Masters

Music - Music Performance

Overview

Master of Music in Performance students are afforded intensive applied study with a professionally accomplished artist-teacher. Performance degrees are offered in all orchestral and band instruments, as well as in piano, guitar, and voice.

    The MM in Performance prepares you for a career in:

  • Symphony orchestras
  • Military ensembles
  • Broadway
  • Opera houses
  • Teaching at the college level

    The MM in Performance curriculum includes:

  • Applied music
  • Music pedagogy and literature
  • Analysis for Performers
  • History
  • Research
  • Ensembles
  • Electives which could include: Non-degree recitals, music technology, music history, music theory, music education, music therapy, music business, applied music, jazz studies and non-music courses
  • A written comprehensive exam and a recital are required for graduation.

Point of Pride

Performance graduate students concertize regularly in solo and chamber performances, including concerto-aria competitions, as well as national performance competitions such as the Music Teachers National Association and National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Graduate Advisor

Dr. Angelo Favis
(309) 438-8960
Centennial East 230

Schedule a Visit

Discover what life as an Illinois State graduate student is like.

How to Apply

University Admission Requirements

A student applying to this program must:

  • Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so by the time of program matriculation.
  • Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term.
  • If admitted, official domestic transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 208 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
  • If admitted, official international transcripts can be emailed directly from the international institution to InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, International Admissions, Campus Box 6180, Normal, IL 61790-6180.

International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Graduate School Admission Requirements.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

A student applying to this program must:

  • Have an undergraduate degree in music, or the equivalent for international students.
  • Have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8 for the last 60 hours of undergraduate enrollment.

The Grade Point Average (GPA) of all undergraduate credentials earned in the United States that are used for graduate degree admission evaluation is calculated by the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. International credentials are evaluated by using cumulative GPA (CGPA) in lieu of the GPA from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

Application Materials

  • School of Music application (included within the university application).
  • Three current letters of recommendation.
  • A live or recorded performance audition on your primary applied instrument. Find suggested repertoire of your specific instrument/voice.

The GRE is not required.

Additional Admission Requirements for International Students

  • English translation(s) of official transcript(s), verified with fresh seals and signatures.
  • Declaration of Finances.
  • Official English Language Exam Score (TOEFL or IELTS). The minimum iBT TOEFL score is 79. The minimum overall IELTS score is 6.5. Official scores need to be sent to Illinois State directly from ETS (TOEFL) or the testing center which administered the test (IELTS).
  • Copy of passport.

The documents listed above for international students need to be sent to the Office of Admissions.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Term — January 15; will review after if space permits
  • Spring Term — November 1; will review after if space permits
  • Summer Term — Not available

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Graduate Assistantships

The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,

  • be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
  • be in good-standing
  • be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).

Benefits

Graduate assistants receive

  • monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
  • a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
  • a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment

Graduate School Tuition Scholarships

The School of Music awards a limited number of Graduate School Tuition Scholarships on a competitive basis to incoming students who show promise for success and who have not received an assistantship or other awards funding tuition costs. These tuition scholarships are awarded upon recommendation of the faculty and approval by the Graduate Advisory Committee and are contingent upon funding from the University.

Incoming students who have been admitted into graduate programs in the School of Music must be enrolled full-time and have a minimum entrance GPA of 2.8 to be eligible. In addition, incoming summers-only MMEd students may be eligible to receive these scholarships but must be full-time teachers and not already receiving funding from their employing school district.

Review more information about graduate funding options at Illinois State University.

Costs & Funding

See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.

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