Program Overview

Music Performance, MM

Department of Music, College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Awarded: Master of Music in Music Performance

Chairperson: Christina Dahl; Staller Center 33

Graduate Program Director: Judith Lochhead; Staller Center 33

Graduate Program Coordinator: Monica Winchell

Department Website

The Department of Music offers programs that normally lead to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music, with tracks in Critical Music Studies and in Composition. The Department also offers programs that normally lead to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Performance. Master’s Degrees in Music with tracks in Critical Music Studies, in Composition, and in Music Performance are also available.

Stony Brook’s graduate programs in Music have grown out of a unique partnership between the academy and the conservatory. The Music Department has a distinguished and well-balanced faculty in the scholarly study of music, composition, and performance. Graduate curricula are designed to facilitate interaction among musical disciplines that have traditionally been kept separate. A number of courses are team-taught by two or more faculty members, examining topics from several disciplinary viewpoints, and academic courses typically have a mix of students from all areas. Several examine music in a broader social context, drawing on such disciplines as ethnomusicology, cultural studies, and feminist theory. Interdisciplinary studies are central to the educational philosophy of the department, and the Department encourages the development of professional competence in more than one area of musical study. For students at the Doctoral level who propose to do serious work both in performance and in some other area, a variety of options are available, including some dual degrees.

Music of the 20th and 21st centuries is a particular emphasis of both the performance and academic programs, but other areas are also amply represented. Students can choose seminars from a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from the history of music theory to American popular music. Performing organizations include Baroque Chamber Ensemble, Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Contemporary Chamber Players, Camerata Singers, Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, VOLTA West African Music Ensemble, and Opera Workshop.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution.
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate records, and all graduate records, where applicable.
• An audition in the major field of performance. Students residing at a distance from the University may gain provisional acceptance by sending a recorded audition. Audition dates, usually designated for February, are announced by the Department mid-fall. These dates, as well as specific requirements for auditions, are posted on the Departmental website.
• Letters of recommendation from the former principal teacher and at least two other persons familiar with the student’s work. One letter should come from a person familiar with the student’s academic work.
• While acceptance into the program is based primarily upon excellence in performance, the program contains a significant academic component. Applicants to the program are therefore required to submit two examples of their work in music history, music theory, or ethnomusicology, such as papers completed as part of coursework in those areas. One paper is required for entry at the master’s level; two are required for entry at the doctoral level.
• Acceptance by both the Department of Music and the Graduate School.

Degree Requirements

Courses

• Thirty graduate credit hours (exclusive of those in MUS 501 - Compositional Skills of Tonal Music, MUS 505 - Foundations of Musicianship, and MUS 591 - Practicum in Teaching) chosen in consultation with the student’s Advisor. A student must achieve a 3.0 overall grade point average or better to receive a degree. Up to 15 credits in individual study of the major instrument or voice may be counted toward the degree. None of the remaining 15 degree credits may be in individual study of another instrument or voice.
• GRD 500 - Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (0-3 credits)
• MUS 505 - Foundations of Musicianship (2 credits) must be taken during the first year of study. Qualified students may be exempted from this course through a placement exam given at the beginning of the fall semester.
• MUS 506 - Graduate Musicianship (2 credits) must be taken during the first year of study. Qualified students may be exempted from this course through a placement exam given at the beginning of the fall semester.
• MUS 520 - Introduction to Research and Writing for MM and DMA Students (3 credits) Qualified students may be exempted from this course if they have taken an equivalent course previously. Students wishing to request an exemption must provide a syllabus outlining the material covered to the GPD for review.
• MUS 571 - Masters Instruction in Performance (1-6 credits) Four semesters
• MUS 590 - Masters Practicum in Professional Skills (1 credit) Four semesters

Electives

• Students who can demonstrate adequate preparation may take more advanced courses to fulfill this requirement. If a course in a department other than Music is taken toward the degree, approval from the Graduate Studies Committee must be obtained.

One course from Elective Group 1:

• MUS 503 - Music in the 20th and 21st Centuries (3 credits)
• MUS 507 - Studies in Music History (3 credits)
• MUS 534 - Opera Studies (3 credits)
• MUS 535 - Lecture-Workshop in the Performance of Baroque Music (3 credits)
• MUS 536 - Area Studies in Ethnomusicology (3 credits)
• MUS 539 - Proseminar in Ethnomusicology (3 credits)
• MUS 540 - Studies in Cultural Historiography (3 credits)
• MUS 541 - Topics in the Cross-Cultural Study of Music (3 credits)
• MUS 542 - Ethnomusicology and Social Theory (3 credits)
• MUS 543 - Topics in Medieval Music (3 credits)
• MUS 547 - Topics in Baroque Music (3 credits)
• MUS 549 - Topics in 18th-Century Music (3 credits)
• MUS 553 - Topics in 19th-Century Music (3 credits)
• MUS 555 - Topics in 20th-Century Music (3 credits)

One course from Elective Group 2:

• MUS 502 - Proseminar in Tonal Analysis (3 credits)
• MUS 504 - Analysis of Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries (3 credits)
• MUS 538 - Phenomenological Approaches to Music Analysis (3 credits)
• MUS 557 - Topics in Theory (3 credits)
• MUS 559 - Topics in Analysis (3 credits)
• MUS 569 - Perspectives on the Performance of Music Since 1945 (3 credits)

Large Ensembles

• All M.M. students have a large ensemble requirement for four semesters. For details, see Track-Specific Requirements below.

Chamber Music

• All M.M. students have a chamber music requirement for four semesters. For details, see Track-Specific Requirements below.

Languages

• Some M.M. students have a language requirement. For details, see Track-Specific Requirements below.

