The Crane School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

The Crane School of Music offers programs leading to the Master of Music (MM) degree in music education and performance. These programs are designed to meet student interests, needs and requirements within a framework that provides opportunities to pursue a balance of academic and professionally oriented courses. Full-time students with no deficiencies can usually earn a master’s degree in two (for music education majors) or three semesters of study (for performance majors). Music education students may also complete their program over as few as two summers with at least two online courses.

A minimum of 24 credit hours for 30-hour programs must be earned in courses offered by SUNY Potsdam. A minimum of 18 credit hours must be earned at the Potsdam campus. With prior approval from the Dean of The Crane School of Music or his/her designee, a maximum of six credit hours may be transferred from other approved colleges and universities.

For those persons holding initial certification to teach music K-12 in the State of New York, both degree programs in The Crane School of Music are designed to fulfill the academic requirements for Professional certification to teach music K-12.

For persons who have earned a baccalaureate degree in music that did not lead to teacher certification, it is possible to complete the undergraduate coursework required for initial certification as a separate program or while working on coursework for a Master’s degree. The program takes at least two years. Contact the Crane Office of Music Education for more information.

Requirements for Admission

General Graduate Admission Requirements  Additional Admission Requirements  

1. Evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree in music from an accredited college of university. Applicants to the Master of Music in Music Education degree program are expected to have a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education or another Bachelor of Music degree with New York (or equivalent ) music teacher certification. However, international students may apply with a music degree other than the Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree, but only if they are seeking a Master’s of Music degree in Music Education without New York certification. (This option is only available to international students.) Alternatively, for students who have a Bachelor of Music degree in an area other than Music Education, and who are interested in achieving both teacher certification and a Master of Music in Music Education degree. The Crane School of Music offers a combined certification/Master’s option. Typically this program can be completed in two years plus an additional semester of student teaching. Contact the Crane Graduate Office for more information (gradmusic@ potsdam.edu).
2. Submission of two letters of recommendation with cover sheets.
3. A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (A=4.0) is required to qualify for Full Admission. Applicants with a GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 may be granted Conditional Admission, upon the recommendation of the Crane Graduate Program Committee. A student provisionally admitted into the graduate program cannot, during the first semester of study, enroll in more than 12 credits during any fall or spring semester, or six credits during the summer session. After one semester of study, the student’s progress will be reviewed by the Crane Graduate Program Committee, and the student will be granted either Full Admission, a renewal of Provisional Status, or be dismissed from the program.
4. A minimum undergraduate core music GPA of 3.0 is required for full admission. Graduate students who earned an average GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 in their undergraduate musicianship core (music theory, music history and aural skills) may be granted Provisional Admission, upon the recommendation of the Crane Graduate Program Performance Committee. Applicants with a core GPA below 3.0 will be required to take the graduate theory and history exam; if admitted, students may be required to take additional remedial coursework based on the results of these exams. Applicants with a core music GPA of lower than 2.75 will not be admitted.

Applicants who earned an average GPA of 3.0 or higher in their undergraduate musicianship core are exempt from the exams. For more information, please contact the Crane Graduate Program Administrator.

5. A demonstration of competency, including one of the following sets of requirements as defined by the specific program of study:
   1. Music Education
      1. An essay or college-level paper that demonstrates the student’s ability to organize ideas, research a topic, and write in an academic style. The essay must be typewritten or word processed, well documented and include a bibliography; and
      2. A video of the candidate teaching a class or conducting a rehearsal (one of these options is preferred), or a live or video audition on the applicant’s principal instrument. The teaching video may be sent as a DVD or internet link.
   2. Performance

A live audition in the applicant’s performance area, or the submission of a video recording, is required. More detailed information about registering for an audition is available on The Crane School of Music website.

Notes: All papers, essays, compositions, auditions, and video tapes will be reviewed by appropriate members of the Crane graduate faculty. The student’s complete file (including faculty evaluations of the above materials) will be reviewed by the Crane Graduate Program Committee at which time a recommendation for admission to the degree program will be made to the Director of the Center for Graduate Studies and the Dean of The Crane School of Music.

6. All graduate admission materials must be received by April 1 to be considered for fall academic year admission and November 15 for spring admission. Summer applications should be received by May 1. Please allow sufficient time for processing applications.
7. All students applying for Graduate Assistantships or Scholarships in Music must apply by March 2. Crane awards a number of graduate assistantships each spring for the following academic year (fall and spring only). Applicants interested in applying for a music assistantship may supply an optional statement about background and qualifications in relevant areas.

The Master of Music in Performance program is designed to develop student musicianship and technical expertise through individual study, and through solo, ensemble, and chamber performance opportunities, all under the direction of faculty artists.