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Graduate Programs - Master of Music

The Delaware Advantage

The University of Delaware is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the country, and combines tradition and innovation, offering students a rich heritage along with the latest instructional and research technology. A state-assisted, privately funded land-grant institution, UD provides graduate students with a stimulating campus environment plus easy access to the major metropolitan centers of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and New York.

At the heart of the program are the members of the music faculty - all professionally active performers, composers, music educators or music historians. Their accomplishments are reflected in the numerous awards, publications, recordings and performances which, each year, serve to underscore their artistry and scholarship and increase their national and international prominence. This community of artists and scholars provides an ideal atmosphere for graduate study in music.

Music study at Delaware is enriched by the well-equipped and modern facilities in the Amy E. du Pont Music Building, with its large rehearsal rooms, practice rooms and Loudis Recital Hall. An excellent collection of scores, books and music journals is housed in the University's Morris Library. In addition, the department's Music Resources Center contains study scores and chamber music, as well as a fine collection of audio and video recordings. The building also houses extensive electronic equipment which supports the work in computer- and video-disc technology which has earned the department international acclaim.

The Center for the Arts opened in the Fall of 2006 and provides the Department of Music with two new performance spaces for recitals and ensemble rehearsals: Gore Recital Hall and Puglisi Orchestra Hall. In addition, there are many additional practice rooms now available for music students.

Degrees Offered

The University of Delaware offers the Master of Music degree with concentrations in Performance, Teaching, and Composition. Performance degrees are offered for all orchestral instruments, saxophone, guitar, piano, organ, voice and conducting (with a specialization in instrumental or choral conducting). Specializations for the Teaching concentration include instrumental, choral and general music. It is expected that students applying for the Teaching concentration will currently hold a school music teaching position, in order to facilitate the completion of their thesis or professional improvement paper.

Financial Aid

Financial assistance is available to selected graduate students in the form of tuition waivers, graduate assistantships and teaching assistantships. Students with tuition waivers receive up to a full waiver of tuition, and provide ten hours of service weekly to the Department. Assistantships provide a tuition waiver plus a stipend; students will be assigned teaching duties according to their background, interests, and the needs of the Department. Assistantship duties have included, but are not limited to teaching MUSC 105, Music Theory for Non-Majors; teaching Private Study to non-majors; teaching Class Voice.

There are also assistantships that are specifically for work with the Marching Band. Students with an interest in the Marching Band Assistantships should contact Professor Heidi Sarver, Marching Band Director, at sarvermb@udel.edu.

Please note that the application deadline for students to be considered for tuition waivers and teaching assistantships is March 15.

Admission Procedures

  1. Applicants for admission should have earned a bachelor's degree in music, or an equivalent diploma or certificate as determined by the Department of Music, with an acceptable grade point average (normally 3.0).
  2. The applicant should complete the Graduate Admission Application and send to the Office of Graduate Studies; 234 Hullihen Hall; University of Delaware; Newark, DE 19716. Applications for admission are available from the University's Office of Graduate Studies (302) 831-2129 or from the Department of Music, 209 Amy E. du Pont Music Building (302) 831-2577. Electronic application is available at http://www.udel.edu/gradoffice/. Those wishing to be considered for tuition waivers and graduate teaching assistantships must make application no later than March 15. Awards will be announced by April 15.
  3. The applicant should have letters of reference sent directly to: Office of Graduate Studies; 234 Hullihen Hall; University of Delaware; Newark, DE 19716. Performance candidates should include a letter of reference from an applied teacher. Teaching candidates should include at least two letters from supervisors or administrators.
  4. Performance Concentration candidates must audition with a 20-minute program of appropriate literature showing contrasting styles. Please contact the Department of Music to arrange an audition.
  5. Please arrange to have each institution of higher education that you have attended send two official transcripts of your college records directly to the Office of Graduate Studies. Students who have attended the University of Delaware need not supply a transcript from Delaware.
  6. Master of Music students are required to take a music theory placement exam and a music history comprehensive exam at the beginning of their first semester of enrollment. This exam will be offered by the end of the first week of classes each fall and students must pass the music theory placement exam in order to enroll in MUSC 695 Advanced Analytical Techniques. Students who do not pass the music theory placement exam on their first attempt may take the exam again the following semester. If they do not pass the exam on their second attempt, they will be required to enroll in a remedial course, usually offered during second summer session. A grade of C or above in the remedial course will allow the student to register in MUSC 695 without re-taking the theory placement exam. Students must pass the music history comprehensive exam by the time they have completed 18 credit hours towards their degree, or they will be dismissed from the MM degree program.
  7. A maximum of nine credits taken through the University of Delaware's Division of Continuing Education may be applied to the requirements of the degree Master of Music.
  8. Foreign students should note the English language requirement, as described in the University of Delaware Graduate Catalog.

Important Deadlines

  • March 15: Application deadline for students to be considered for tuition scholarships and teaching assistantships. Tuition scholarships and teaching assistantships are given by school year; therefore this deadline corresponds with fall admission.
  • April 1: Application deadline for summer admission -- application form, transcripts and letters of reference due.
  • April 1: Performance Concentration candidates must audition by this date for summer admission.
  • June 1: Performance Concentration candidates must audition by this date for fall admission.
  • July 1: Application deadline for fall admission-- application form, transcripts and letters of reference due.
  • December 1: Application deadline for spring admission -- application form, transcripts and letters of reference due.
  • December 1: Performance Concentration candidates must audition by this date for spring admission.

Curricula

For Further Information

Phone: 302.831.2577
Fax: 302.831.3589
E-Mail: UD-Music@udel.edu