Take your music conducting skills to the next level with our Master of Music degree. Designed for teachers of music ensemble programs, professional church musicians and pre-professionals, our program prepares you for a career in high school or college teaching, conducting positions or doctoral studies.
Conducting - M.M.
Contact Us
College of the Arts
School of Music
www.kent.edu/music
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Graduate Studies Coordinator:
Ben Lorenzo
blorenz1@kent.edu
330-672-2172 -
Connect with an Admissions Counselor:
U.S. Student | International Student
Program Information
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Program Description
Full Description
The Master of Music degree in Conducting is designed for current teachers of middle, junior and senior high school music ensemble programs; for professional church musicians; and for pre-professionals, including students continuing after completing undergraduate degrees. The program prepares post-undergraduate students for such paths as high school or college teaching, conducting positions and doctorates in conducting.
The M.M. degree in Conducting emphasizes development of skills, knowledge and background in the following areas: literature and repertoire; conducting technique; rehearsal technique; score study; choral and/or instrumental performance pedagogy; historical performance practices; interpretation and expression.
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Admissions
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- Résumé
- Goal statement(s)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Audition
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 525 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 71 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 74 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
- Minimum 50 PTE score
- Minimum 100 Duolingo test score
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- Rolling admissions
- Spring Semester
- Rolling admissions
- Summer Term
- Rolling admissions
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Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Recognize, identify, interpret and conduct representative literature from different historical periods, countries and composers.
- Demonstrate and apply advanced conducting techniques, including baton technique, use of hands/arms, facial expressions and body language.
- Plan and execute an efficient and productive rehearsal, including managing time, setting achievable goals, detecting and correcting errors and providing motivation and inspiration for expressive performance and focused work ethic.
- Utilize and discuss score study techniques such as keyboard score reading, transposition of instruments, instrumental/vocal score order, compositional structure, analysis of chord and melodic structures and audiation skills.
- Identify, explain and utilize performance pedagogy appropriate to the specific vocal or instrumental area of study.
- Identify, associate, differentiate and utilize performance practices appropriate to the literature of the various stylistic periods.
- Display interpretation and expression in music through discussion in conducting lessons, explanation in rehearsals and demonstration in rehearsal and performance settings through conducting gestures and the resulting musical product.
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Coursework
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Major Requirements MUS 62411 MUSIC BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RESEARCH METHODS 2 Music (MUS) 55000-Level Ensemble Electives 1 4 Conducting Projects Electives, choose from the following: 2 8 MUS 64111CONDUCTING PROJECTS:CHORAL MUS 64121CONDUCTING PROJECTS:BAND MUS 64131CONDUCTING PROJECTS:ORCHESTRA Music Theory Requirement, choose from the following: 3 3 MUS 5114116TH-CENTURY COUNTERPOINT MUS 5115118TH-CENTURY COUNTERPOINT MUS 61131SCHENKERIAN ANALYSIS MUS 61174ANALYSIS OF WESTERN ART MUSIC MUS 61181POST-TONAL THEORY MUS 61191SEMINAR IN MUSIC SINCE 1900 Music History Elective, choose from the following: 3 MUS 52131MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES MUS 52161HISTORY OF JAZZ MUS 52181POPULAR WORLD MUSIC MUS 62171MUSIC FROM WORLD CULTURES MUS 62281SEMINAR IN MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE Music Theory or Music History Elective, choose from the following: 4 3 Music Theory ElectivesMUS 5114116TH-CENTURY COUNTERPOINT MUS 5115118TH-CENTURY COUNTERPOINT MUS 61131SCHENKERIAN ANALYSIS MUS 61181POST-TONAL THEORY MUS 61191SEMINAR IN MUSIC SINCE 1900 Music History ElectivesMUS 52131MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES MUS 52161HISTORY OF JAZZ MUS 52181POPULAR WORLD MUSIC MUS 62171MUSIC FROM WORLD CULTURES MUS 62281SEMINAR IN MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE Culminating Requirement MUS 68687 RECITAL 1 Concentration Requirements Choose from the following 6 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 30 - 1
Students who elect the Choral Concentration must enroll for a minimum of 4 credit hours of major choral ensemble, to include a minimum of two semesters of MUS 55141.
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Specific course numbers vary depending on concentration.
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Selection of music theory course is based on students' result from the theory placement exam. In the case of the exam results placing a student into MUS 51011 and/or MUS 51012, these courses will not count towards the M.M. degree and must be taken in addition to the music theory requirements.
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Students must select at least two 60000-level music theory or music history courses, overall, for the program. Substitutions can be considered with advisor approval.
Choral Conducting Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements MUS 52271 CHORAL LITERATURE I 3 MUS 52272 CHORAL LITERATURE II 3 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 6 Orchestra Conducting Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements MUS 51321 ORCHESTRATION 3 MUS 52221 SYMPHONIC LITERATURE 3 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 6 Wind Band Conducting Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements MUS 62227 HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF THE WIND BAND 3 Concentration Elective, choose from the following: 2-3 MUS 51321ORCHESTRATION MUS 61331BAND ARRANGING MUS 63262ADVANCED STUDIES IN TEACHING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC MUS 63272LEARNING THEORIES IN MUSIC MUS 63273PSYCHOLOGY OF MUSIC Music (MUS) Graduate Elective 1 0-1 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 6 - 1
Students selecting elective MUS 61331 will need to select a 1 credit hour music (MUS) elective with advisor approval to meet minimum 6 credit hours for the concentration.
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Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
- Delivery:
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Accreditation
National Association of Schools of Music
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries
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Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
5.6%
faster than the average
116,300
number of jobs
$69,690
potential earnings
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Music directors and composers
1.7%
slower than the average
58,000
number of jobs
$52,250
potential earnings
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Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.