music, Other Genres (3)
Other Music History, Theory, Literature, or Pedagogy courses
(to be determined with advisor)
Ensembles (to be determined with advistor)
9
MUSC 794Practicum4
TotalMin. 30