Western Carolina University

Department of Music

Graduate Music Handbook

Revised December 2001

Foreword

Welcome to graduate study in music at Western Carolina University!

Beginning with the Spring 2000 semester, graduate study in music education at WCU will be a concentration within the Master of Arts in Comprehensive Education program administered by the College of Education and Allied Sciences. The role of the Music Department is to teach the specialty area courses, administer comprehensive exams, and to offer academic advising as necessary. All administrative details about the program, along with a core of courses in professional education, will be handled by the College of Education and Allied Sciences.

The information and instructions contained in this Handbook summarize, interpret, and supplement the official publications of the University. Please take time to make yourself familiar with the information presented in the following pages. This material will assist you in planning your graduate study in music education. If there are any discrepancies between the information in this Handbook and any official University publications, the University documents are understood to have precedence.

Any questions you may have relating to any aspect of this material should be addressed to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music or to the appropriate Advisor within the Department of Music or the College of Education and Allied Sciences.

Table of Contents

Role and Mission Statement………………………………………………………………..

Music at Western Carolina University……………………………………………………...

Degrees Offered…………………………………………………………………………….

Master of Music Degree

Overview……………………………………………………………………………

Degree Objectives…………………………………………………………………..

Admission Requirements…………………………………………………………...

Audition Procedures………………………………………………………………...

Music Core………………………………………………………………………….

Area of Concentration………………………………………………………………

MA Checksheet……………………………………………………………………..

Master of Arts in Education Degree

Overview……………………………………………………………………………

Degree Objectives…………………………………………………………………..

Admission Requirements…………………………………………………………...

Audition Procedures………………………………………………………………...

Music Core………………………………………………………………………….

Area of Concentration………………………………………………………………

MAEd Checksheet………………………………………………………………….

Master of Arts in Teaching Degree

Overview……………………………………………………………………………

Degree Objectives…………………………………………………………………..

Prerequisites………………………………………………………………………...

Admission Requirements…………………………………………………………...

Audition Procedures………………………………………………………………...

Music Core………………………………………………………………………….

Area of Concentration………………………………………………………………

MAT Checksheet…………………………………………………………………...

Lecture/Recital……………………………………………………………………………...

Lecture/Recital Proposal Form……………………………………………………..

Comprehensive Exam………………………………………………………………………

Thesis Option……………………………………………………………………………….

Style Manual………………………………………………………………………………..

Bibliographic Format………………………………………………………………………..

Financial Aid and Assistantships……………………………………………………………

Practice and Study Space…………………………………………………………………...

Housing……………………………………………………………………………………..

Advising…………………………………………………………………………………….

Advisory Committee………………………………………………………………………..

Professional Organizations………………………………………………………………….

Music Faculty……………………………………………………………………………….

Frequently Asked Questions………………………………………………………………..

Role and Mission Statement

The Department of Music is a unit in the College of Arts and Sciences of Western Carolina University, a comprehensive state university. The department complements the general objectives of the university by providing quality curricula in music with professional and liberal arts emphases. An atmosphere of scholarly and creative activity in music pedagogy, research, composition, and performance leads to professional and community service. The Department of Music primarily serves western North Carolina; however, a national graduate and undergraduate student body is recruited. The Bachelor of Arts (music, music industry, or performing emphasis), Bachelor of Science in Education (vocal, keyboard, or instrumental music), the Master of Music (in Performance), and the Master of Arts (with a concentration in music education) degrees are conferred. The Department of Music serves as a primary source of musical culture within the rural environment of western North Carolina through musical performances, clinics, workshops, festivals, and consultant work.

Music at Western Carolina

Nestled in a beautiful valley just 30 minutes south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Western Carolina University serves approximately 6500 students. Fifteen highly-qualified music faculty members teach studio lessons in their areas of performance and academic courses in their areas of scholarly interest. An active faculty recital series is supplemented by guest artists from around the country and the world. Along with student recitals, more than 60 formal concerts are given on campus each year. Performance opportunities for graduate students include two large vocal ensembles, an early music ensemble, jazz ensemble, a wind ensemble, and a concert band. Chamber music activities are also encouraged. Some of our students also perform in various orchestras in the region. Whether your interest in graduate study is for professional or purely personal reasons, Western Carolina University is here to serve you.

