Music

Main Content

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, Virginia  20190-5248, (703) 437-0700.

The Graduate Faculty in the School of Music is made up of accomplished performers, composers, and scholars with a deep concern for preparing their Master of Music students for future success. In addition to their many professional activities – both nationally and internationally, they present many recitals, lectures, and workshops for the University community on the SIUC campus. Please visit the SIUC School of Music website and the SIUC Graduate School website for more information.

Master of Music (M.M.) in Music

Concentrations

  • Conducting (for emphases see list below)
  • Performance (for emphases see list below)
  • Music Theory and Composition
  • Music History and Literature
  • Music Education
  • Collaborative Piano

Conducting Emphases

  • Choral
  • Orchestral
  • Wind

Performance Emphases

  • Orchestral Instruments
  • Piano
  • Vocal
  • Guitar

Performing Ensembles

The strength of the SIUC School of Music is the abundance of performing opportunities available to its students. There are vast performing opportunities for all Master of Music performers and composers, often working side by side with their mentors.

Ensembles include: Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, SIU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, SIU Concert Choir, Chamber Choir and Choral Union, SIU Jazz Ensemble, Marjorie Lawrence Opera Theater, SIU Guitar Ensemble, Southern Illinois Improvisation Unit, SIU Percussion Ensemble, SIU Flute Choir, SIU Clarinet Choir, and Marching Salukis. Other ensembles include: SIU Graduate String Quartet, Altgeld Chamber Players, Southern Illinois Jazztet, Southern Illinois Chamber Music Society, and New Chicago Chamber Orchestra. Throughout the year, there are hundreds of concerts, recitals, operas, musicals, and emerging composer recitals.

Graduate students in residence must participate in an ensemble, as determined by their declared concentration/emphasis curricular guide and appropriate degree requirement checklist, every semester in residence. In addition, students may elect participation in other regularly scheduled ensembles.

School of Music Resources

Morris Library is a fully functional and impressively equipped research center.

The School of Music is a three building complex including Shryock Auditorium, the Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall, and Altgeld Hall, a replica of King Ludwig’s Bavarian castle. Facilities include:

  • Rehearsal spaces for large ensembles, choral, jazz, music theater, and chamber music, which often serve as alternate performance spaces;
  • Practice rooms, including rooms for piano majors and three practice organs: a four-rank Ott tracker organ, a six-rank Moeller, and a four-rank Wicks;
  • Computer/Listening Lab, available for all music students;
  • Recording facilities for live concert recordings as well as professional studio recordings;
  • The Center for Experimental Music (CEM), a computer composition laboratory for all aspects of electro-acoustic music production, available for composition students.
Also part of the School of Music complex of buildings are:
  • Shryock Auditorium: the primary concert space for orchestra, opera, band, and choral concerts, located adjacent to the School of Music; it houses a fifty-eight rank Reuter pipe organ, the principal instrument for recitals and teaching;
  • Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall: a small chamber music space for more intimate recitals.

Application for Admission

Students interested in pursuing the Master of Music should apply for admission through the SIUC Graduate School application website.

The online application system includes a separate School of Music application. All applicants must complete both applications in order to be considered for graduate work at SIUC. The music application is sent directly to the Director of Graduate Studies in Music:

Director of Graduate Studies in Music
School of Music
Altgeld Hall - Mail Code 4302
Southern Illinois University
1000 S Normal Ave
Carbondale, IL 62901

In addition to the application materials above, International students require additional documents including financial disclosure form, a photocopy of undergraduate diploma, and other materials for attaining a student VISA. Non-English speaking students must also submit a recent TOEFL score.

All forms are provided and explained on the Graduate School application website. Further clarification or additional questions regarding the entire application process may be answered by writing to: gradmus@siu.edu.

Auditioning Process

Each applicant must be assessed by members of the School of Music faculty in order to be accepted into his/her specific discipline. Performers must audition either in person or recording; composers should submit scores and recordings of their compositions; scholars should submit examples of their researched writing. More information can be found on the School of Music website: cola.siu.edu/music/.

In order to set up an audition, contact the specific faculty member in your area, as found on the School of Music website. You are also encouraged to contact that performer, composer, or scholar, as well as the Director of Graduate Studies in Music, at any time, before or during the application process, if you have area specific questions or concerns.

