School of Music, Theatre and Dance
207 Varner Hall (map)
(248) 370-2030 • Fax (248) 370-2041
www.oakland.edu/mtd

Coordinator:
Tian Tian
310 Varner Hall
(248) 370-2048
ttian@oakland.edu

Program description

The Master of Music in instrumental performance is a 32-credit program for highly experienced orchestral instrumentalists, designed to enable them to expand their knowledge of repertoire and technique, and to further their personal performance skills and musical understanding.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Oakland University Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

July 15 for fall semester
November 15 for winter semester
March 15 for summer semester
International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements
Additional department application requirements
Requirements for Recommendations:
Two recommendations must be from faculty members or professionals in the field who can evaluate the scholarly achievement and potential of the applicant.

Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree in music from a regionally accredited institution or proof of a U.S. equivalent degree for foreign educated applicants.
Two years of music theory, one year of music history, and instrumental performance ability; OR background equivalent to these requirements
Applicants must submit a written statement of professional goals.
Applicants must schedule and perform a successful audition that shows an appropriate level of prior experience and potential for success in the program.
      For brass performance, contact Professor Kenneth Kroesche (kroesche@oakland.edu)
      For percussion performance, contact Professor Justin Lamb (jlamb3@oakland.edu)
For wind or string performance, contact Professor Jeffrey Heisler (jaheisle@oakland.edu)
Admission review and assessment
Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to the Master of Music in instrumental performance program, the department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, audition, and any other admission requirement established by the academic program.
For more information about admission or assessment, contact Dr. Tian Tian, coordinator of the master’s program, at ttian@oakland.edu.

Degree requirements
The Master of Music in instrumental performance degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 32 credits in an approved program of study, successful completion of a culminating project and successful performance on an oral examination.
Course requirements (32 credits)
a. Core requirements (8 credits)
Students may not use courses required for their major to fulfill core requirement.
- Required course:
- MUS 5300 - Introduction to Graduate Study in Music (2 credits)
- Choose one course from the following:
- MUS 5027 - American Music (2 credits)
- MUS 5321 - Seminar in Medieval and Renaissance Music (2 credits) *
- MUS 5322 - Seminar in Baroque and Classical Music (2 credits) *
- MUS 5323 - Seminar in Music from 1800 to Present (2 credits) *
- * MUS 5321, 5322 and 5323 may be repeated for credit when the repeated seminar is on a different topic from the first taken.
- Choose one course from the following:
- MUS 5235 - Analytical Techniques in Tonal Music (2 credits)
- MUS 5236 - Analysis of post-1900 Music (2 credits)
- MUS 5237 - Theories of Rhythm and Meter (2 credits)
- Choose one additional Music Theory or History Seminar from the list above.
b. Major requirements (16 credits)
- 5000-level Applied Study (4 semesters) (8 credits)
- MUA 5562 - Instrumental Repertoire (2 credits)
- MUA 5563 - Instrumental Pedagogy (2 credits)
- 5000-level Ensembles (4 credits)
- *Instrumental performance majors must participate in (1) major ensemble every semester of major.
c. Electives (6 credits)
- Choose 6 credits from the following:
- MUA 5564 - Instrumental Performance Topics (2 credits)
- MUS 5582 - Advanced Instrumental Interpretation and Conducting Techniques (2 credits)
- MUS 5996 - Independent Study (1 TO 4 credits)
- MUE 5000-level Chamber Music or Small Ensemble (1 credit)
d. Exit (2 credits)
- MUA 6996 - Master’s Recital (2 credits)
- (Must enroll for 1 credit every fall/winter until completed.)
- Oral examination
Culminating project
For candidates for a Master of Music in instrumental performance, the culminating project is a master’s recital.
Students are urged to plan ahead for the recital. Obtain information about the expectations from your adviser early in the degree program.
Oral examination
After completion of the recital, the student will be asked to make a 10- to 15-minute presentation to his or her recital committee. This might include discussion of interpretation, editions chosen, historical aspects of the works chosen, and so on.
A satisfactory presentation of material reflective of a satisfactory recital constitutes passing the Oral Examination for the degree of Master of Music. Any student who does not pass this examination may be offered the examination again one semester later, upon the approval of the student’s adviser.
Satisfactory academic progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.
Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements: Because of the nature of graduate education, a high standard of work is expected.

A minimum grade of B is required in all courses.
Any student earning a grade below B will be placed on probationary status through a letter from the department indicating that earning a second grade below B in any course will result in dismissal from the program.
In any course where a student earns a final grade lower than B, the student must seek approval to repeat the course by submitting a Petition to Repeat a Course form OR seek approval to substitute a different course, appropriate to the degree requirements, by submitting a Petition for Course Waiver/Substitution.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Oakland University Graduate School.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Instrumental Performance

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