Performance, Instrumental Track, M.M.

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For those persons holding initial certification to teach music K-12 in the State of New York, the Master of Music Performance degree program is designed to fulfill the academic requirements for Professional certification to teach music K-12.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Music Performance M.M. students will be able to:

   • utilize inquiry tools to critically examine core topics and issues in their field of study.
   • demonstrate satisfactory technical control and artistry in musical performance.
   • reflect critically on topics and issues in music performance.

Program Requirements

Required Courses

A minimum of 30 credit hours with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required for the granting of the Master of Music, Instrumental Performance degree. A minimum of 24 credit hours for 30-hour programs must be earned in courses offered by SUNY Potsdam.

The 30 credit hours are divided as follows. All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

MUCH 611 - Introduction to Graduate Study 3 Credit(s) (should be taken during the first semester of study.)
MUCP 640 - Literature and Pedagogy 2 Credit(s)
MUCS 630 - Performance Concentration 3 Credit(s) (taken 3 times)
MUCP 681 - Chamber Music 1 Credit(s)
MUCP 5xx or 6xx Performance elective
MUCX 5xx or 6xx Non-performance elective

Elective: 9 Credits

Music Theory or Music History/Literature Electives

at least three credits in music theory
at least three credits in music history and literature

**Composition Courses (MUCT 601 , MUCT 602 , MUCT 603 , MUCT 611 , MUCT 612 , MUCT 613 ) cannot be used to fulfill these requirements.

Additional Graduation Requirement

Each student in the Master of Music degree program in Performance must also perform a graduate recital not to exceed 90 minutes in length, and complete a final oral examination. Both requirements will be evaluated by a committee of faculty members. Successful completion of the graduate recital is a requirement for the Master of Music degree in Performance. Prior to the graduate recital, the student will submit to the committee one of the following:

detailed program notes of the works to be performed on the recital; or
an analytical/historical paper focusing on the works to be performed on the recital.

The format will be at the discretion of the studio instructor. In either case, the document must include appropriate citations. The program notes or paper must be submitted to all committee members no later than four weeks before the recital. The committee must approve the submitted document no later than two weeks before the recital. If these deadlines are not met, the recital may be canceled at the discretion of the Associate Dean. The document will be discussed and defended during the final oral examination. More information about the final oral exam and the exam committee can be found in the Crane Student Handbook.

Piano Pedagogy Concentration

Graduate students enrolled in a Master of Music degree program can also apply to complete a concentration in piano pedagogy. Click here for more information about this option.