Assistantships, Fellowships, and Tuition Waivers

There are a number of opportunities for graduate students to receive financial assistance with their degree.

Students should apply for Master-level fellowships by sending the appropriate application (found on the SIUC Graduate School website) and supporting documentation directly to the Director of Graduate Studies in Music. The annual deadline for receipt of this material is January 1st.

Graduate Assistantships offer students a complete tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend in turn for teaching and/or research assistance in the School of Music. University fees are not waived and can be calculated at tuition.siu.edu. The application is included as part of the specific School of Music application, completed with the SIU Graduate School application. However, the deadline for primary consideration for a GA is February 15th.

There are several additional types of financial assistance available including PROMPT Fellowships, partial tuition waivers, Excellence Through Commitment Graduate School Scholarships, etc. Information about cost and financial help can be found at: gradschool.siu.edu/cost-aid.

Additional aid for Master of Music students includes scholarships for string students, given annually by the Southern Illinois Chamber Music Society, and two annual competitions for composition students: the Carl Deis Prize and the Mykytyn Distinguished Composition Award.

Screening Exams

All incoming students must take screening examinations in Aural Skills, Music Theory, Music History pre-1750, and Music History post-1750. These exams are available for online administration and should be taken as soon as possible after being notified of your acceptance into the program, but before arriving on campus to begin your degree. Students in collaborative piano (vocal), opera/musical theater, choral conducting, and vocal performance are required to take additional screening examinations in French diction, Italian diction, German diction, and IPA diction. Students in collaborative piano-instrumental accompanying emphasis are strongly encouraged to take the additional screening examinations in diction. These examinations are administered on or before the first day of classes. Incoming students found deficient in certain areas will be assigned remedial coursework - MUS 399 A-K Graduate Music Review - in aural skills, music theory, music history, diction, or other pertinent areas. All deficiencies must be corrected by taking the appropriate sections of MUS 399 before registering for graduate-level courses in those areas, and it is mandatory to take care of all deficiencies during their first year of the M.M. program. For each assigned section of Graduate Music Review, the minimum grade to fulfill the deficiency is B or better, with the exception of Graduate Ear Training which requires a grade of C or better.

Curriculum

The curriculum for each M.M. concentration is slightly different, appropriately focusing on specific aspects of training. Current M.M. students should follow the curricular guides found below for their specific M.M. concentration. These guides are also found on the School of Music Website. Any deviations from this should be discussed with your major professor, and then proposed to the School of Music Graduate Committee.

Graduate students self-register each semester, on the SIUC website: gradschool.siu.edu/registration.

Each student should regularly meet with both their major professor and the Director of Graduate Studies in Music to ensure that they are fulfilling all the curricular responsibilities of their specific concentration.

Note: Only courses at the 400- and 500-level count toward the total credit hour count to complete the curriculum for the Master of Music degree. At least 18 of the total credit hours must be at the 500 or above level.

Performance Concentration

Performance Emphasis - Orchestral Instruments

Performance — Orchestral Instruments Emphasis
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A or MUS 502B 2
MUS 440A-Y (as determined by audition, maximum of 3 credit hours allowed at 440 level) 0-3
MUS 540A-Y 6-9
MUS 565A-H* 1,1
MUS 595 1
MUS 598 3
MUS 566C or MUS 566D 4
MUS 470, MUS 471, MUS 472, MUS 474, MUS 475, MUS 476, MUS 477, MUS 478A, MUS 478B, MUS 573, or MUS 574 3
MUS 461 3
MUS 472, MUS 479A-I, MUS 481, MUS 482, MUS 499, or approved graduate music electives 6
TOTAL *Students must take 1 credit hour in two different semesters to fulfill Chamber Music requirement. 36

Performance Emphasis - Piano

Performance — Piano Emphasis
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A and MUS 502B 4
MUS 440Q (as determined by audition, maximum of 3 credit hours allowed at 440 level) 0-3
MUS 540Q 6-9
MUS 595 1
MUS 598 3
MUS 566K, MUS 565F 1,1
MUS 565A-H or MUS 566A-L 1,1
MUS 470, MUS 471, MUS 472, MUS 474, MUS 475, MUS 476, MUS 477, MUS 478A, MUS 478B, MUS 573, or MUS 574 3
MUS 461 3
MUS 472, MUS 479A-I, MUS 481, MUS 482, MUS 499 or approved graduate music electives 6
TOTAL 36