The Department of Music is housed in the spacious, modern Coulter Building located near the center of campus. The building contains ample space for all of the classes and activities of the department. Current facilities include a 420-seat recital hall, two ample rehearsal halls, a MIDI lab and an electronic keyboard lab, two seminar rooms, 15 office/studios, 29 practice rooms, and a reference/study room.

Degrees Offered

The Department of Music services three separate degree tracks: The Master of Music degree (MM), the Master of Arts in Education degree (MAEd), and the Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT). Each degree is outlined below and the components and audition procedures are detailed. The MAEd degree and the MAT degree are conferred through the College of Education, and while most coursework will be taken in the Department of Music, primary advising will take place in the College of Education.

Master of Music Degree

Overview

The Master of Music (MM) is designed for those who wish to continue performance studies that were begun at the undergraduate level. The concentration in Performance can encompass vocal or instrumental performance, Commercial and Electronic Music, composition, or piano pedagogy. This degree may lead to further graduate study, private teaching, or performance opportunities in a variety of occupations.

Degree Objectives

· Provide an opportunity for individual students to work closely with faculty on specific interests and career-related projects.

· Provide an in-depth study of musicianship based on historical, contextual, theoretical and practical knowledge.

· Provide a post-baccalaureate experience that emphasizes the foundations and principles of music education at the elementary and/or secondary levels.

Admission Requirements

Prospective graduate students in music are encouraged to apply as early as possible to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Application forms and catalogs for graduate studies may be obtained by contacting:

Office of Research and Graduate Studies

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC 28723

(828) 227-7398

Your application to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies should include the following:

· Completed application form indicating your intended area of concentration and your performing area

· Official Transcripts from a regionally accredited college or university, with an average grade of B or higher in the last 60 semester hours of the undergraduate program. Transcripts must reflect an undergraduate degree in music. No decisions regarding admission can be made without official transcripts.

· Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test

· Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar enough with the applicant's work to be able to assess their potential for further graduate study. Forms are available from the Graduate School Office

Application must also be made directly to the Department of Music. The following requirements must be completed to be fully admitted into the graduate music program:

· Live Audition (see “Audition Procedures” below)

· Consultation with the professor in your primary performance area.

· Piano proficiency. Proficiency may be demonstrated in one of the following ways: a) a statement on the undergraduate transcript, 2) a letter from the undergraduate music department certifying successful completion of piano proficiency, or 3) successful completion of the WCU undergraduate piano proficiency exam.

Inquiries concerning specific aspects of the music program should be directed to:

Coordinator of Graduate Studies

Department of Music

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC 28723

(828) 227-7242

All admissions decisions within the Department of Music are handled by a Graduate Admissions Committee. The committee consists of the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, the graduate faculty member who will be your major professor, and a third member of the graduate faculty. Your application will be reviewed to determine whether your under-graduate course selection and grades meet the standards of the WCU undergraduate curriculum. GRE scores and letters of recommendation will also be consulted. Eligible prospects will complete a live audition/interview with the committee. The Admissions Committee will then make a recommendation to the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, who will send you official notification of the admissions decision.

Audition Procedures

All applicants for the Master of Music must perform a live audition in their principal area. This audition will be heard by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Prospective students whose geographical location make a live audition impractical may be granted a provisional admission based on a taped audition; regular admission can not be granted until a live audition is performed for the Admissions Committee upon arrival at the University to begin coursework.

Music Core

The music core is designed to provide you with a thorough grounding in the issues and materials of music scholarship at the graduate level. Rather than offering courses and seminars in the traditionally separate "disciplines" of music theory and music history, we have designed a series of innovative courses that combine historical and theoretical approaches to the study of music. In addition, a one-credit writing course focuses on the peculiar problems of writing about music. All students are required to take MUS 601 and three courses from MUS 520, 525, 621, and 622 described below; the fourth course may be taken as an elective.

