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Fall 2025 Graduate Catalog
Music Performance, MM
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 Return to: Master’s Programs
Department of Music, College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Awarded: Master of Music in Music Performance
Chairperson: Christina Dahl; Staller Center 3304 (631) 632-7330
Graduate Program Director: Judith Lochhead; Staller Center 3346 (631) 632-7349
Graduate Program Coordinator: Monica Winchell (631) 632-7352
The Department of Music offers programs that normally lead to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music, with tracks in Critical Music Studies and in Composition. The Department also offers programs that normally lead to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Performance.Master’s Degrees in Music with tracks in Critical Music Studies, in Composition, and in Music Performance are also available.
Stony Brook’s graduate programs in Music have grown out of a unique partnership between the academy and the conservatory. The Music Department has a distinguished and well-balanced faculty in the scholarly study of music, composition, and performance. Graduate curricula are designed to facilitate interaction among musical disciplines that have traditionally been kept separate. A number of courses are team-taught by two or more faculty members, examining topics from several disciplinary viewpoints, and academic courses typically have a mix of students from all areas. Several examine music in a broader social context, drawing on such disciplines as ethnomusicology, cultural studies, and feminist theory. Interdisciplinary studies are central to the educational philosophy of the department, and the Department encourages the development of professional competence in more than one area of musical study. For students at the Doctoral level who propose to do serious work both in performance and in some other area, a variety of options are available, including some dual degrees.
Music of the 20th and 21st centuries is a particular emphasis of both the performance and academic programs, but other areas are also amply represented. Students can choose seminars from a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from the history of music theory to American popular music.Performing organizations include Baroque Chamber Ensemble, Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Contemporary Chamber Players, Camerata Singers, Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, VOLTA West African Music Ensemble, and Opera Workshop.
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Admission Requirements
Admissions Website The following are required for admission to the MM Program in Performance, in addition to the requirements of the Graduate School: A. A bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution. B. Official transcripts of all undergraduate records, and all graduate records, where applicable. C. An audition in the major field of performance. Students residing at a distance from the University may gain provisional acceptance by sending a recorded audition. Audition dates, usually designated for February, are announced by the Department mid-fall. These dates, as well as specific requirements for auditions, are posted on the Departmental website. D. Letters of recommendation from the former principal teacher and at least two other persons familiar with the student’s work. One letter should come from a person familiar with the student’s academic work. E. While acceptance into the program is based primarily upon excellence in performance, the program contains a significant academic component. Applicants to the program are therefore required to submit two examples of their work in music history, music theory, or ethnomusicology, such as papers completed as part of coursework in those One paper is required for entry at the master’s level; two are required for entry at the doctoral level. F. Acceptance by both the Department of Music and the Graduate School. Entering students will be examined in ear training during the week before the beginning of classes, and will be placed in the appropriate courses. Entering students in Voice will also be examined in basic keyboard skills. Electives
Students who can demonstrate adequate preparation may take more advanced courses to fulfill this requirement. If a course in a department other than Music is taken toward the degree, approval from the Graduate Studies Committee must be obtained. If a course in a department other than Music is taken toward the degree, approval from the Graduate Studies Committee must be obtained. One course from Elective Group 1:
Students who can demonstrate adequate preparation may take more advanced courses to fulfill this requirement. If a course in a department other than Music is taken toward the degree, approval from the Graduate Studies Committee must be obtained. One course from Elective Group 2:
Students who can demonstrate adequate preparation may take more advanced courses to fulfill this requirement. If a course in a department other than Music is taken toward the degree, approval from the Graduate Studies Committee must be obtained. If a course in a department other than Music is taken toward the degree, approval from the Graduate Studies Committee must be obtained. Large Ensembles
