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Graduate Degrees
Master of Music in Music Theory/Composition
Graduate assistantships are available to qualified graduate students for up to four semesters. Recipients receive full tuition waivers. If interested, graduate students should contact the Office of Graduate Studies at 610-436-2943.
Requirements:
MM in Theory/Composition students are required to take courses in Composition, Computer Music, Form, Orchestration and Counterpoint in addition to electives in Music History and Music Theory/Composition. Depending on their area of concentration, MM students prepare either a masters thesis (advanced research paper) or a large-scale composition under the supervision of their advisor. Recent MM thesis papers have studied the works of Stravinsky and Bernstein. Recent MM thesis compositions have been written and given their world premieres at WCU, scored for large percussion ensemble, orchestra and concert band. Graduates from the MM in Theory/Composition program have gone on for more advanced study in composition and/or theory at the doctoral level. Most students from these programs aspire to become college-level instructors, while others have gone on to become freelance composers and arrangers.
Auditions
The interview for the MM in Theory/Composition is based on two factors as well: 75% of the interview is a measure of the student’s composition and/or analytic skills. Prospective Composers will be expected to show and discuss three of their original scores. If a recording is available of the score, students are encouraged to bring it to the interview. Prospective Theorists will be expected to take a written analysis test, providing harmonic and formal analysis of three short compositions from different musical eras. 25% of the audition is a measure of the student’s skills in sight-singing, dictation and piano. Students will be expected to sing diatonic and chromatic melodies at sight, take dictation of diatonic and chromatic chord progressions, and aurally identify a variety of tertian and non-tertian sonorities. Students are expected to prepare a piano work of early-intermediate level difficulty.
Graduate Handbook
The Handbook is provided for music students as a guide in program planning for graduate studies in the West Chester University School of Music. It furnishes a summary of requirements and procedures needed for the successful completion of the degrees of Master of Music and Master of Arts.
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