Program Overview

Master of Arts in Voice

The Master of Arts in Voice program at the University of Iowa offers a rich and varied curriculum that develops the highest levels of artistry and musicianship. World-class faculty guide each singer's development and prepare them for professional life.

Program Overview

Vocal students experience a comprehensive education that includes one-on-one lessons with voice faculty, weekly and monthly classes and seminars, and opportunities to perform in a range of vocal ensembles and large opera productions.

Requirements and Program Planning

• General requirements:
  • MUS:5300 Introduction to Graduate Study in Music (2 s.h.)
• Music theory requirements:
  • Review of Undergraduate Theory (MUS:5200): Required of all graduate students who do not pass the advisory examination in music theory.
  • Students exempt from MUS:5200 must complete 6 s.h. from the following list:
    • MUS:4200 Counterpoint before 1600 (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:4201 Counterpoint after 1600 (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:4730 Jazz Theory (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:5235 Tonal Analysis (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:5236 Non-Tonal Analysis (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:5237 Analysis of Popular Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:5240 Special Topics in Theory and Analysis (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6210 History of Ideas in Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6211 Theoretical Approaches to Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6215 Theory Pedagogy (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6250 Advanced Tonal Theory and Analysis (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6251 Advanced Non-Tonal Theory and Analysis (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6252 Advanced Theory and Analysis of Popular Music (3 s.h.)
• Music history requirements:
  • Select from the music history courses in the following list. Only one 4000-level course may count toward the 6 semester hours required:
    • MUS:4320 Music and Gender (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:4325 Medieval and Renaissance Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:4330 Baroque Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:th-Century Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:th-Century Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:th-Century Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:4350 Advanced Jazz History (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:4355 American Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:4360 Jazz Matters (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:4610 Studies in Film and Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6305 Teaching Music History and Culture (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6310 Topics in Musicology (3 s.h.) (repeatable)
    • MUS:6312 Historical Approaches to Music (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6314 Topics in Ethnomusicology (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6315 Foundations of Ethnomusicology (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6326 Renaissance Music Notations (3 s.h.)
    • MUS:6375 Music Editing (3 s.h.)
• Ensemble participation:
  • Major Ensemble – four semesters required, 1 s.h. each
• Voice area requirements:
  • MUS:6020 Graduate voice lessons – four semesters required, 2 s.h. each (8 s.h.)
  • MUS:5510 Graduate Diction (2 s.h.) (Spring)
  • MUS:6520 Methods of Teaching Voice (3 s.h.) (Spring)
  • MUS:6900 M.A. Recital (1-2 s.h.)
  • One semester from the following:
    • MUS:6541 Survey of Song Literature I (3 s.h.) (Fall – odd numbered years)
    • MUS:6542 Survey of Song Literature II (3 s.h.) (Fall – even numbered years)
  • One course from the following:
    • MUS:3500 Opera Workshop (2 s.h.)
    • MUS:3502 Opera Production (2-4 s.h.)
    • MUS:3530 Musical Theatre Workshop (2 s.h.)
• Not required, but highly recommended:
  • MUS:3851 Intro to the Alexander Technique (3 s.h.)
  • MUS:3850 Intro to Laban Movement Studies (2-3 s.h.)
  • MUS:6530 Topics in Vocal Performance (may be repeated 2 times, 2 s.h./semester) (Spring)
  • MUS:6540 Survey of Operatic Literature (3 s.h.) (Spring – odd numbered years)
  • MUS:3503 Vocal/Operatic Coaching (1 s.h.) (repeatable: 1 semester may be applied to degree)
• Language Proficiency Requirements:
  • The student must have successfully completed at least one year (two semesters) of college level language study in two of the three major singing languages (French, German, and Italian) prior to taking comprehensive exams.
  • Students may verify proficiency in any or all of these languages through:
    • the undergraduate language placement WebCAPE online French or German exams offered by UI Exam Services
    • arranging individual placement testing of Italian proficiency through the Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures - Italian
    • a transcript verifying courses taken within the 6 years prior to the comprehensive exams with a resulting letter grade of B or better

Faculty

The Voice/Opera faculty includes:

• Abbigail Coté, Director of Opera, Assistant Professor, Voice Area Co-Head
• Keely Futterer, Voice, Visiting Assistant Professor
• David Meyer, Voice, Assistant Professor, Voice Area Co-Head
• Stella Roden, Voice, Visiting Assistant Professor
• Jeremiah Sanders, Voice, Visiting Assistant Professor
• Wayne Wyman, Vocal Coach, Assistant Professor of Instruction

Practice and Performance

Students have access to various resources for practice and performance, including music rooms, accompanists, and recording studios. The Music Callboard provides scheduling and policy information for these resources.