Admissions to the Master of Music Degree Performance, Conducting, Theory/Composition or Music Education
Please note: this page gives information for students seeking the M.M. degree only. All students seeking the D.M.A. degree should click here to apply for the D.M.A./M.M. track.
The School of Music offers a master's degree program that provides students with the necessary opportunities to achieve the highest degree of musical development and professional training. Students seeking admission to a program leading to the Master of Music degree must meet JMU Graduate School requirements, general School of Music requirements for all majors and specific requirements for entrance into a specific concentration. Admissions decisions will be determined without regard to race, color, sex, creed, religion, handicap or national origin of individuals.
Admissions Requirements for All Applicants:
- The Graduate School Application
- Undergraduate degree with a major in music or its demonstrated equivalent with a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 in music courses. Applicants must have official transcripts sent from all post-secondary schools.*
- Acceptable scores on the General test of the Graduate Record Examination.* All applicants should be aware that the GRE is only given a few times a year and that it requires early registration. Click here for the GRE website.
- For performance or conducting majors a live audition (or a high-quality audio/video recording for conditional admission); for theory/composition majors a paper or composition; for music education majors a written and oral interview.
Please contact us for more information spearemj@jmu.edu - For music education majors one year of teaching or teaching audition.
- Three letters of recommendation from qualified persons (for example, music education majors should provide at least one letter from an educator/supervisor who has seen them teaching).
Additional Requirements for International Applicants:
- TOEFL of at least 570* (written test)
- A financial statement prior to application*
- Click here for other requirements and information for international students.
Asterisk (*) denotes materials to be submitted to The Graduate School along with the Graduate School application. All other materials should be submitted to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Deadline for all application materials for admissions in the Fall 2008 semester: April 1, 2008. Please note: if you wish to apply for an assistantship, the deadline for full consideration is February 1, 2008.
Assistantships:
Financial Aid is administered by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships in Warren Hall. The chief source of aid for graduate study is through assistantships awarded by the school. Teaching and non-teaching graduate assistantships in music are awarded each year on a competitive basis. Specific assignments in administration, applied music, bands, literature, music education, orchestra and theory are based on qualifications and School of Music needs. In addition to a stipend, assistantships include a tuition award. Graduate Assistantship applications should be submitted by February 1st to receive priority consideration for the following school year. To apply for an assistantship, please submit a letter to Dr. Mary Jean Speare requesting consideration for an assistantship, all application materials listed under 'Admissions Requirements' by February 1, 2007. For more information about graduate assistantships including current stipend amounts, click here.
Entrance Examinations:
Prior to the first week of classes, all music applicants must take JMU School of Music diagnostic examinations in music history, written theory and ear training. The results are used for placement and advising. Composition majors must successfully complete the theory diagnostic examination as a part of the admissions process. Deficiencies may require election of certain classes within one's graduate program. Removal of deficiencies is required for acceptance into the final stage of study - Candidacy for the Degree.
If you would like more information about the Graduate Music Program, please download the JMU School of Music Graduate Studies Handbook (requires Adobe Reader). For further information or questions concerning graduate study in music, contact:
Dr. Mary Jean Speare
Coordinator of Graduate Studies
School of Music, MSC 7301
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
E-mail: spearemj@jmu.edu
Phone: 540.568.3687
