Graduate Degrees in Music
WKU offers a Master of Music Degree with four specializations in:
- Music Education - Teacher Leader
- Conducting - Teacher Leader
- Conducting
- Pedagogy
Admission into either the Conducting (TL) or the Music Education (TL) specialization requires a valid teaching certificate. These degrees will train young professional musicians who have already received undergraduate degrees in music to further hone their skills.
Conducting - Choral
The Master of Music in Conducting is designed for students seeking to develop into highly qualified professional choral conductors through intensive study with a major artist-teacher. The MM in Conducting features one-to-one mentorship and experiential learning to advance technical skill sets and develop artistic sensibilities. The curriculum synthesizes score comprehension, skillful and expressive conducting techniques, music literature and research practices, in addition to honing extra-musical components of a conductor’s responsibilities. Since mentorship with faculty and bespoke podium experiences are integral to the MM Conducting degree, candidates for the program are carefully selected.
Credit hours required: 31
Pre-screen application materials due: December 1
Conducting - Orchestral
The Master of Music in Conducting is designed for students seeking to develop into highly qualified professional orchestral conductors through intensive study with a major artist-teacher. The MM in Conducting features one-to-one mentorship and experiential learning to advance technical skill sets and develop artistic sensibilities. The curriculum synthesizes score comprehension, skillful and expressive conducting techniques, music literature and research practices, in addition to honing extra-musical components of a conductor’s responsibilities. Since mentorship with faculty and bespoke podium experiences are integral to the MM Conducting degree, candidates for the program are carefully selected.
Credit hours required: 31
Pre-screen application materials due: December 1
Conducting - Wind Band
The Master of Music in Conducting is designed for students seeking to develop into highly qualified professional wind band conductors through intensive study with a major artist-teacher. The MM in Conducting features one-to-one mentorship and experiential learning to advance technical skill sets and develop artistic sensibilities. The curriculum synthesizes score comprehension, skillful and expressive conducting techniques, music literature and research practices, in addition to honing extra-musical components of a conductor’s responsibilities. Since mentorship with faculty and bespoke podium experiences are integral to the MM Conducting degree, candidates for the program are carefully selected.
Credit hours required: 31
Pre-screen application materials Due: December 1
Conducting - Teacher Leader- Choral
The Master of Music in Conducting-Teacher Leader is designed for musicians seeking to develop into highly qualified choral conductors with an additional interest in elementary, middle, or secondary music classrooms and ensembles. The MM in Conducting-Teacher Leader offers one-to-one mentorship and experiential learning to advance technical skill sets and develop artistic sensibilities through score comprehension, expressive conducting techniques, and learning to navigate the extra-musical components of a conductor’s responsibilities. In addition, the Teacher Leader curriculum is designed to yield more effective lesson plans and revitalize the music classroom. Since mentorship with faculty and bespoke podium experiences are integral to the MM Conducting-Teacher Leader degree, candidates for the program are carefully selected.
Candidates should already possess a valid teaching certificate or Statement of Eligibility for P-12 Music Certification (Integrated, Vocal, or Instrumental).
Credit hours required: 36
Pre-Screen Application Materials due: December 1
Conducting - Teacher Leader - Orchestral
The Master of Music in Conducting-Teacher Leader is designed for musicians seeking to develop into highly qualified orchestral conductors with an additional interest in elementary, middle, or secondary music classrooms and ensembles. The MM in Conducting-Teacher Leader offers one-to-one mentorship and experiential learning to advance technical skill sets and develop artistic sensibilities through score comprehension, expressive conducting techniques, and learning to navigate the extra-musical components of a conductor’s responsibilities. In addition, the Teacher Leader curriculum is designed to yield more effective lesson plans and revitalize the music classroom. Since mentorship with faculty and bespoke podium experiences are integral to the MM Conducting-Teacher Leader degree, candidates for the program are carefully selected.
Candidates should already possess a valid teaching certificate or Statement of Eligibility for P-12 Music Certification (Integrated, Vocal, or Instrumental).
Credit hours required: 36
Pre-screen application materials due: December 1
Conducting - Teacher Leader - Wind Band
The Master of Music in Conducting-Teacher Leader is designed for musicians seeking to develop into highly qualified wind band conductors with an additional interest in elementary, middle, or secondary music classrooms and ensembles. The MM in Conducting-Teacher Leader offers one-to-one mentorship and experiential learning to advance technical skill sets and develop artistic sensibilities through score comprehension, expressive conducting techniques, and learning to navigate the extra-musical components of a conductor’s responsibilities. In addition, the Teacher Leader curriculum is designed to yield more effective lesson plans and revitalize the music classroom. Since mentorship with faculty and bespoke podium experiences are integral to the MM Conducting-Teacher Leader degree, candidates for the program are carefully selected.
Candidates should already possess a valid teaching certificate or Statement of Eligibility for P-12 Music Certification (Integrated, Vocal, or Instrumental).
Credit hours required: 36
Pre-screen application materials due: December 1
Music Education - Teacher Leader
The Master of Music in Music Education-Teacher Leader provides opportunities for musicians to deepen their understanding of the historical, philosophical, psychological, and cultural aspects of music education. MM in Music Education-Teacher Leaders will further develop their dispositions as reflective practitioners and mentors to yield more effective lesson plans and revitalize music classrooms. Students will acquire a fundamental knowledge of research techniques and scholarly writing standards, and learn how to apply these to their work as teachers.
Candidates should already possess a valid teaching certificate or Statement of Eligibility for P-12 Music Certification (Integrated, Vocal, or Instrumental).
Credit hours required: 30
Pre-screen application materials due: December 1
Pedagogy
The Master of Music in Pedagogy concentration is for vocalists and instrumentalists who are interested in refining their proficiency in performing and developing the knowledge and skills for effective studio teaching in public or private university settings, work with music based organizations or businesses, and continuation into doctoral degree work. Our curriculum synthesizes instrumental applied techniques, teaching strategies, literature, and improving performance practices. MM in Pedagogy students receive one-on-one mentorship with esteemed faculty and experiential learning to acquire the skills necessary for their continued degree work or immediate workplace application.
Credit hours required: 30
Pre-screen application materials due: December 1
Graduate assistantships are available!! To be considered for these competitive assistantships, complete the graduate assistantship application by April 1 for the upcoming fall semester.
Western Kentucky University is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1948.
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