Master of Music (M.M.) – Dual Concentration in Conducting and Orchestral Instruments
Entrance Requirements
The applicant must meet the general requirements for admission in orchestral conducting and piano or orchestral instruments. The required entrance auditions in piano or orchestral instruments can be done either in person or by submitting high quality video recordings.
The applicant must demonstrate prior experience in conducting orchestral ensembles. In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission, the entering graduate student in the Master of Music Dual Concentration Major in Orchestral Conducting and Piano or Orchestral Instruments must take the Music Theory Placement Examination and the Music History Placement Examination.
The following are also required: the student must (a) pass an entrance audition on campus with the CUA Symphony Orchestra (b) pass an examination (written and/or aural), (c) have an interview with the faculty audition committee. In cases where (a), (b), and/or (c) cannot be undertaken due to time or distance constraints, every effort will be made to evaluate the candidate as fairly as possible, by viewing a video or live rehearsal and scheduling an interview by telephone. This is a select program and the above procedure is used when there are openings for candidates.
| Program of Study |
Semester Hours |
| Applied Conducting (four semesters at 2 credits) A student is expected to register for private instruction every semester in residence. |
8 |
| Graduate Conducting Seminar (MUS 643) (three semesters at 2 credits) |
6 |
| Practicum in Score Reading & Analysis for Conductors (MUS 622) (two semesters at 2 credits) |
4 |
| Analytical Techniques I; II (MUS 711; MUS 712) |
6 |
| Research Methodology (MUS 731) |
3 |
| Approved Performing Ensemble (two semesters for 1 credit, 4 for 0 credit, total 6 semesters) |
2 |
| Orchestral Conducting Recital (MUS 902A) |
0 |
| Orchestral Conducting Lecture-Recital (MUS 902B) |
0 |
| Private Instruction (6 credits piano, or 9 credits orchestral instruments) |
6/9 |
| Piano Pedagogy (piano students only by advisement) |
3/0 |
| Music History Elective |
3 |
| Piano Literature (by advisement), or Wind/Percussion Orchestral Repertoire I or II (MUS 5XX/5XX), or Orchestral Literature for String Players (MUS 568) (2 credits MUS 5XX/5XX, or 3 credits Piano Literature or Orchestral Literature) |
2/3 |
| Piano Solo Recital MUS (902C) or Orchestral Instrument Solo Recital (MUS 902C) |
0 |
| Chamber Music (MUS 605 or 605A) |
2 |
| Piano Concerto Performance (MUS 943) or Orchestral Instrument Concerto Performance (MUS 944) (see below) |
0 |
| Piano Chamber Work Performance (MUS 943A) or Orchestral Instrument Chamber Work Performance (MUS 944A) (see below) |
0 |
| Total |
45/46 |
Field Experience requirements for M.M. with Dual Concentration in Orchestral Conducting and Piano or Orchestral Instruments
The conducting student will observe and and/or assist with at least one CUA opera production and/or at least one CUA musical theatre production. The requirement could alternatively be fulfilled with outside organizations with the approval of the Area Head. Satisfactory completion of the requirement is contingent upon approval of the major professors and a positive evaluation from the supervising/host conductor. The student will also spend a minimum of two semesters observing one or more approved outside ensembles. The orchestral conducting faculty will assist the student in finding a suitable placement with an outside organization. In the event that an appropriate outside ensemble cannot be found, the student may fulfill the requirement with CUA ensembles as approved by the major professors. Satisfactory completion of the requirement is contingent upon approval of the major professor and a positive evaluation from the supervising/host conductor.
Graduation Requirements
Conducting: Successful completion of two conducting recitals is required: a 40-minute conducting recital (MUS 902A) and a 30-minute lecture conducting recital (MUS 902B) The recitals are to be conducted in public before a committee of the music faculty and graded on a pass/fail basis. The performing ensembles may consist of players from the CUA Symphony Orchestra or another appropriate ensemble from outside the departments of music.
Piano or Orchestral Instrument: The student is required to present one graduation recital for piano (MUS 902C) or for the orchestral instrument (MUS 902D) of approximately 70 minutes’ duration. The Recital is to be performed in public following successful completion of a private hearing before a recital committee, which may grant or withhold permission for public performance. In case of withholding permission, a second hearing will be granted after approval by the adviser of the program. The candidate should apply for a committee hearing at least four weeks in advance of the proposed recital date.
The student will also register for and publicly perform a concerto (MUS 943 or MUS 944) and one major chamber work (MUS 943A or MUS 944A). These performances should be separate from the graduation recitals and must be approved by the student's faculty adviser. The required concerto normally will be accompanied by piano. The securing of the accompanist is the responsibility of the soloist. Repertoire used to satisfy the concertos and chamber music requirements may not be included in the 70 minutes of repertoire required for the graduation solo recitals.