Music
All the way back to 1887, the accomplishments of our students have made MSU an institution synonymous with musical greatness. Whether it’s our award-winning marching percussion leaving crowds awe-struck or our symphony band gracing the stage, our ensembles consistently earn national and international recognition.
We will prepare you to join successful alumni as acclaimed music teachers and professors, leading members in the music performance world, Emmy-nominated composers, commercial musicians in the music products and recording industries or as graduate students who are studying at the nation’s leading music schools and conservatories.
Undergraduate Programs of Study
Whether you want to specialize in playing rhythms and melodies or teaching those essential musical elements to others, you can hone your specialty through any number of our undergraduate programs. Click here for information about our Undergraduate Programs.
- Bachelor of Music Education
- Bachelor of Music in Performance
- Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Music
- Minor in Music
- Minor in Traditional Music
- Post-Baccalaureate Initial P-12 Teacher Certification Program
Admission & Scholarships
Apply to MSU and complete the online Music Admission and Scholarship Application on the department web site by Feb. 1. Music admission and scholarship auditions will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 and Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, or by appointment. Auditions are also scheduled in conjunction with select events hosted at MSU. New and transfer students planning to major or minor in music must audition before the music faculty on their principal performing instrument or voice prior to enrollment in the music programs. Click here for more information on music admission and scholarships.
Graduate Study
Looking to take your education further? Take a closer look at our Master of Music degree with an emphasis in music education or performance.
- Master of Music – Music Education: Designed for the practicing music educator, you can complete your masters in three years through a combination of online and face-to-face courses. This program provides you a curriculum that is accessible and flexible allowing you time for a significant amount of study in instrumental and choral conducting, brass, woodwinds, percussion, orchestral strings, keyboard instruments, guitar and jazz with additional opportunities to study music history, literature and education. Course options in this program allow the study of Kodaly to national Kodaly certification. Best of all, you can compete your degree without having to take a leave from your teaching duties.
- Master of Music – Performance: For students with a performance focus, the Master of Music with an emphasis in performance focuses your study on a specialization in voice, instrumental and choral conducting, composition, brass, woodwinds, percussion, orchestral strings, keyboard instruments, guitar and jazz.
Graduate Admission
Prospective graduate music students must have an earned Bachelor degree in music from an accredited college or university with a minimum earned cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Candidates must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on all music courses beyond the freshman level. All entering graduate music students are required to take entrance exams in music theory, history, and literature. Those students wishing to pursue the “Emphasis in Performance” must audition before a committee of music faculty members prior to unconditional admission to the program. Click here for more information regarding graduate music study.
Performance Opportunities
The Department of Music, Theatre and Dance offers private instruction in a vast array of instruments. Whether you specialize in piano, percussion, strings, woodwinds, brass, voice, or traditional music, we offer you a wide array of performance opportunities to choose from.
- Private Study
- Brass Instruments
- Conducting (Choral & Instrumental)
- Electric Bass
- Harpsichord
- Jazz Guitar
- Jazz Piano
- Orchestral Strings
- Organ
- Percussion
- Piano
- Traditional Musical Instruments
- Voice
- Woodwind Instrument
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