MUS 601: Writing About Music (1). Writing workshop focusing on styles and techniques appropriate to the discussion of music in various contexts. This course focuses on specific writing tasks related to music, including brief biographies, dictionary definitions, theoretical analyses, critiques, and essays. Emphasis will be on clarity of expression, economy of language, and accuracy of content. The process of writing, editing, and revision will involve both teacher and peer review. Fall semester.

MUS 520: Studies in Music Literature (3, R9). Historical and theoretical study of various forms of music literature. Only three credits can be counted as part of the graduate core curriculum. Topics may include women in music, wind literature, contrapuntal techniques, history of music technology, etc. Additional topics may be taken as electives. Spring of even-numbered years; additional offerings as needed.

MUS 525: Twentieth-Century Music (3). Historical and theoretical issues in 20th-century music. This course will examine the music of the twentieth century from a theoretical as well as historical viewpoint. Each of the most significant trends will be explored in order to understand both their origins and their consequences. Spring of odd-numbered years.

MUS 621: History of Musical Theory (3). The historical development of music theory as a language for scholarly discussion of music. This course will examine the development of music theory as a specialized language for the discussion of music, from the works of Ancient Greek philosophers to the threshold of the 20th century. Representative musical compositions from each of the major historical periods will be studied in order to demonstrate the use of appropriate theoretical concepts. Fall of odd-numbered years.

MUS 622: Influences of Folk Traditions on Western Art Music (3). Historical and theoretical perspectives on the incorporation of "foreign" or "folk" influences into the Western art music tradition. This course will examine how, throughout history, the Western tradition in music has been shaped by contact with non-Western cultures. These influences range from the introduction of new instruments to the exploration of distinctly new methods of composition and performance. Fall of even-numbered years.

Area of Concentration

Checksheet: Master of Music Degree

36 Semester Hours

Core curriculum (10 credits): Term: Grade:

MUS 601: Writing About Music (1) __________ __________

and three of the following:

MUS 520: Studies in Music Literature (3) __________ __________

MUS 525: Twentieth-century Music (3) __________ __________

MUS 621: History of Musical Theory (3) __________ __________

MUS 622: Influences of Folk Traditions (3) __________ __________

Area of Concentration (10 credits):

MUS 695: Music Ed. Seminar (3) __________ __________

MUS 592: Orff or MUS 640: Pedagogy (3) __________ __________

MUS 680: Independent Study (1) __________ __________

MUS 679: Lecture/Recital (3) __________ __________

Professional Education (12 cr.):

EDCI 602: Methods of Research (3 cr.) __________ __________

SPED 620: Today's Students (3 cr.) __________ __________

PSY 621 Advanced Educational Psych. (3 cr.) __________ __________

EDL 613: Teachers and Schools (3 cr.) __________ __________

Electives (4 credits):

_____________________ __________ __________

_____________________ __________ __________

_____________________ __________ __________

Comprehensive Exam Completed: Written: ______________________

Aural: ______________________

600-Level Credits (at least 16 required): ______________________

Advisory Committee: ______________________, chair

______________________

______________________ (College of Education)

Master of Arts in Education Degree

Overview

All applicants for the Master of Arts in Education degree (MAEd) must hold, or be eligible to hold, a North Carolina Class "A" teaching license in music education. Successful completion of the MAEd degree and requirements leads to recommendation for North Carolina “Advanced Competency” licensure, which may result in a significant salary increase. Students in this concentration may specialize in choral music, Orff-Schulwerk, or instrumental music. The concentration in Music Education is intended primarily for students planning on careers in public education.

Degree Objectives

· Provide an opportunity for individual students to work closely with faculty on specific interests and career-related projects.

· Provide an in-depth study of musicianship based on historical, contextual, theoretical and practical knowledge.

· Provide a post-baccalaureate experience that emphasizes the foundations and principles of music education at the elementary and/or secondary levels.

· Provide a post-baccalaureate experience specifically designed to improve teaching skills.

· Provide an opportunity for advanced research in music education.

Admission Requirements

Prospective graduate students in music are encouraged to apply as early as possible to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Application forms and catalogs for graduate studies may be obtained by contacting:

Office of Research and Graduate Studies

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC 28723

(828) 227-7398

Your application to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies should include the following:

· Completed application form indicating your intended area of concentration and your performing area

· Official Transcripts from a regionally accredited college or university, with an average grade of B or higher in the last 60 semester hours of the undergraduate program. Transcripts must reflect an undergraduate degree in music. No decisions regarding admission can be made without official transcripts.

· Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test

· Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar enough with the applicant's work to be able to assess their potential for further graduate study. Forms are available from the Graduate School Office

Application must also be made directly to the Department of Music. The following requirements must be completed to be fully admitted into the graduate music program:

· Live Audition (see “Audition Procedures” below)

· Consultation with the professor in your primary performance area.

· Piano proficiency. Proficiency may be demonstrated in one of the following ways: a) a statement on the undergraduate transcript, 2) a letter from the undergraduate music department certifying successful completion of piano proficiency, or 3) successful completion of the WCU undergraduate piano proficiency exam.

Inquiries concerning specific aspects of the music program should be directed to:

Coordinator of Graduate Studies

Department of Music

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC 28723

(828) 227-7242

All admissions decisions within the Department of Music are handled by a Graduate Admissions Committee. The committee consists of the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, the graduate faculty member who will be your major professor, and a third member of the graduate faculty. Your application will be reviewed to determine whether your under-graduate course selection and grades meet the standards of the WCU undergraduate curriculum. GRE scores and letters of recommendation will also be consulted. Eligible prospects will complete a live audition/interview with the committee. The Admissions Committee will then make a recommendation to the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, who will send you official notification of the admissions decision.

Audition Procedures

All applicants for the concentration in Applied Music must perform a live audition in the principal area of applied music. This audition will be heard by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Prospective students whose geographical location make a live audition impractical may be granted a provisional admission based on a taped audition; regular admission can not be granted until a live audition is performed for the Admissions Committee upon arrival at the University to begin coursework.

Music Core

The music core is designed to provide you with a thorough grounding in the issues and materials of music scholarship at the graduate level. Rather than offering courses and seminars in the traditionally separate "disciplines" of music theory and music history, we have designed a series of innovative courses that combine historical and theoretical approaches to the study of music. In addition, a one-credit writing course focuses on the peculiar problems of writing about music. All students are required to take MUS 601 and three courses from MUS 520, 525, 621, and 622 described below; the fourth course may be taken as an elective.

MUS 601: Writing About Music (1). Writing workshop focusing on styles and techniques appropriate to the discussion of music in various contexts. This course focuses on specific writing tasks related to music, including brief biographies, dictionary definitions, theoretical analyses, critiques, and essays. Emphasis will be on clarity of expression, economy of language, and accuracy of content. The process of writing, editing, and revision will involve both teacher and peer review. Fall semester.

MUS 520: Studies in Music Literature (3, R9). Historical and theoretical study of various forms of music literature. Only three credits can be counted as part of the graduate core curriculum. Topics may include women in music, wind literature, contrapuntal techniques, history of music technology, etc. Additional topics may be taken as electives. Spring of even-numbered years; additional offerings as needed.

MUS 525: Twentieth-Century Music (3). Historical and theoretical issues in 20th-century music. This course will examine the music of the twentieth century from a theoretical as well as historical viewpoint. Each of the most significant trends will be explored in order to understand both their origins and their consequences. Spring of odd-numbered years.

MUS 621: History of Musical Theory (3). The historical development of music theory as a language for scholarly discussion of music. This course will examine the development of music theory as a specialized language for the discussion of music, from the works of Ancient Greek philosophers to the threshold of the 20th century. Representative musical compositions from each of the major historical periods will be studied in order to demonstrate the use of appropriate theoretical concepts. Fall of odd-numbered years.

MUS 622: Influences of Folk Traditions on Western Art Music (3). Historical and theoretical perspectives on the incorporation of "foreign" or "folk" influences into the Western art music tradition. This course will examine how, throughout history, the Western tradition in music has been shaped by contact with non-Western cultures. These influences range from the introduction of new instruments to the exploration of distinctly new methods of composition and performance. Fall of even-numbered years.

