Music Education Concentration
This program is designed to meet the needs of teachers in the field of professional music education who possess a valid teaching license. APSU offers a traditional on-campus program and a low-residency program consisting mostly of on-line courses for working professionals. The low-residency program contains a six-hour on-campus residency that is usually fulfilled in a summer term. The low-residency program is not available to students in the Initial Licensure Program. To audition, candidates must submit a video of a current teaching scenario and a recent writing sample. The writing sample is commonly a Philosophy of Music Education statement, but other scholarly documents are acceptable. Contact the department with questions regarding audition requirements.
Upon entry into the program, students will consult with a graduate faculty member to design a graduate Program of Study based on the student’s undergraduate courses and professional goals. The Program of Study must be designed and approved in consultation with an appointed graduate faculty member or the graduate committee, and submitted to the College of Graduate studies by the end of the first full semester of study (If an Admission to Candidacy/Program of Study/Committee Assignment form is not filed by the end of the first semester (excluding summer terms), a hold will be placed on the student’s registration by the Registrar’s Office).
Diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory are given to all entering graduate students. Results of this exam assist the faculty in planning appropriate courses in the student’s program of study. Students who earn unsatisfactory scores may be permitted to enroll in up to six hours of graduate course work, but will be blocked from continuing further until deficiencies are fulfilled. For traditional students, deficiencies may be fulfilled by enrolling in the appropriate theory or history courses as prescribed by the graduate committee. For students in the low-residency program, deficiencies may be fulfilled by proof of successful completion of an online theory or history MOOC or other online course. All courses must be preapproved by the graduate committee. Low-residency students may also fulfill deficiencies by repeating the diagnostic exams after a period of 4 weeks from the previous attempt. Students who do not receive satisfactory scores on the diagnostic exams after three attempts may not continue in the graduate program. No graduate credit will be awarded for courses that are taken to fulfill a deficiency in either the traditional or low-residency program.
Note: All deficiencies must be fulfilled by the end of the first semester of graduate study (excluding summer semester) so that the deadline for filing the Program of Study can be met.
Students in the low-residency program may complete oral examinations and Thesis defense on campus or through video conference all. Students in the traditional, on-campus program must complete oral examinations and thesis defense on campus.
Music Education Concentration (Initial Licensure)
This program is designed to meet the needs of musicians seeking to enter the field of professional music education. APSU offers a traditional on-campus program and a low-residency program consisting mostly of on-line courses for working professionals. The low-residency program contains a six-hour on-campus residency that is usually fulfilled in a summer term. The low-residency program is not available to students in the Initial Licensure Program. To audition, candidates must submit a video of a current teaching scenario and a recent writing sample. The writing sample is commonly a Philosophy of Music Education statement, but other scholarly documents are acceptable. Candidates for the initial licensure program should contact the department with questions regarding audition requirements.
Upon entry into the program, students will consult with a graduate faculty member to design a graduate Program of Study based on the student’s undergraduate courses and professional goals. The Program of Study must be designed and approved in consultation with an appointed graduate faculty member or the graduate committee, and submitted to the College of Graduate studies by the end of the first full semester of study (If an Admission to Candidacy/Program of Study/Committee Assignment form is not filed by the end of the first semester (excluding summer terms), a hold will be placed on the student’s registration by the Registrar’s Office).
Diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory are given to all entering graduate students. Results of this exam assist the faculty in planning appropriate courses in the student’s program of study. Students who earn unsatisfactory scores may be permitted to enroll in up to six hours of graduate course work, but will be blocked from continuing further until deficiencies are fulfilled. For initial licensure students, deficiencies may be fulfilled by enrolling in the appropriate theory or history courses as prescribed by the graduate committee. No graduate credit will be awarded for courses that are taken to fulfill a deficiency in either the traditional or low-residency program.
Note: All deficiencies must be fulfilled by the end of the first semester of graduate study (excluding summer semester) so that the deadline for filing the Program of Study can be met.
Students who wish to pursue both a Master of Music Degree with a concentration in Music Education AND INITIAL LICENSURE must complete six additional courses in education. Further, students must complete any undergraduate music education deficiencies. There are two options: (1) pass the Praxis II music exam (Test 0114 [paper-delivered exam] or Test 5114 [computer-delivered exam] Music Content and Instruction with a minimum score of 162; OR (2) successfully complete the following courses and proficiencies: MUS 2240 Foundations of Music Education, MUS 3255 Elementary Music Methods, MUS 4380 or MUS 4260 (Choral Methods or Secondary Instrumental Music Methods), MUS 3810 or MUS 3820 (Choral or Instrumental Conducting). Instrumentalists must pass the instrumental proficiency examinations for strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion or successfully complete classes in these instructional methods.
Admission to the Teacher Education Program is required for those seeking initial licensure concurrent with enrollment in the graduate program. Documentation of progress through a series of assessments in an electronic portfolio (LiveText) is required as well as a one-semester student teaching experience. Consult the College of Education link to Graduate Milestone Assessment (http://www.apsu.edu/education/2010/gradmilestones).*
Music Performance Concentration
This program is designed to increase skills in instrumental or vocal performance or conducting, for careers in private music teaching as well as performance and for those who wish to pursue doctoral studies in applied music.
Students will be required to audition in their primary performing area and to demonstrate their eartraining, sightsinging and keyboard proficiency. Voice majors are expected to demonstrate proficiency in German, French, and Italian diction. Normally, these examinations will be taken before enrolling in graduate courses. Diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory are given to all entering graduate students the day immediately prior to the first day of class of the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The results will assist the faculty in helping the student plan appropriate courses in the program of study. Deficiencies may be made up after matriculation however, no graduate credit will be allowed for such work. Note: Students must successfully pass both music theory and music history exams by the end of the first semester of graduate study (excluding summer semester) so that the deadline for filing the Program of Study can be met. (If an Admission to Candidacy/Program of Study/Committee Assignment form is not filed by the end of the first semester (excluding summer terms), a hold will be placed on the student’s registration by the Registrar’s Office).
The Graduate Recital will be supplemented by a written descriptive or analytical narrative paper that will be filed in the College of Graduate Studies office.
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