Graduate Bulletin

Music Performance/Cello, M.M.

ESTHER BOYER COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND DANCE

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: March 1                                 [December 15 for international applicants]

Spring: December 1                             [August 1 for international applicants]

Applications are processed as they arrive up to the deadline date.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from evaluators who can provide insight into the applicant's abilities, talents, and aptitude for graduate study.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate Bachelor of Music degree at Temple University, which is based on a curriculum of 124 to 135 hours.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A degree in music is expected.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should include an applicant's special interests within the discipline and expectations for the program.

Standardized Test Scores:

Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted: 525 paper-based, 197 computer-based, or 71 internet-based. Any student admitted with a TOEFL score below 600 on the paper-based, 250 on the computer-based, or 100 on the internet-based examination must pass the SPEAK test prior to registration or pass an English skills course during the first semester of enrollment at Temple University.

Audition:

1. At least two movements from a Bach unaccompanied suite.

2. A movement from a Classical concerto or sonata.

3. A movement from a Romantic concerto or sonata.

4. A work from the Contemporary period.

Applicants are required to arrange for an accompanist.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Transfer Credit:

A student who wishes to transfer credit should speak with her/his academic advisor and obtain a transfer of credit form, available at: www.temple.edu/grad/forms/documents/Transfer_Grad_Credit_05.pdf. Transfer credits must be approved by the advisor, the department chair, and the Associate Dean. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Other:

Due to the large number of applications for admission and the competitive nature of its music programs, the Boyer College admits only a portion of its applicants. In addition to general admissions credentials required of all Temple University graduate applicants, specialized admission criteria (i.e., auditions, portfolios, interviews, recommendations, departmental term papers, and standardized examinations) are weighted very heavily in admission decisions. Graduate applicants may be rejected for admission for failing to obtain the required level of proficiency in any one area of the specialized admission criteria regardless of the level of success in meeting Temple University's general admission criteria. In addition to the level of success demonstrated in the above-mentioned criteria, a final admission factor is the College's Optimum Enrollment Policy. This Policy may preclude the admission of any student who meets the minimum requirements.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 32

Required Courses:

Music  430 (3) Instrumental Lessons

             431 (3) Instrumental Lessons

             432 (3) Instrumental Lessons

             433 (3) Instrumental Lessons/Recital

             459 or 492 (2) String Pedagogy

             560/561 (8) Instrumental Ensemble. (M.M. candidates must be available for ensemble assignments which are determined by the department chair and may exceed curricular requirements.)

Music Studies 700 (3) Research in Music

Electives (7). Select from Music, Music Education, Music Studies, or other graduate departments. At least 3 s.h. must be in academic, non-performance coursework.  Advisor approval required.

All degree credits are to be earned at Temple University.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Additional Requirements:

Comprehensive Listening Examination.

Public Recital:

Fourth semester of Instrumental Lessons (Music 433).

Diagnostic Examinations:

All entering Master of Music students are required to take Diagnostic Examinations in Harmony, Counterpoint, Aural Skills, and Music History prior to the first semester of graduate study. The purpose of these examinations is to determine inadequacies in undergraduate preparation. Depending on the examination results, students may be required to take one or more remedial courses. Remedial courses will be graded on a "Credit / No Credit" basis.  The official university transcript will indicate "CR" (for "Credit," signifying that the deficiency has been satisfied) or "NC" (for "No Credit," signifying that the deficiency has not been satisfied). A student must have a "B-" or better average in any remedial course or section to earn the grade of "Credit" and to satisfy the requirement. A student who earns a grade of "NC" (that is, having a class average below "B-") must retake that course or section until an average of "B-" or higher is achieved and a grade of "CR" is recorded on the official university transcript. Remedial courses are offered for undergraduate credit only and do not count toward graduate degree requirements.

1. All entering M.M. students must take the Diagnostic Examination in Harmony, Counterpoint, and Aural Skills prior to the first semester of graduate study unless conditions for exemption have been met (see below). A student may take the test only once, and if she does not pass the test or any portion, she must enroll in the remedial course(s) during their first semester of study. The examiners will stipulate which sections of remedial coursework the student must take. The courses are "Diatonic Harmony Review" (Music Studies 201), "Chromatic Harmony Review" (Music Studies 202), "Counterpoint Review" (Music Studies 203), and "Aural Skills" (Music Studies 042 and/or Music Studies 141).

