Master of Music Degree
The Master of Music degree program provides professional concentrations in Composition, Conducting-Instrumental, Conducting-Choral, Jazz Studies, Opera Performance and Instrumental/Vocal Performance.
Prerequisites
1. A Bachelor of Music degree, or a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Music or a bachelor's degree, from an accredited institution, with a minimum of 24 upper division units of music comparable to those required at this University;
2. The student must request all institutions of higher learning attended to send official copies of transcripts directly to the Office of Admissions and Records and another set to the Conservatory of Music Graduate Advisor. Transcripts presented to the Admissions Office by the student are not acceptable. Graduates of California State University, Long Beach must follow these same procedures when making application to the Master of Music in music program;
3. All applicants are required to complete the Bob Cole Conservatory Graduate Placement Examination before they register for courses applicable to the Master of Music degree. (Under special circumstances, a student may take the examination during the first semester in which he or she is registered in courses applicable to the degree);
4. Criteria according to concentration:
- A. Composition: submission and approval of a portfolio of representative original scores and evidence of baccalaureate-level competency as required in the Bachelor of Music Composition Option;
- B. Conducting: successful completion of a conducting examination and approval by the conducting faculty;
- C. Performance/Jazz Studies: Performance-Opera; Jazz Studies; and Instrumental/Vocal: an audition both at a performance level and with a repertory on an instrument or in voice acceptable to the faculty of the specific performance medium.
5. A GPA of 3.00 or better in upper division Music courses. Students who do not meet the 3.00 GPA requirement or specified balance within the required 24 units of upper division music but who possess outstanding or unusual qualifications that promise a significant contribution to the Master of Music program may petition for a special review from the Conservatory Graduate Advisory Committee.
Advancement to Candidacy
1. Satisfy all the general University requirements, including fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR);
2. Remove all undergraduate deficiencies, which were determined by the Bob Cole Conservatory Graduate Placement Examination and/or the Dean of the College of the Arts;
3. Pass the Bob Cole Conservatory Qualifying Examinations;
4. Submit an approved project or thesis proposal, and a graduate degree program approved by the student's Thesis Committee, the Graduate Advisor, Conservatory Director, and the Dean of the College of the Arts (Note: In order to satisfy the culminating activity requirement (thesis, project, or comprehensive examination dependent upon the program), students must earn at least three (3) units and no more than six (6) units related to the completion of the culminating activity.);
5. GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Requirements
General requirements for all majors: Completion of a minimum of 30 units of approved upper division and graduate courses with at least 24 units in the major. MUS 427, 428, 441, 495 and 499 are the only undergraduate classes allowed to count on a graduate program. All others must be taken at the 500- or 600-level. (The program may not include more than six units of transfer graduate credit).
Master of Music Concentrations
Composition:
Take the following courses:
- MUS 696 Research Methods (3)
(should be taken the first time it is offered during the student's residency)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 541 Seminar in Musical Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: None
Take one course from the following:
- MUS 561, MUS 562, MUS 563, MUS 564 or MUS 565
An oral defense of the thesis, recital, or project
- MUS 698 Thesis or Project (1-6)
Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy and consent of Director of Music History
Take the following courses:
- MUS 544 Graduate Composition I (2)
Corequisite: MUS 529X.
- MUS 545 Graduate Composition II (2)
Prerequisite: MUS 544. Corequisite: MUS 529X.
Take 2 units of the following:
- MUS 529X or MUS 629X
(taken concurrently with MUS 544 and MUS 545)
Take 3 units selected from the following courses:
- MUS 555, MUS 556, MUS 557, MUS 597E
Take 6 units selected under advisement from:
- MUS 510, MUS 511A, MUS 511B, MUS 512, MUS 516, MUS 520, MUS 522, MUS 525, MUS 529X, MUS 543, MUS 545, MUS 555, MUS 556, MUS 557, and MUS 597D-E-G
Take 2 units of electives selected under advisement.