Jury Examinations

• Jury examinations are offered each semester. All M.M. students must take one jury examination, generally the semester before the degree recital. For M.M. students in harpsichord, the examination will include continuo realization.

Public Recitals

• All M.M. students are required to present the equivalent of two public recitals, as determined in consultation with the student’s major teacher considering difficulty of repertory, student progress, and student goals. Any substitutions for a recital would need to be petitioned to the Graduate Studies Committee. The major teacher determines whether or not the work is of passing quality. If unable to attend a recital in person, the major teacher may assess a recording of it.

Track-Specific Requirements

Strings, Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion

• Large Ensemble Requirement: Large Ensemble (Orchestral Instruments), every semester of full-time residence until graduation. Students who are registered part-time are required to participate in Large Ensemble (either Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra or Contemporary Chamber Players) on a part-time basis. Under extraordinary circumstances a student may petition to have this requirement waived on a per-concert basis; a memorandum outlining policies and procedures for such a waiver is available from the Music Department’s Graduate Office.
• Chamber Music Requirement: Four semesters from the following Chamber Music (small ensemble) electives:
  • MUS 573 - Chamber Music (1-2 credits)
  • MUS 584 - Baroque Chamber Ensemble (1 credit)
  • MUS 597 - Jazz Chamber Ensemble (0-1 credits)

Voice

• Large Ensemble Requirement: MUS 579 - Opera Workshop (1-2 credits) Four semesters
• Chamber Music Requirement: Four semesters from the following Vocal Chamber Music (small ensemble) electives:
  • MUS 573 - Chamber Music (1-2 credits)
  • MUS 584 - Baroque Chamber Ensemble (1 credit)
  • MUS 596 - Contemporary Chamber Players (1-3 credits)
• Vocal Coaching Requirement: Additional Performance Requirement:
  • MUS 575 - Master Class in Solo Repertory for Instrument or Voice (1-2 credits) Four semesters
• Language Requirements: Voice students must provide proof of equivalency of one year’s college-level study of one of the following three languages: French, German, or Italian. Working/reading knowledge is determined by exam given by the Stony Brook Language Learning Resource Center (LLRC) and/or proof of coursework. Students who do not pass the examination must take the courses recommended by the LLRC and achieve a grade of B or higher. Students who have not had any previous foreign language study must take a year of college-level elementary foreign language courses and achieve a grade of B or higher to satisfy the requirement.
• Piano Proficiency Requirement: All M.M. students must enroll in MUS 509 - Performance Studies for piano proficiency for one or two semesters contingent on assessment. Qualified students may be exempted from this course through a placement exam given at the beginning of the fall semester.
  • MUS 509 - Performance Studies (1-3 credits)

Piano

• Large Ensemble Requirement: Four semesters of Collaborative Keyboard (MUS 586 in Fall semesters and MUS 587 in Spring semesters). Participation in the accompaniment pool is required of all pianists and harpsichordists during each semester of full-time residence. After the fulfillment of four semesters of MUS 586/587, pianists must also enroll in MUS 586/587 in each semester in which they take lessons or in which they want to be paid for accompanying. Pianists enrolled in MUS 586/587 are required to accompany the equivalent of two full recitals (or other approved events such as auditions, juries, etc.) for each academic year in which they are enrolled. (After fulfilling the two-recital equivalent requirement, pianists may play additional recitals/events and will be compensated by the department). Pianists may be assigned to Contemporary Chamber Players if needed; this would count as credit towards their Collaborative Keyboard requirement.
• Chamber Music Requirement: Four semesters from the following Chamber Music (small ensemble) electives:
  • MUS 573 - Chamber Music (1-2 credits)
  • MUS 584 - Baroque Chamber Ensemble (1 credit)
  • MUS 596 - Contemporary Chamber Players (1-3 credits)
  • MUS 597 - Jazz Chamber Ensemble (0-1 credits)

Harpsichord

• Large Ensemble Requirement: Participation in the accompaniment pool is required of all pianists and harpsichordists during each semester of full-time residence. The MUS 586/MUS 587 requirement for harpsichordists is considered to be fulfilled when they are concurrently signed up for MUS 584 - Baroque Chamber Ensemble (Harpsichordists will be paid for additional accompaniment).
  • MUS 586 - Collaborative Keyboard Performance (1 credit) Four semesters
  • MUS 587 - Collaborative Keyboard (1 credit) Four semesters
• Chamber Music Requirement:
  • MUS 584 - Baroque Chamber Ensemble (1 credit) Four semesters
• Language Requirements: Harpsichord students must demonstrate knowledge equivalent to a year’s college-level study of any of the following languages: French, German, or Italian. Working/reading knowledge is determined by exam given by the Stony Brook Language Learning Resource Center (LLRC) and/or proof of previous coursework. Students who do not pass the examination must take the courses recommended by the LLRC and achieve a grade of B or higher. Students who have not had any previous foreign language study must take a year of a college-level elementary foreign language course and achieve a grade of B or higher to satisfy the requirement.

Guitar

• Large Ensemble Requirement:
  • MUS 573 - Chamber Music (1-2 credits) Four semesters
• Chamber Music Requirement:
  • MUS 584 - Baroque Chamber Ensemble (1 credit)
  • MUS 596 - Contemporary Chamber Players (1-3 credits)
  • MUS 597 - Jazz Chamber Ensemble (0-1 credits)

Jazz

• Large Ensemble Requirement:
  • MUS 568 - Jazz Big Band (1-2 credits) Four semesters
• Chamber Music Requirement:
  • MUS 597 - Jazz Chamber Ensemble (0-1 credits) Four semesters