2. All entering M.M. students are required to take the Diagnostic Examination in Music History prior to registering for their first semester of graduate study unless conditions for exemption have been met (see below). If the student is unsuccessful in passing any portion of the Music History examination, the student may select one of two options. Option A entails registering to take Music History Review (Music Studies 253 for 1 to 5 undergraduate credits, with 1 credit assigned to each of the following five periods: Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and Twentieth Century). Students may register for a maximum of 3 credits of Music History Review in any semester; thus, it is possible to extend the remediation over two semesters. Option B entails the student's studying independently and retaking the failed sections of the examination at the end of the first semester of study. Students may retake the examination only once, and if any section is failed a second time, they must take the assigned remedial sections in their second semester of study.

3. Conditions for Exemption: The requirement to take the Diagnostic Examination in any area is waived only for graduates of the Boyer College who: 1) matriculate and enroll in the semester immediately following completion of all undergraduate degree requirements, and 2) received grades of "B-" or better in every undergraduate course taken in each individual examination area to be waived.

Professional Development Policy:

All students in the Boyer College of Music and Dance, in addition to the required subjects toward their degrees, are obligated to serve in a number of capacities in order to enrich their academic and musical expertise. Boyer College believes that such experiences give impetus to successful professional careers. Among the duties that may be required are conducting laboratory classes, tutoring, teaching private lessons, coaching, participating in the distribution and inventory control of Temple University-owned musical instruments and instructional materials, participating in ensembles, accompanying, performing at admissions and open house events, supervising performance classes, and engaging in other academic activities.

Performing Ensembles:
1. Touring: All students in touring performing ensembles are required to participate in all scheduled tours. These tours, usually one or two weeks in length, often take place immediately after termination of semesters. Students must arrange their schedules to accommodate this requirement.

2. Participation: Master's degree candidates in wind, brass, and percussion instruments must be available for ensemble assignments at the discretion of the department chair, including participation beyond curricular requirements.

3. Non-Credit Participation: With special permission, graduate students for whom there is no ensemble requirement, or where previous ensemble credits exceed the graduation requirement, may participate in choral and instrumental ensembles without cost, with prior permission from the ensemble director, the department chair, and the Associate Dean.

University Orchestra:

At the master's degree level, all string majors (except Guitar) must perform in the university orchestra each semester they receive lessons.

Independent Study Courses:

Independent study courses provide a special opportunity for graduate students to work in a highly individualized setting with one or more faculty members. All such study must receive the approval of the faculty member providing the instruction, the students' major advisor, and the Associate Dean. Approval will be granted only after the student has presented a detailed description of the intended independent study project. Approval of independent study projects will be granted only for students whose academic and musical record provides substantial support for the benefits of this type of study. In no case may more than 20% of a graduate student's curriculum be taken as independent study. Private lessons beyond those required in the curriculum are not an appropriate form of independent study.

Acceptable English:

All students, including those for whom English is not the native language, are expected to present all written work in acceptable English. No double standard exists to differentiate students on the basis of proficiency in the use of the English language. Students are also responsible for becoming familiar with the College's statement on plagiarism and academic honesty.

Graduate Private Lesson Policy:

Weekly one-hour private lessons are provided for all matriculated master's and doctoral performance majors in good standing, provided at least three additional credits of programmatically required graduate level study are taken simultaneously. A $200 per semester lesson fee (subject to change without notice) is charged for all private lessons. Tuition remission may not be used to cover the private lesson fee.

Private applied lessons beyond the four-semester requirement currently in effect for graduate performance students may be extended with the permission of the department chair and the Associate Dean or Dean of the Boyer College of Music and Dance.

Recital Extension:

Students withdrawing from the recital requirement during the recital semester (Music 433) will receive a grade of "Incomplete" and must register for extended study for non-degree credit (Music 300: "Recital Extension" for 2 credits). Recital Extension must be taken each semester until the recital is presented. This course will be offered on a credit/no credit basis. Upon satisfactory completion of the recital, the Incomplete for the recital course will be replaced by a letter grade and "Music 300: Recital Extension" will be issued a grade of "CR." Credit derived from Recital Extension does not count toward degree requirements.

1. Recital Extension Fees: Tuition for these additional terms of private study will equal the cost of 2 graduate credits plus a $400 Recital Extension fee. Graduate assistantships and other forms of university-sponsored financial aid do not cover the Recital Extension fee.

2. Exceptions to Recital Extension: The exceptions to the Recital Extension Policy are as follows:

a. Students who perform their recitals during the first three weeks of the Spring semester are not required to register for Recital Extension that semester.

b. Students who register for Recital Extension during the Summer may perform their recitals during the first three weeks of the Fall semester. However, if the student does not take Recital Extension during the Summer, he or she may not present the recital in the Fall semester, regardless of the date, without also registering for the Fall semester of Recital Extension.