Performance Emphasis - Vocal

Performance — Vocal Emphasis
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A or MUS 502B 2
MUS 470 3
MUS 440P (as determined by audition, maximum of 3 credit hours allowed at 440 level) 0-3
MUS 540P 6-9
MUS 598 3
MUS 595 1
MUS 566F 4
MUS 401 2
MUS 403 2
MUS 461 3
MUS 479C 2
Approved coaching, theater, dance, or music electives 2
TOTAL 36

Performance Emphasis - Guitar

Performance — Guitar Emphasis
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A or MUS 502B 2
MUS 440T (as determined by audition, maximum of 3 credit hours allowed at 440 level) 0-3
MUS 540T 6-9
MUS 595 1
MUS 598 3
MUS 566H 2
MUS 565A-H* 1,1
MUS 470, MUS 471, MUS 472, MUS 474, MUS 475, MUS 476, MUS 477, MUS 478A, MUS 478B, MUS 573, or MUS 574 3
MUS 461 3
MUS 472, MUS 479A-I, MUS 481, MUS 482, MUS 499, or approved graduate music electives 8
TOTAL *Students must take 1 credit hour in two different semesters to fulfill Chamber Music requirement. 36

Conducting Concentration Emphasis - Orchestral 

Performance — Orchestral Conducting Emphasis
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A and MUS 502B 4
MUS 540W 6
MUS 556 2
MUS 595 1
MUS 598 3
MUS 566D 4
MUS 470, MUS 471, MUS 472, MUS 474, MUS 475, MUS 476, MUS 477, MUS 478A, MUS 478B, MUS 573, MUS 574 6
Graduate courses in non-profit fundraising/organization, e.g. PADM 547 or PADM 549, MUS 440A-Y or MUS 540A-Y (1, 1, 1), MUS 565B, or approved graduate music electives 7
TOTAL 36

Emphasis - Wind

Performance — Wind Conducting Emphasis
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A and MUS 502B 4
MUS 440W 3
MUS 540W 6
MUS 556 4
MUS 595 1
MUS 598 3
MUS 566C 4
MUS 470, MUS 471, MUS 472, MUS 474, MUS 475, MUS 476, MUS 477, MUS 478A, MUS 478B, MUS 573, or MUS 574 3
MUS 458 2
MUS 440A-Y or MUS 540A-Y (1, 1, 1) or approved graduate music electives 3
TOTAL 36

Emphasis - Choral

Performance — Choral Conducting Emphasis
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 461 3
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A and MUS 502B 4
MUS 440W 3
MUS 540W 6
MUS 556 2
MUS 595 1
MUS 598 3
MUS 566F 4
MUS 470, MUS 471, MUS 472, MUS 474, MUS 475, MUS 476, MUS 477, MUS 478A, MUS 478B, MUS 573, or MUS 574 3
MUS 453 2
MUS 440A-Y or MUS 540A-Y (1, 1, 1) or approved graduate music electives 2
TOTAL 36
 

Music Theory and Composition Concentration

Music Theory and Composition Concentration
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A and MUS 502B 4
MUS 480 (as determined by audition, maximum of 3 credit hours allowed at 480 level) 0-3
MUS 580 6-9
MUS 545 2
MUS 599 5
MUS 595 1
MUS 566A-L* 4
MUS 478A or MUS 478B 3
MUS 406 2
MUS 499, MUS 481, or approved graduate music electives 3
TOTAL 36

*Third and/or fourth semester(s) perform with the option of serving as “composer-in-residence” [During their second semester in residence, the composition student should formally apply to serve as a “composer-in-residence” with the appropriate ensemble director; it is not mandatory that ensemble directors participate.]

