The Master of Music, Choral Conducting Specialization is committed to musical excellence with a curriculum designed to build a well-rounded choral conductor/teacher, using the musical and personal strengths of the graduate choral conducting student. By the completion of the program, the student will have developed advanced conducting skills and techniques that are appropriate to a variety of musical needs. The student will learn effective rehearsal techniques and score preparation and become a knowledgeable scholar of important choral scores representing repertoire of various musical periods and secular and sacred styles.

Aspirations for Student Achievement

  • Develop the necessary analytical and theoretical skills to analyze choral scores and successfully prepare scores for effective rehearsals. 
  • Develop historical skills to examine scores and documents to confirm historically informed decisions and apply the appropriate performance practice issues for different eras. 
  • Develop the necessary linguistic skills to be proficient in English, German, Latin, and French and be competent in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) when necessary. 
  • Develop technical skills to conduct community, professional, school, church, and university choirs on different levels domestically and internationally. 
  • Develop the skills to achieve effective and efficient rehearsal techniques by utilizing the appropriate verbal instruction and proper visual conducting presentation. 
  • Understand the origin and the history of choral music from the Renaissance to the present by examining the canon of the choral repertoire and attaining knowledge of the background of main choral genres. 
  • Develop a clear understanding of how the voices work, especially in choral settings, to achieve the necessary blend, balance, and sound and provide vocal instruction to ensemble members. 
  • Research and prepare to program appropriate repertoire for choral concerts on different levels. 
  • Attain competent instrumental conducting technique to lead rehearsals and performances in major choral-orchestral repertoire such as oratorios, cantatas, requiems, and symphonic masses. 
  • Understand the current trend of the choral profession by studying the living composers, their compositions, and the entrepreneurial aspect of the choral music industry. 

Admission

The Choral Conducting Specialization accepts a limited number of students who pursue a variety of professional goals, including education and directors of choral/instrumental ensembles. Students who are full-time music educators at the middle/high school levels are considered if they have three years prior teaching experience and are presently conducting an ensemble(s). Students who are not public school educators must show a minimum of three years of full-time music/conducting employment and be presently conducting a high school, religious, or community ensemble.

In addition to the admissions processes for the Graduate School and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, a personal audition with CSU Music faculty is required for admission into the choral graduate conducting program.

Effective Spring 2012

MU 517Tonal Analytic Techniques2
MU 518Post-Tonal Analytic Techniques3
MU 555Choral Techniques, Style, and Interpretation3
MU 556Advanced Instrumental Conducting and Techniques3
MU 566Choral Literature-Renaissance and Baroque2
MU 567Choral Literature-1750 to Present2
MU 630Methods of Music Research3
MU 671Graduate Recital1
MU 696IGroup Study: Performance 12
MU ***Music History 16
Electives 1,25
Program Total Credits:32

A minimum of 32 credits are required to complete this program. 

1

Specific courses will be approved by the student’s graduate committee. Students may be required to take additional course work as determined by diagnostic examinations and/or their graduate committee.

2

Students are encouraged to take a minimum of 2 credits in their applied area (MU 672A-V)