3. Failure to Present Recital: The degree status of students who are unable to present a recital after one semester of Recital Extension will be reviewed by the Associate Dean and the major advisor, who, in consultation with the major teacher and department, will determine whether or not the student may continue in the program. Inability to present the recital after one semester of Recital Extension may be grounds for dismissal from the degree program for failing to maintain reasonable academic progress.

Incompletes: All incomplete grades and keyboard proficiencies must be fulfilled by the first day of the month in which the student expects to graduate.

Culminating Events:

Comprehensive Exam:

All candidates for the Master of Music degree are required to take a one-hour comprehensive examination in music literature and theory. A list of 100 musical works of the standard literature from the Middle Ages through the 20th century is available to the student when admitted to the College. The list is intended as an aid to preparation for the examination.

The examination is in three parts: identification of specific selections from a list of 100 works, identification of a "mystery" selection, and score analysis.

Students should plan to take the examination in the penultimate semester of study.

Members of the graduate music history and music theory departments select the music scores and musical selections.

Two graduate faculty members grade the examination.

Students must pass all three sections. A score of 70% or better must be achieved in the identification section, and a "pass" or "weak pass" must be achieved in the "mystery" selection and the score analysis sections.

The examination is administered approximately ten times each year. Students notify the music graduate secretary no later than one week prior to the requested examination administration date. For examination dates, visit the Graduate Music Examination Schedule page on Boyer's website.

Public Recital:

Performance majors present a public recital as the culminating event for the master's degree (Music 433). Graduation recitals are typically one hour in length and presented on-campus in either Rock Hall or Klein Recital Hall. The student must show evidence through Temple University transcript records of having taken private lessons up to the time of the graduation recital. Students who wish to play a recital in the early Fall should plan to register for and complete the final semester of lessons during the preceding Summer months.

A recital approval jury must be performed to demonstrate the student's ability to perform the degree recital successfully. Normally, this occurs at the preceding semester's jury. If, by departmental approval, this jury does not occur, then a jury must be scheduled at least four weeks prior to the recital. If the jury is not successfully completed by that time, the department reserves the right to cancel the recital date. Further details are available from the department chair.

Graduation recitals are adjudicated by three full-time music faculty members.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/boyer/

Department Information:

Dept. of Instrumental Studies
Boyer College of Music and Dance
2001 North 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
jeffrey.solow@temple.edu
215-204-5527

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

James Short
jshort@temple.edu
215-204-8598

Program Coordinator:

Professor Jeffrey Solow

jeffrey.solow@temple.edu
215-204-5527

Graduate Chairperson:

Professor Jeffrey Solow
jeffrey.solow@temple.edu
215-204-5527

Chairperson:

Professor Jeffrey Solow
jeffrey.solow@temple.edu
215-204-5527

About the Program

The master's degree in cello performance develops expertise beyond baccalaureate-level achievement. Students specialize in the study of the major instrument and take courses outside the major area that support advanced musical and academic development. The Department of Instrumental Studies provides the potential professional performer and/or teacher with the finest instrumental training within the context of a comprehensive university. Students study privately with professional artist-teachers and enjoy opportunities for performance in numerous large and chamber music ensembles.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 6 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m. Students are also able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Dept. of Instrumental Studies
Boyer College of Music and Dance
2001 North 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

jeffrey.solow@temple.edu
215-204-5527

Interdisciplinary Study:

With approval of the major advisor, students may elect to take up to 6 graduate credits outside the field of music.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

Boyer College has been ranked among the top 30 music schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Accreditation:

This degree program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Areas of Specialization:

Study focuses on performance of the major instrument, the solo and ensemble literature of the instrument, and academic support areas in music.

Job Placement:

The program prepares musicians for either professional activity or doctoral study.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students may enroll in selected courses in music with permission, but may not take applied lessons until they have been fully admitted and matriculated.

Financing Opportunities

Boyer College offers a number of assistantships and academic internships to matriculated graduate students. Full awards carry a cash stipend plus full tuition remission for the Fall and Spring semesters. Partial awards also are available in values of 1/4 or 1/2 of a full award. Duties for assistantships and internships vary, but typically include teaching, tutoring, classroom assistance, research, artistic performance, and/or direct service related to academic programs. Applicants must submit an assistantship/internship application by March 1 to obtain priority consideration for an award. Applications are available online at the Graduate Financial Aid page of Boyer's website. Typically these awards are made only in the Fall semester for up to two semesters: Fall and Spring. Awards may be renewed on an annual basis (typically up to one additional year for master's students and up to three years for doctoral students), based on departmental needs as well as satisfactory academic and musical progress by the recipient.

February 2006