Overview | Curriculum | Courses
Graduate
Studies in Music
Cynthia
R. Curtis, Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts Madeline S. Bridges,
Director, Graduate Studies in Music
John Arnn, Madeline Bridges, Lawrence Bond*, Emily Bullock, Cynthia Curtis, Keith Ellis, Kris Elsberry, Deen Entsminger, Linda Ford, Timothy J. Gmeiner, Paul Godwin, Erik Gratton*, Robert Gregg, Marjorie Halbert, Richard Hoffman, Licia Jaskunas*, Jeff Kirk, William D. Landes, Todd London*, Robert Marler, Keith Moore, John Pell, William Pursell, Joel Reist*, Elizabeth Richards*, Melissa Rose*, Edgar Scruggs, Richard Shadinger, Elisabeth Small*, David Spencer*, Robert Thompson*, Ted Wylie
*Part-time
Vision:
To be a nationally recognized, comprehensive graduate program where talented students and expert teachers practice scholarship, performance, and creativity in the study of diverse musical styles.
Purpose:
To provide a challenging environment where students are encouraged to develop creativity and excellence in the study, performance and composition of diverse musical styles.
Goals:
The goals for the Master of Music degree are:
Accreditation
The Belmont University School of Music is a fully accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
The Master of Music Degree
The Master of Music Degree is a professional music degree designed for students seeking advanced study in music in the areas of Church Music, Music Education, Pedagogy (keyboard, instrumental, vocal), or Performance (keyboard, instrumental, vocal). Students applying to this program typically will have completed undergraduate degrees in music. The professional goals of students in this program include doctoral study in music, careers in performance, elementary and secondary school music teaching, private or college teaching and church music positions.
Master of Music Curricula
The Belmont University Master of Music Degree includes four majors: Church Music, Music Education, Pedagogy, and Performance. Each of the strong musical and academic curricula consists of 33 total hours. Graduate students in each major are required to successfully complete comprehensive written and oral examinations as well as a culminating project. Culminating Project track options vary according to the major and include: (a) lecture recital track (includes a research project), (b) full recital track (includes a recital paper), (c) thesis/project track. Requirements of each track are described in the Graduate Guidelines to the Master of Music Degree available from the School of Music office.
Master of Music - Major in Church Music
Students pursuing advanced academic study in Church Music are preparing to be ministers of music, choirmasters, organists, children's choir leaders or a combination of these roles. Students in this program may focus on performance, research, or conducting.
Coursework is required in worship, church music education, conducting and repertoire. Supervised work in a church setting is a practical component of this curriculum. Supporting courses in music include research, theory, history, and applied studies.
Church Music majors are required to successfully complete comprehensive written and oral examinations. The culminating project is the lecture recital track.
Master of Music - Major in Music Education
The Master of Music in Music Education is designed to train today's music teacher as both musician and educator. Graduate students majoring in Music Education choose from three specializations: elementary/middle school, secondary choral, or secondary instrumental.
In addition to courses in the area of specialization, coursework also is required in music education foundations and contemporary educational issues. Supporting courses in music include research, theory, history, ensemble participation, and applied studies.
Music Education majors are required to successfully complete written and oral comprehensive examinations. The culminating project is a choice of either the lecture recital or thesis/project track.
Master of Music - Major in Pedagogy
Students entering the Pedagogy Major seek specialization in the teaching of their particular performance area. A secondary but important emphasis is placed on performance.
Pedagogy majors are interested in establishing private teaching studio businesses and/or teaching in community colleges. Some will continue graduate study in doctoral programs leading to college and university teaching positions.
Pedagogy courses include two semesters of pedagogy and one semester of supervised teaching. Applied study and repertoire are also part of the major. Supporting music courses include research, theory, and history.
Pedagogy majors are required to successfully complete comprehensive written and oral examinations. The culminating project is a choice of either the lecture recital or the thesis/project track.
Master of Music - Major in Performance
Students who have achieved a high level of skill in their performance area during undergraduate careers and wish to further develop their performance abilities seek this degree. Performance majors specialize in their applied performance area with a secondary component in the teaching of that area.
In this degree, students prepare to become professional performing musicians. It is assumed that most graduates of the Performance Major will either become professional performers or continue study in Doctor of Musical Arts programs leading to university teaching positions.
Performance majors are required to successfully complete comprehensive written and oral examinations and follow the full recital track for the culminating project.
Academic
Policies
A. Requirements for Admission to the Master of Music Program
To be considered for full admission the applicant must submit the following:
- An application for Graduate Studies in Music in its entirety, including the one-page personal statement.
- The $50 non-refundable application fee.
- Official transcripts of all previous college work sent to the School of Music.
- A copy of a printed program from a junior and/or senior undergraduate recital.
- A complete undergraduate repertory list in the principal performing area.
- Two recommendation forms from individuals who know musical and scholastic abilities. (Forms are available in the School of Music office).
- Scores from either the GRE or MAT taken within the last five years sent directly to the School of Music. Anticipated scores for an entering student are 1200 on the GRE and 40 on the MAT.
- Complete an audition and an interview with the Director of Graduate Studies for the School of Music. Students applying to major in Music Education who will pursue the thesis track for their culminating project may submit a video tape of their teaching in lieu of an audition.
- The applicant must have at least a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate point average on a 4.0 scale or a 3.0 average in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work to be fully admitted. A student may receive probationary acceptance with a 2.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale or a 2.75 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
- The applicant must successfully complete School of Music entrance examinations in Music History and Music Theory prior to beginning coursework. Review courses are required for students who do not successfully complete these entrance examinations. Review courses may count as elective hours in most degree programs.
B. Post-Baccalaureate Study and Requirements for Admission
Non-degree seeking students who have already earned an undergraduate degree may with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies in Music, take up to twelve graduate music hours as a post-baccalaureate graduate student in music.
The following admissions requirements are applicable for post-baccalaureate music students.
Should students wish, at a later time, to apply as degree-seeking Master
of Music graduate students, they must complete the entire M.M. application
process as described in letter A.
Undergraduate Equivalency. Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in music but who wish to pursue an M.M. degree should apply for post-baccalaureate graduate study. They should also contact the School of Music Graduate Office for information regarding undergraduate equivalency requirements which must be completed prior to applying for admission to the M.M. program.
Licensure. Post-baccalaureate students wishing to receive licensure to teach K-12 music should contact the Director of Graduate Studies in Music to determine a program of studies appropriate to the applicant's particular background.
C. Limitation on Completion of Requirements
A graduate student in the Master of Music program must complete all degree requirements within a six (6) year period.
D. Full-Time Status and Maximum Course Load
A six-hour credit load constitutes full-time status for a Master of Music student. A 12-hour credit load constitutes the maximum load for a Master of Music student.
E. Undergraduate Seniors Taking Graduate Course Work
A Belmont University School of Music senior who is within 30 hours of completion of the requirements for a bachelor's degree and has at least a 3.0 grade-point average may take up to 3 hours per semester of graduate credit toward the Master of Music degree. The senior must have the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies in Music and the student's undergraduate advisor. The application for Senior Enrollment in Graduate Courses must be submitted each semester a student registers for a graduate course. Credit obtained in a graduate course does not apply toward the undergraduate degree but may be applied toward the M.M.
F. Financial Aid
A limited amount of scholarship aid is available for Master of Music students. The Master of Music application form serves as an application for scholarship aid.
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