Performance (Conducting), MM
Orchestra, Performance, Wind Band, band conducting, conducting, music, orchestra conducting
Ready to take your passion for conducting to the next level? This program was designed for you. It offers in-depth career training, diverse podium experiences, and rich theory and history courses. You'll learn directly from distinguished faculty, gaining hands-on experience and mastering the art of interpretation and performance.
The Master of Music program in performance with a concentration in conducting presents you as a conductor of orchestras, wind bands and vocal ensembles with the opportunity to improve your art, craft and scholarship in pursuit of both professional and academic career aspirations. This program is also beneficial if you are a public school teacher of choirs, orchestras and wind bands and want to strengthen your skills.
There are four tracks within this concentration.
Wind band track: In this track, you conduct study privately with the director of bands and have the opportunity to work closely with other members of the conducting faculty members, including the director of athletic bands. Time in front of an ensemble is essential; therefore, you have significant podium time and twice-weekly chamber winds classes. You learn conducting technique, rehearsal technique, leadership, interpretation, score study, audience development and outreach, and career development.
Orchestral track: Required courses are specific to orchestral conducting, and elective courses provide additional opportunities for further orchestral study.
Music direction track: The music direction track is designed to meet your needs as a musical director, focusing on musical theatre and opera conducting. Required courses focus on music theatre and opera rehearsal techniques, technical production and repertoire.
Choral track: The choral track prepares you for careers throughout the choral field by helping you develop and refine your individual artistic voice. You engage in a curriculum that explores culturally responsive applications, decolonial pedagogies, global score study and interdisciplinary framing of gesture. You receive substantial podium time and work closely with conducting faculty members.
- College/school:
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
- Location: Tempe
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
32 credit hours including a written comprehensive exam
Required Core (4 credit hours) Concentration (7 credit hours) Track (9 or 10 credit hours) Other Studies in Music (11 or 12 credit hours) Culminating Experience (0 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Requirements The Other Studies in Music requirement includes six credit hours of MHL coursework and five or six credit hours of MTC coursework. Track credit hours may include electives depending on course selections. Completion of diagnostic exams in musicology and music theory is required of all new graduate music students before they enroll in courses for these programs through the ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre. This is tracked internally within the academic unit. Additional information on degree requirements is available on the curriculum checksheet located on the Music, Dance and Theatre graduate degree page.
MUP 527 Studio Instruction (4)
MUP 596 Solo Performance (1)
MUP 597 Solo Performance (1)
Students choose from the following, for a total of five credit hours:
MUE 564 Instrumental Music, Advanced Rehearsal Techniques (3)
MUP 540 Principles of Integrated Conducting (2)
MUP 551 Repertoire: Music Theatre Repertoire (2)
MUP 571 Music Theatre: Workshops (1)
MUP 573 Music Theatre: Performance (1)
Music history (6)
Music theory (5 or 6)
Written comprehensive exam (0)
Students select a track from the following: choral, wind band, orchestral or music direction. Students should see the academic unit for specific concentration and track course requirements for each track.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.
Applicants must have earned a U.S. bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from an institution in another country that is officially recognized by that country.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- School of Music, Dance and Theatre application (including a resume, personal statement and repertoire list)
- official transcripts
- prescreening video
- three letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. The School of Music, Dance and Theatre does not offer conditional admission under any circumstances.
A bachelor's degree in music is not required for admission to a master's program. However, all applicants without a bachelor's degree in music should contact MDTAdmissions@asu.edu for information on potential courses to complete. Additional courses may be taken at ASU, another accredited university, or a community college before or after admission to this program, but they must be completed before starting graduate-level required courses in music history and music theory.
Applicants should see the program website for application deadlines. After complete application materials have been received, including recommendation letters, transcripts and English proficiency requirements, and a review has been conducted of prescreening materials, the applicant may be invited for a live audition.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Final |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:
- Synthesize performance skills to create performances that are believable, specific and impactful.
- Critically evaluate principles of leadership to prepare musicians for performances.
- Apply advanced skills in score preparation, repertoire selection and rehearsal techniques for performances.
School of Music, Dance and Theatre graduate programs inspire and empower students to become creative leaders who transform society through music.
Musicians with expertise in performing, composing, teaching, researching and advocating for the arts are in high demand across many sectors and industries, including performing arts organizations, educational institutions, entertainment companies, health and wellness industries, and community arts organizations. Skills such as creativity, collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as the focused discipline needed for success as musicians, are all highly valued by a wide variety of companies and professions.
Career examples include:
- artistic director
- arts administrator
- community arts advocate
- conductor
- performing musician
- public or community school teacher
- university professor
School of Music, Dance and Theatre
|
MUSIC E167
mdtadmissions@asu.edu
480-965-5069
Admission deadlines
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
