Master of Music (M.M.)

Advance Your Career in Music at West Chester University

The Wells School of Music's Master of Music is built for musicians like you that are ready to go further, whether that means deepening your artistry on stage, expanding your reach in the classroom, or developing the analytical and historical foundation that underpins them both.

Music connects, challenges, and endures. At West Chester University, the Wells School of Music channels that passion into graduate study shaped by your goals and direction. Three areas of concentration reflect the full breadth of advanced musical training: Music Education, for those preparing to teach and lead at the highest levels; Music Performance, for artists committed to refining their craft, pedagogy, and knowledge of repertoire and Music History and Theory, for those pursuing the scholarly questions that define the field.

Master’s programs range from 30 to 36 credits depending on your concentration and can be completed in as few as two years full time or on a part-time schedule that fits your life. Some concentrations are available fully online, others on campus, and some offer a blend of both, so you can find the format that works without compromising the quality of your training. All are supported by the same faculty, facilities, and musical community that make the Wells School one of the region's most active centers for graduate-level study.

Unsure if a graduate master’s program is right for you?  Consider one of our 18-credit Graduate Certificates in Music Technology or Orff Schulwerk, or Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification in Music Education.

Tracks in Our Master of Music Program

Benefits of Earning Your Music Master's Degree at WCU

Accreditation

The Wells School of Music's M.M. programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music Commission on Accreditation. Music Education concentrations carry additional accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and the American Orff Schulwerk Association.

Outstanding Facilities

All Wells School of Music graduate programs are housed in the Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, steps from the heart of campus. Swope offers private instructional spaces, three large rehearsal halls, 56 practice rooms, state of the art classrooms, a music education computer lab and Apple Training Center, an instrumental rental office, the Center for Music and Technology, the Presser Music Library, and a partnership with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Major performances take place in the 125 seat Ware Family Recital Hall, the 385 seat Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, or the historic Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, seating over 1,200 since 1927. The Wells School of Music hosts hundreds of performances every year.

Exceptional Faculty

Wells School of Music faculty compose, conduct, perform, and record internationally, with credits that include the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Russian Philharmonic. Students also learn from and perform alongside world class guest artists, including principal players from the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. With an average class size of 11, you'll get direct, individualized guidance from faculty across instrumental, choral, and band conducting, performance, and music education.

Graduate Assistantships

The Wells School of Music offers paid graduate assistantships that provide research, administrative, performance, and community partnership opportunities on and off campus.

Community

The Wells School of Music is a welcoming, tight knit community of musicians at every level. You'll build lasting relationships with classmates and faculty, with opportunities for field placements and international travel. West Chester's location also puts you within driving distance of Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and New York City, home to some of the country's richest performing arts scenes, from the Philadelphia Orchestra to Broadway.

What Can You Do With a Master of Music Degree?

A Master of Music from WCU prepares you for a career built around your specific goals, whether that's performing, teaching, conducting, or composing. Recent graduates hold positions as professors at U.S. and international universities, performers and musicians on Broadway and in United States military bands, and conductors of professional ensembles. Others have gone on to doctoral programs and Artist Diplomas at institutions including Indiana University, the Peabody Conservatory, and Juilliard.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a salary range for music teachers between $40,181 and $80,132, with variation based on education level, certification, and experience. Many WCU graduates report salary increases after earning their M.M. Beyond teaching, your degree opens doors to roles including music director, composer, private instructor, and music producer, and prepares you to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts.

Where are our graduates?