Music Performance - Master of Music

For information, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Music, 109 Presser Hall, 513-529-3014, www.MiamiOH.edu/music.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate School requirements, the department requires the following to be uploaded in the Graduate School online application:

1. A transcript showing a bachelor's degree in music or undergraduate courses equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in music.
2. A statement of 250-500 words describing the personal and professional objectives to be served by a master’s degree from Miami University.
3. Letters from three people recommending admission to graduate study in music.
4. Live audition of performance in the principal performing medium is strongly recommended; a video recording may be submitted to the Department of Music if travel proves too difficult for the applicant. Audition repertoire for voice students must be memorized and include five selections of both songs and arias. Presentation of works in English, German, French, and Italian are required.

Continuing Status 

For music performance majors, a diagnostic test is given early in the graduate program to confirm prerequisite competence in music theory and aural skills. Means for addressing deficiencies are recommended by the Music Theory area coordinator. 

Recital Requirement 

To fulfill degree requirements for MUS 690:

1. Register for MUS 690 with the major applied music instructor.
2. Perform the complete recital for a three-member jury at least two weeks prior to the scheduled public performance date. This process is known as the pre-recital hearing. The jury decides by simple majority vote if the student is adequately prepared for the public performance.
3. If a student does not pass the pre-recital hearing, the recital will be delayed until the student can demonstrate competency. A student must pass a recital hearing prior to presenting a public performance.
4. Present the public performance in a Miami University performance venue. The major applied music instructor assigns a letter grade for the recital.

Exit Procedure

In addition to course requirements, the Threshold Performance and submission of the Signature Blueprint portfolio are required. Guidelines for both are available on the Graduate Music Program Canvas course. These requirements are rendered through MUS 631, Scholarly Thresholds for Emerging Performers (STEP).

The Signature Blueprint portfolio is established during the first semester of study, through MUS 621,  in consultation with the Graduate Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies. The portfolio, a cumulative project, is reviewed by faculty throughout the degree. Formal feedback and advising will be provided. The Signature Blueprint is formally submitted in MUS631. The Threshold Performance should be conceptually linked to the Signature Blueprint portfolio. This performance is given in the final semester of study. The Threshold Performance requires recital hearing procedures identical to MUS 690.  

Program Requirements

Special requirements: All full-time students must participate in a major ensemble in their primary performance medium each semester of residency.

Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion 

(37 semester hours)

Strings

(39 semester hours)

Piano

(39 semester hours)

Voice

(41 semester hours)

Special requirements: All full-time students must participate in a major ensemble in their primary performance medium each semester of residency.