Master of Music in Music Performance: Voice and Opera
Master of Music in Performance Degree Programs
M.M. degree programs in music performance:
- Bassoon
- Carillon
- Cello
- Church music
- Clarinet
- Collaborative piano
- Double bass
- Euphonium
- Flute
- French horn
- Harp
- Oboe
- Opera performance
- Organ
- Percussion
- Piano
- Saxophone
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Tuba
- Viola
- Violin
- Voice
M.M. in Performance Admission
The applicant must perform an audition before at least two members of the faculty of the major performance division. In some cases, a video recording may be submitted in lieu of a live performance. A complete list of repertoire studied, including past recital programs, should be included with the graduate application. A pre-screening audition is required for voice and piano applicants. View School of Music audition requirements and procedures.
Students in opera performance must take a minimum of 1 year each in French, German, and Italian before entering graduate studies or before completing the M.M. degree. For the master’s degree program in voice, the language requirement is 1 year of 2 of the following: French, German, or Italian. Both programs have prerequisites in French, German, and Italian diction. Students found deficient in a particular area of diction must enroll in the specific course in which they are deficient and pass it with a minimum grade of C or demonstrate proficiency by passing a diction diagnostic examination. A student whose transcript shows she or he has passed a particular language diction course normally is considered proficient in the diction of that language.
Graduate Admission to the School of Music
Application procedures and program requirements can change. Please visit the School of Music Admissions webpage for current information.
Graduate programs in the School of Music are open to students with acceptable baccalaureate degrees, as specified by the admitting areas, whose academic records indicate that they can do successful work at the graduate level. Regular admission requires a bachelor's degree and a grade-point average of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale), from KU or from another regionally accredited institution or foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor's degree requirements.
Programs of study leading to the Master of Music (M.M.), Master of Music Education (M.M.E.), Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) are offered through the School of Music. Specific admission procedures and degree requirements for the M.M. and M.M.E. programs are described under division headings. Specific admission procedures and degree requirements for the D.M.A., Ph.D. (musicology/music theory), and Ph.D. (music education/music therapy) are listed in the appropriate sections.
Program Areas
Graduate study in the School of Music is organized into program areas within 2 departments:
- Music includes programs in composition, conducting, musicology, music theory, and areas of performance.
- Music Education and Music Therapy (MEMT) includes programs in music education or music therapy.
At least a 3.0 grade-point average, overall and in the major area, is required for all coursework counted toward any graduate degree in the School of Music. If the overall grade-point average falls below 3.0, the student is placed on probation for one semester; if the cumulative average is not 3.0 or higher after the next semester, the student is dismissed from the program. Students must also achieve at least a grade of B or better in thesis, lecture-recital, document or dissertation, and on each recital for satisfactory completion of degree requirements.
M.M. in Performance Degree Requirements
Diagnostic Examinations
All incoming graduate students, except those in the MM-Opera program, are required to take diagnostic exams in Musicology and Music Theory. The exams are given during the week before the Fall and Spring semesters begin. Diagnostic deficiencies can only be satisfied in one of two ways: 1) re-taking the exam the next time it is given (one re-take only) or 2) enrolling in the appropriate review course and receiving at least a grade of "C." The student must satisfy all diagnostic deficiencies by the end of the third semester of enrollment.
Master's Recital
A final solo recital is required for all master’s degrees in performance. A recital preview is left to the discretion of the faculty members of each division. In divisions with no preview requirement, the option to have a preview is still available to students and faculty members. Divisions must approve recital content well in advance but no less than 3 weeks before the recital date. The candidate must file a copy of the final recital program with the School of Music before the final oral examination is scheduled. The audio recording of the recital will be placed the School of Music archives.
Final Oral Examination
All Master's students in Music must schedule and pass a Final Oral Exam during the semester the student plans to graduate. The Master's Recital must be performed before the Final Oral Exam can be taken. The Oral Exam is administered by the student's 3-member advisory committee. The committee is comprised of the student’s major professor, one member from the student’s major division, and one Musicology or Music Theory faculty member.
Language and Diction Requirements
Students in opera performance must take a minimum of 1 year each in French, German, and Italian before entering graduate studies or before completing the M.M. degree. For the master’s degree program in voice, the language requirement is 1 year of 2 of the following: French, German, or Italian. Both programs have prerequisites in French, German, and Italian diction. Students found deficient in a particular area of diction must enroll in the specific course in which they are deficient and pass it with a minimum grade of C or demonstrate proficiency by passing a diction diagnostic examination. A student whose transcript shows she or he has passed a particular language diction course normally is considered proficient in the diction of that language.
A program of study in opera performance (minimum of 30 credits) is as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| VOIC 811 | Voice | 9 |
| Vocal coaching | 3 | |
| MUSC 801 | Music Bibliography and Research | 3 |
| Advanced course in music theory or musicology | 3 | |
| Opera workshop and opera production | 9 | |
| Electives | 2 | |
| Significant role in a fully staged opera production with orchestra | 0 | |
| VOIC 899 | Master's Recital | 1 |
The written diagnostic examinations in musicology and music theory are not required in the opera performance program.
A program of study in voice (minimum of 30 credits) is as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| VOIC 811 | Voice | 12 |
| MUSC 801 | Music Bibliography and Research | 3 |
| Advanced courses in musicology and music theory (at least one course in each area) | 9 | |
| Advanced vocal repertoire | 2-4 | |
| Electives | 1-3 | |
| VOIC 899 | Master's Recital | 1 |