The Master of Music degree in Performance is designed to prepare the student for professional music activities, including solo performance, orchestral playing, ensemble playing, collaborative performance, studio teaching; as well as doctoral study. The program emphasizes development of skills, knowledge and background in the following areas: literature and repertoire, performance skills, practice skills, interpretation and expression, performance pedagogy, historical performance practices, music history and music theory.
The Performance major includes the following optional concentrations:
- The Chamber Music concentration is for intensive coaching and performance of string quartet literature.
- The Collaborative Piano concentration provides focused study on performance, chamber music, accompanying and literature.
Accreditation
National Association of Schools of Music
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Recognize, identify, interpret and perform representative literature from different historical periods, countries and composers.
- Apply advanced performing skills in solo and ensemble settings, including tone production, accuracy, intonation, instrumental/vocal technique, musicality/expression, vocal language and diction and stage presence/presentation.
- Discuss, utilize and achieve high-quality results from efficient and effective practice techniques, including time management, achievable goals and use of appropriate technical skills, musical expression skills and focused work ethic.
- Have an enhanced understanding of interpretation and expression in music.
- Identify, explain and utilize performance pedagogy appropriate to the specific area of study.
- Identify, associate, differentiate and utilize performances practices appropriate to the literature of the various stylistic periods.
- Utilize and discuss score study of literature performed and also representative literature from various historical periods and composers.