Music Education Concentration

Music Education Concentration
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A or MUS 502B 2
MUS 503 3
MUS 509 3
MUS 484 3
Approved music education electives: MUS 440A-Y, MUS 453, MUS 454, MUS 455, MUS 456A, MUS 456B, MUS 457, MUS 483, MUS 499, MUS 500, MUS 540A-Y, MUS 550 6*
MUS 470, MUS 471, MUS 472, MUS 474, MUS 475, MUS 476, MUS 477, MUS 478A, MUS 478B, MUS 573, MUS 574 6
MUS 566A-L 4**
Thesis MUS 599 (6 CH) or MUS 595 (1 CH) plus 5*** credit hours of approved music education electives 6
TOTAL 36

*No more than two credit hours of MUS 440A-Y or MUS 540A-Y may count toward the approved music education elective requirement.
**Music education students in residence must participate in a major ensemble every semester in residence. Part-time students may petition to substitute other coursework to fulfill the ensemble requirement.
***A minimum of two credit hours of elective must be at the 500 or above level

Music History and Literature Concentration

Music History and Literature Concentration
Course Number Credit Hours
MUS 501 3
MUS 502A and MUS 502B 4
MUS 599 6
MUS 470, MUS 471, MUS 472, MUS 474, MUS 475, MUS 476, MUS 477, MUS 478A, MUS 478B, MUS 573 or MUS 574 9
MUS 566A-L 4
Approved non-music history graduate music electives* 6
MUS 499, MUS 482, MUS 500, or approved graduate music history electives* 4
TOTAL 36

*A minimum of 1 credit hour of elective must be at 500 or above level.

In addition to the general requirements for graduation, music history and literature majors must have a reading ability in at least one foreign language. It is recommended that students successfully complete two semesters of a foreign language at the undergraduate level (preferably French or German), or pass FR 488 or GER 488 with a grade of B or higher.

 

Collaborative Piano Concentration

 Collaborative Piano Concentration
(Vocal and Instrumental Accompanying Emphases)
Course Number Vocal Credit Hours Instrumental Credit Hours
MUS 501 3 3
MUS 502A or MUS 502B 2 2
MUS 540Y 12 12
MUS 454 2 2
MUS 470, MUS 471, MUS 472, MUS 474, MUS 475, MUS 476, MUS 477, MUS 478A, MUS 478B, MUS 573, or MUS 574 6
MUS 470 is required		 6
MUS 472 is required
MUS 566A-L 4 4
MUS 479 2
MUS 479C		 2
MUS 479J
MUS 598A vocal accompanying recital (1 credit hour each)
MUS 598B instrumental accompanying recital (1 credit hour each)		 3
(2 vocal recitals; 1 instrumental recital)		 3
(2 instrumental recitals; 1 vocal recital)
MUS 595 1 1
Approved graduate music electives 1 1
TOTAL 36 36


Creation of the Graduate Faculty Committee

In the Fall of the second year, each student should formally create their Graduate Faculty Committee. Although the three members of this committee are the student’s choice, they must be SIUC faculty with whom the student has had academic contact, and they must agree to serve on this important committee. The student must complete and submit the Graduate Faculty Committee Form, signed by the student’s choice for Chair of this committee, to the Director of Graduate Studies.

Master of Music Thesis Requirements

Each of the various concentrations of the M.M. degree have slightly different thesis requirements, chosen from the following, separately or in combination:

  • MUS 599: A major written thesis on a topic proposed to and approved by the School of Music Graduate Committee.
    • Composers write a major composition under direction of the student’s Graduate Faculty committee.
  • MUS 598: A graduate recital under approval and direction of the student’s recital jury, this may be performing, conducting, or directing.
    • Collaborative Piano students perform three recitals as per the curriculum above.
  • MUS 595: A written research paper under the direction of the student’s Graduate Faculty Committee.
    • Performers write extended program notes to accompany their graduate recital;
    • Composers write extended notes to accompany their major composition thesis.

Research Papers and Theses (including compositions) must be submitted to the SIUC Graduate School on or before their posted deadline. For more information, visit: gradschool.siu.edu/current-students/thesis-dissertation-research paper.

Final Comprehensive Examinations

Final examinations are created and administered individually by each student’s Graduate Faculty Committee, during the student’s final semester, prior to the SIUC Graduate School’s deadline. The exams are in two parts:

  1. an extended written exam, essay style; and
  2. a one hour oral exam with the student’s Graduate Faculty Committee.

Chronology and Forms

In addition to meeting regularly with the Director of Graduate Studies in Music, students can learn about all expectations in regard to their degree program by reading the “Chronology of Master of Music Procedures” found on the School of Music website. This document contains links to all the necessary forms that are to be submitted during their degree. Links to these forms can be found at: gradschool.siu.edu/about-us/forms.