Area of Concentration

Checksheet: Master of Arts in Education

36 Semester Hours

Core curriculum (10 credits): Term: Grade:

MUS 601: Writing About Music (1) __________ __________

and three of the following:

MUS 520: Studies in Music Literature (3) __________ __________

MUS 525: Twentieth-century Music (3) __________ __________

MUS 621: History of Musical Theory (3) __________ __________

MUS 622: Influences of Folk Traditions (3) __________ __________

Area of Concentration (10 credits):

MUS 695: Music Ed. Seminar (3) __________ __________

MUS 592: Orff or MUS 640: Pedagogy (3) __________ __________

MUS 680: Independent Study (1) __________ __________

MUS 679: Lecture/Recital (3) __________ __________

Professional Education (12 cr.):

EDCI 602: Methods of Research (3 cr.) __________ __________

SPED 620: Today's Students (3 cr.) __________ __________

PSY 621 Advanced Educational Psych. (3 cr.) __________ __________

EDL 613: Teachers and Schools (3 cr.) __________ __________

Electives (4 credits):

_____________________ __________ __________

_____________________ __________ __________

_____________________ __________ __________

Comprehensive Exam Completed: Written: ______________________

Aural: ______________________

600-Level Credits (at least 16 required): ______________________

Advisory Committee: ______________________, chair

______________________

______________________ (College of Education)

Master of Arts in Teaching Degree

Overview

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT) is designed for students who hold a Bachelor’s degree, but who are not licensed to teach in the public school system. Candidates for this program may include 1) Recent graduates who decided late in their undergraduate career that they want to enter teaching, 2) Mid-career graduates with an undergraduate music degree who desire to make a change in their professional lives, and 3) Retirees who hold an undergraduate music degree and desire to teach.

Degree Objectives

· Provide an avenue to an “advanced competency” endorsement independent of undergraduate work in education.

· Provide an opportunity for individual students to work closely with faculty on specific interests and career-related projects.

· Provide an in-depth study of musicianship based on historical, contextual, theoretical and practical knowledge.

· Provide a post-baccalaureate experience that emphasizes the foundations and principles of music education at the elementary and/or secondary levels.

· Provide a post-baccalaureate experience specifically designed to improve teaching skills.

· Provide an opportunity for advanced research in music education.

Prerequisites

Completion of the MAT degree leads to teaching licensure in the state of North Carolina. Since most candidates for the MAT degree will not have taken many essential music education courses, it will be necessary to complete these classes before concluding the MAT degree. Candidates may satisfy the prerequisite requirements by attending the classes during regular meeting times, or by demonstrating competency in the given areas.

Competency must be shown for the following undergraduate music methods classes before the MAT degree will be conferred:

(Everyone) MUS 168: String Methods I

(Everyone) MUS 169: Classroom Guitar Techniques

(Everyone) MUS 283: Music Technology

(Instrumentalists) MUS 270: Brass Methods I

(Instrumentalists) MUS 273: Brass Methods II

(Instrumentalists) MUS 271: Woodwind Methods I

(Instrumentalists) MUS 274: Woodwind Methods II

(Instrumentalists) MUS 158: Voice Methods I

(Instrumentalists) MUS 272: Percussion Methods

(Vocalists) MUS 258: Diction for Singers I

(Vocalists) MUS 259: Diction for Singers II

(Vocalists) MUS 279: Wind and Percussion Pedagogy

(MAT Candidates may attend the above classes at their regular meetings times, take private lessons with the appropriate instructor, or study with an approved off-campus instructor.)

Students must also attend the following undergraduate music lecture courses:

MUS 470: Orchestration

MUS 428: Choral Conducting

or

MUS 429: Instrumental Conducting

MUS 325: Music in Elementary-Middle Schools

MUS 326: Instrumental Methods and Materials

or

MUS 327: Choral Methods and Materials

Admission Requirements

Prospective graduate students in music are encouraged to apply as early as possible to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Application forms and catalogs for graduate studies may be obtained by contacting:

Office of Research and Graduate Studies

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC 28723

(828) 227-7398

Your application to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies should include the following:

· Completed application form indicating your intended area of concentration and your performing area

· Official Transcripts from a regionally accredited college or university, with an average grade of B or higher in the last 60 semester hours of the undergraduate program. Transcripts must reflect an undergraduate degree in music. No decisions regarding admission can be made without official transcripts.

· Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test

·