Composition with Interactive Technology:
Take the following courses:
- MUS 696 Research Methods (3)
(should be taken the first time it is offered during the student's residency)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 541 Seminar in Musical Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: None
Take one course from the following:
- MUS 561, MUS 562, MUS 563, MUS 564 or MUS 565 (3)
An oral defense of the thesis, recital, or project:
- MUS 698 Thesis or Project (1-6)
Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy and consent of Director of Music History
Take 2 units of the following:
- MUS 529X Individual Instruction for Music Majors: Composition (1)
Prerequisites: None
Take the following courses:
- MUS 558 Literature and Aesthetics of Interactive Media (3)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 600W Chamber Music: Laptop Ensemble (1)
(taken for 3 semesters)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Take 6 units selected from the following courses:
- MUS 555, MUS 556, MUS 557, MUS 597E
Take additional 3 units of electives by advisement.
Conducting – Instrumental:
Take the following courses:
- MUS 696 Research Methods (3)
(should be taken the first time it is offered during the student's residency)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 541 Seminar in Musical Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: None
Take one course from the following:
- MUS 561, MUS 562, MUS 563, MUS 564 or MUS 565
An oral defense of the thesis, recital, or project
- MUS 698 Thesis or Project (1-6)
Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy and consent of Director of Music History
Take 2 units from the following:
Take 8 units from the following:
Take two courses by advisement from the following:
- MUS 520, MUS 525, MUS 680
Take 2 units of electives selected by advisement
Conducting – Choral:
Take the following courses:
- MUS 696 Research Methods (3)
(should be taken the first time it is offered during the student's residency)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 541 Seminar in Musical Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: None
Take one course from the following:
- MUS 561, MUS 562, MUS 563, MUS 564 or MUS 565
An oral defense of the thesis, recital, or project
- MUS 698 Thesis or Project (1-6)
Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy and consent of Director of Music History
Take 4 units from the following:
Take 8 units from the following:
Take all the following:
- MUS 575 Studies in Choral Music (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
- MUS 529 Q Selected Topics-
Individual Instruction for Music Majors. (2)
Jazz Studies:
Take the following courses:
- MUS 696 Research Methods (3)
(should be taken the first time it is offered during the student's residency)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 541 Seminar in Musical Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: None
An oral defense of the thesis, recital, or project
- MUS 698 Thesis or Project (1-6)
Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy and consent of Director of Music History
Take all of the following:
- MUS 500 L,M,N,O (2)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
- MUS 510 Improvisation Styles and Literature (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate student in Music or consent of instructor.
- MUS 512 Advanced Techniques in Jazz Arranging (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate student in Music or consent of instructor.
- MUS 513 History and Analysis of Jazz Styles (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate student in Music or consent of instructor.
- MUS 516 Pedagogy of Jazz (2)
Take 7 units selected by advisement from the following:
- MUS 511A, MUS 514, MUS 517, MUS 529Y, MUS 629, MUS 543, MUS 555, MUS 556, MUS 557, MUS 597A/D
Opera Performance:
Take the following courses:
- MUS 696 Research Methods (3)
(should be taken the first time it is offered during the student's residency)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 541 Seminar in Musical Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: None
Take one course from the following:
- MUS 561, MUS 562, MUS 563, MUS 564 or MUS 565
An oral defense of the thesis, recital/project report
- MUS 698 Thesis or Project (1-6)
Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy and consent of Director of Music History
Take 4 units from the following:
Take 2 units of the following:
- MUS 530 Opera (1)
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
Take all of the following:
- MUS 526 Vocal Development (2)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
- MUS 536 Opera Repertoire (2)
Prerequisite: Graduate student in Music or consent of instructor.
- MUS 573 Advanced Diction for Singers (2)
Prerequisite: Graduate student in Music or consent of instructor.
- THEA 490 Selected Topics in Theatre Arts (3)
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
Take 2 units of electives chosen by advisement
(students in this concentration are strongly encouraged to take MUS 569)
All applicants required to complete the Conservatories' Diction and Repertoire
Diagnostic Exam** before registering in courses applicable to the Master of Music degree.