All M.M. students have a large ensemble requirement for four semesters. For details, see Track-Specific Requirements below. Chamber Music
All M.M. students have a chamber music requirement for four semesters. For details, see Track-Specific Requirements below. Languages
Some M.M. students have a language requirement. For details, see Track-Specific Requirements below. Jury Examinations
Jury examinations are offered each semester. All M.M. students must take one jury examination, generally the semester before the degree recital. For M.M. students in harpsichord, the examination will include continuo realization. Public Recitals
All M.M. students are required to present the equivalent of two public recitals, as determined in consultation with the student’s major teacher considering difficulty of repertory, student progress, and student goals. Any substitutions for a recital would need to be petitioned to the Graduate Studies Committee. The major teacher determines whether or not the work is of passing quality. If unable to attend a recital in person, the major teacher may assess a recording of it. Track-Specific Requirements
Strings, Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion
Large Ensemble Requirement:
Large Ensemble (Orchestral Instruments) , every semester of full-time residence until graduation. Students who are registered part-time are required to participate in Large Ensemble (either Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra or Contemporary Chamber Players) on a part-time basis. Under extraordinary circumstances a student may petition to have this requirement waived on a per-concert basis; a memorandum outlining policies and procedures for such a waiver is available from the Music Department’s Graduate Office. Chamber Music Requirement:
Four semesters from the following Chamber Music (small ensemble) electives: Note:
Courses may berepeated for credit. Large Ensemble Requirement:
Chamber Music Requirement:
Four semesters from the following Vocal Chamber Music (small ensemble) electives: Note:
Courses may be repeated for credit. Vocal Coaching Requirement:
Additional Performance Requirement: Language Requirements:
Voice students must provide proof of equivalency of one year’s college-level study of one of the following three languages: French, German, or Italian. Working/reading knowledge is determined by exam given by the Stony Brook Language Learning Resource Center (LLRC) and/or proof of coursework. Students who do not pass the examination must take the courses recommended by the LLRC and achieve a grade of B or higher. Students who have not had any previous foreign language study must take a year of college-level elementary foreign language courses and achieve a grade of B or higher to satisfy the requirement. Piano Proficiency Requirement:
All M.M. students must enroll in MUS 509 - Performance Studies for piano proficiency for one or two semesters contingent on assessment. Qualified students may be exempted from this course through a placement exam given at the beginning of the fall semester. Large Ensemble Requirement:
Four semesters of Collaborative Keyboard (MUS 586 in Fall semesters and MUS 587 in Spring semesters). Participation in the accompaniment pool is required of all pianists and harpsichordists during each semester of full-time residence. After the fulfillment of four semesters of MUS 586/587, pianists must also enroll in MUS 586/587 in each semester in which they take lessons or in which they want to be paid for accompanying. Pianists enrolled in MUS 586/587 are required to accompany the equivalent of two full recitals (or other approved events such as auditions, juries, etc.) for each academic year in which they are enrolled. (After fulfilling the two-recital equivalent requirement, pianists may play additional recitals/events and will be compensated by the department). Pianists may be assigned to Contemporary Chamber Players if needed; this would count as credit towards their Collaborative Keyboard requirement. Chamber Music Requirement:
Four semesters from the following Chamber Music (small ensemble) electives: Note:
Courses may be repeated for credit. Large Ensemble Requirement:
Participation in the accompaniment pool is required of all pianists and harpsichordists during each semester of full-time residence. The MUS 586 /MUS 587 requirement for harpsichordists is considered to be fulfilled when they are concurrently signed up for MUS 584 - Baroque Chamber Ensemble (Harpsichordists will be paid for additional accompaniment). Chamber Music Requirement:
Language Requirements:
Harpsichord students must demonstrate knowledge equivalent to a year’s college-level study of any of the following languages: French, German, or Italian. Working/reading knowledge is determined by exam given by the Stony Brook Language Learning Resource Center (LLRC) and/or proof of previous coursework. Students who do not pass the examination must take the courses recommended by the LLRC and achieve a grade of B or higher. Students who have not had any previous foreign language study must take a year of a college-level elementary foreign language course and achieve a grade of B or higher to satisfy the requirement. Large Ensemble Requirement:
Chamber Music Requirement:
Note:
Courses may be repeated for credit. Large Ensemble Requirement:
Chamber Music Requirement:
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Return to: Master’s Programs
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