Program Overview

Master of Music, Choral Conducting Specialization

The Master of Music, Choral Conducting Specialization program is committed to musical excellence with a curriculum designed to develop the musicianship and skills that will be important for the student's future professional success. Graduate courses are organized in the areas of music literature and theory, the choral/vocal instrument, conducting, and teaching.

Program Overview

The program is committed to musical excellence with a curriculum designed to build a well-rounded choral conductor/teacher, using the musical and personal strengths of the graduate choral conducting student. By the completion of the program, the student will have developed advanced conducting skills and techniques that are appropriate to a variety of musical needs. The student will learn effective rehearsal techniques and score preparation, and become a knowledgeable scholar of important choral scores representing repertoire of various music periods and secular and sacred styles.

Admission Criteria

The program accepts a limited number of students who pursue a variety of professional goals, including education and directors of choral/instrumental ensembles. Students who are full-time music educators at the middle/high school levels are considered if they have three years of prior teaching experience and are presently conducting an ensemble(s). Students who are not public school educators must show a minimum of three years of full-time music/conducting employment and be presently conducting a high school, religious, or community ensemble.

Learning Objectives

• Develop the necessary analytical and theoretical skills to successfully analyze choral scores and prepare scores for effective rehearsals.
• Develop historical skills to examine scores and documents to confirm historically informed decisions and apply the appropriate performance practice issues for different eras.
• Develop the necessary linguistic skills to be proficient in English, German, Latin, and French and be competent in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) when necessary.
• Develop technical skills to conduct community, professional, school, church, and university choirs on different levels domestically and internationally.
• Develop the skills to achieve effective and efficient rehearsal techniques by utilizing the appropriate verbal instruction and proper visual conducting presentation.
• Understand the origin and the history of choral music from the Renaissance to present by examining the canon of the choral repertoire and attaining knowledge of the background of main choral genres.
• Develop a clear understanding of how the voices work, especially in choral settings, to achieve the necessary blend, balance, and sound, and provide vocal instruction to ensemble members.
• Research and prepare to program appropriate repertoire for choral concerts on different levels.
• Attain competent instrumental conducting technique to lead rehearsals and performances in major choral-orchestral repertoire such as oratorios, cantatas, requiems, and symphonic masses.
• Understand the current trend of choral profession by studying the living composers, their compositions, and the entrepreneurial aspect of the choral music industry.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the admissions processes for the Graduate School and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, a personal audition with CSU Music faculty is required for admission into the choral graduate conducting program.

Music Program Fee

A music program fee is assessed with undergraduate and graduate music and musical theatre majors and music minors, per semester. This fee does not apply to online degree students and summers-only master's degree students.

Course List

A minimum of 32 credits are required to complete this program.

Additional Requirements

• Specific courses will be approved by the student’s graduate committee.
• Students may be required to take additional course work as determined by diagnostic examinations and/or their graduate committee.
• Students are encouraged to take a minimum of 2 credits in their applied area (MU 672A-V).

Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees

1. Application for admission (online) - Six months before first registration
2. Diagnostic examination when required - Before first registration
3. Appointment of advisor - Before first registration
4. Selection of graduate committee - Before the time of fourth regular semester registration
5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) - Before the time of fourth regular semester registration
6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) - Two terms prior to final examination
7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) - Within two working days after results are known
8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) - When change is made
9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) - Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) - Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying
10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee - At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee
11. Final examination - Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website
12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) - Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation - Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically - Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
15. Graduation - Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website