Instrumental Performance:
Take the following courses:
- MUS 696 Research Methods (3)
(should be taken the first time it is offered during the student's residency)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 541 Seminar in Musical Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: None
Take one course from the following:
- MUS 561, MUS 562, MUS 563, MUS 564 or MUS 565
An oral defense of the thesis, recital, or project:
- MUS 698 Thesis or Project (1-6)
Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy and consent of Director of Music History
Take 4 units from the following:
- MUS 500 A, B, C, J
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
Take 2 units from the following:
- MUS 600 Selected Topics - Chamber Music (1)
Prerequisite: Consent of graduate advisor
Take 8 units from the following:
- MUS 529 or MUS 629
- (section by advisement)
Take 3 units of electives by advisement
Piano Performance:
Take the following courses:
- MUS 696 Research Methods (3)
(should be taken the first time it is offered during the student's residency)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 541 Seminar in Musical Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: None
Take one course from the following:
- MUS 561, MUS 562, MUS 563, MUS 564 or MUS 565
An oral defense of the thesis, recital, or project
- MUS 698 Thesis or Project (1-6)
Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy and consent of Director of Music History
Take 8 units from the following:
- MUS 529 or MUS 629
- (section by advisement)
Take 4 units from the following:
- MUS 592A/B, one or both semesters may be waived by examination or by "A" grade in MUS 492A/B. If waived, units must be substituted with approved academic course(s)
Take the following courses:
- MUS 577 Piano Accompanying (2)
Prerequisite: Graduate student in Music or consent of instructor.
- MUS 600G Chamber Music: Piano Ensemble (1)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Select 2 more electives units from:
- MUS 600 Chamber Music (1)
(recommended - MUS 600B, G, P, S, and/or U) by advisement.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Vocal Performance:
Take the following courses:
- MUS 696 Research Methods (3)
(should be taken the first time it is offered during the student's residency)
Prerequisites: None
- MUS 541 Seminar in Musical Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: None
Take one course from the following:
- MUS 561, MUS 562, MUS 563, MUS 564 or MUS 565
An oral defense of the thesis, recital, or project:
- MUS 698 Thesis or Project (1-6)
Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy and consent of Director of Music History
Take 6 units from the following:
- MUS 500, MUS 530
(4 must be approved Major Performance Organization*)
Take 8 units from the following:
- MUS 529 or MUS 629
(section by advisement)
Take one course by advisement from the following:
- MUS 526, MUS 534A, MUS 534B, MUS 536, MUS 573.
The Vocal Performance/Opera Placement Examination is given in the week prior to the beginning of classes. It is required of all entering students, including those holding bachelor's degrees from CSULB. Prospective graduate students in voice and opera must call the Music Conservatory Office (562) 985-4781 to register for the Vocal Performance/Opera Placement Examination Placement Examination in addition to the Music Conservatory Placement Examination required of all entering graduate students.
All applicants are required to complete the Conservatories' Diction and Repertoire Diagnostic Exam** before registering in courses applicable to the Master of Music degree.
*Approved Major Performance Organizations (MUS 500, MUS 530) by area:
- Winds and Brass: Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Jazz Orchestra
Percussion: Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra
- Strings: Symphony Orchestra
- Voice: Chamber Choir, University Choir, 49er Chorus, Opera
- Opera: Chamber Choir, University Choir, 49er Chorus, Opera
- Jazz Studies: Concert Jazz Orchestra, Studio Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz Ensemble I, Vocal Jazz Ensemble II
** Students in the Vocal Performance and Opera concentrations of the Master of Music degree are expected to show evidence of diction studies in various languages and French and German song repertoire for entrance. A diction examination will determine strengths and weaknesses in undergraduate-level knowledge in these areas. The exam results are used in the advising process to determine remedial work and for guidance in choice of electives. Students showing deficiencies may be required to take specific relevant elective courses.
Teaching Credentials
Students seeking a degree in Music Education refer to the Instrumental Music and Choral-Vocal Music options under B.M. degree. All students entering the credential program after August 31, 2003 will be following the SB2042 credential program and should consult the Single Subject Credential Program requirements in this catalog. For further information consult with the Conservatory credential advisor.
