School of Music

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GRADUATE DEGREE OFFERED:

Master of Music with Concentration in:
   Music Comparative Studies
   Conducting
   Music Education
   Music Performance

Graduate Certificate in:
  Piano Pedagogy

School of Music
Center for Performing and Fine Arts, room 113
Phone: 812-237-2769
Fax 812-237-3009
Web site: http://www.indstate.edu/music

Director: Dr. Nancy Cobb Lippens

GRADUATE FACULTY

Professors of Music

Peggy Balensuela; D.M., Indiana University
Professor of Music, 1990
Specialization: Voice

Paul Bro; D.M., Northwestern University
Professor of Music, 1992
Specialization: Saxophone

Jimmy Finnie; D.M.A., University of North Texas
Professor of Music, 1994
Specialization: Percussion

Kurt Fowler; D.M.A., Eastman School of Music
Professor of Music, 1998
Specialization: Cello

Brian Kilp; D.M.A., University of Arizona
Associate Professor of Music, 1998
Specialization: Horn

Nancy Cobb Lippens; D.M.A., University of Oklahoma
Director School of Music and Professor of Music, 2009
Specializations: Composition, Choral Conducting

Randall T. Mitchell; D.M.A., University of North Texas
Professor of Music, 1990
Specialization: Trombone

Beverley Simms; D.M.A., University of North Texas
Professor of Music, 1987
Specialization: Piano

Associate Professors of Music

Dennis Ballard; D.M.E., Indiana University
Associate Professor of Music, 2004
Specialization: Music Education

Scott R. Buchanan; Ph.D., University of Kansas City
Associate Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, 2002
Specialization: Choral Conducting

Coleen Davis; D.M., Indiana University
Associate Professor of Music, 1999
Specialization: Voice

William A. Davis; D.M.A., The University of Iowa
Associate Professor of Music, 1991
Specialization: Orchestral Conducting, Violin, Viola

Roby G. George, D.M.A., University of Cincinnati
Associate Professor of Music
Specializations: Wind Conducting, Director of Bands, 2011

Douglas R. Keiser; D.M.A., Michigan State University
Associate Professor of Music, Associate Director of Bands, 1990
Specialization: Wind Conducting

Janet P. Piechocinski; Ph.D., University of Oklahoma
Associate Professor of Music, 1979
Specialization: Class Piano, Piano Pedagogy

Theodore Piechocinski; J.D., Cleveland State University
Associate Professor of Music and Director of Music Business, 2004
Specialization: Music Business

Joyce A. Wilson; D.M.A., University of Wisconsin
Associate Professor of Music, 1970
Specialization: Flute

Assistant Professors of Music

Mark R. Carlisle; D.M.A., University of Texas at Austin
Assistant Professor of Music, 1986
Specialization: Voice

Terry L. Dean, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Assistant Professor of Music, 2011
Specialization: Musicology

Linda Luebke; M.A., Holy Names College
Assistant Professor of Music, 2009
Specialization: Music Education

FACILITIES 

The School of Music facilities include the $7.25 million Center for Performing and Fine Arts, which houses a Recital Hall seating 175, administrative offices, faculty studios and offices, and rehearsal rooms for band, choral, orchestral, jazz, and percussion ensembles. The adjacent Fine Arts Building houses classrooms, digital keyboard laboratories, additional teaching studios and offices, and the school’s listening library and its collection of more than 25,000 recordings and practice rooms. Over 20,000 music books, scores, and music periodicals are available in Cunningham Memorial Library. Students have access to more than $1.5 million in University-owned instruments. Performances take place in the visually and acoustically attractive Recital Hall and Tilson Music Hall, an historic art-deco space.

The School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Graduate programs in the School of Music are designed to further the development of musical and professional proficiencies. Individual programs are prepared for those intending to pursue more advanced study as well as those expecting to terminate their graduate study at the master’s degree level.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

The master of music degree is available with concentrations in conducting (choral or wind), music comparative studies, music education, and music performance.

Graduate students in the School of Music are encouraged to maintain good contact with their advisor and are expected to work with their advisor prior to registration each semester. Students who do so are more likely to meet their goals and achieve academic success. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Entering graduate students complete the school’s placement examinations in performance, keyboard proficiency, music history and literature, and music theory in addition to meeting the general entrance requirements of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and specific requirements of the degree program. Certain review courses may be prescribed as a result of the examinations; any review courses taken will not count toward the academic requirements of the chosen degree program. The examinations are taken prior to registration for graduate study. Any exceptions require approval of the School of Music.

Applicants for the Master of Music with a concentration in music comparative studies also will submit an analytical or historical research paper as an admission requirement.  Applicants for the voice and choral conducting emphases will have to pass an entrance examination in language and diction.  Applicants for choral conducting and wind conducting will submit a conducting videotape.

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE STUDY

Any graduate student in the University who can meet the stated prerequisites may enroll for individual instruction in voice, violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, horn, euphonium, trombone, tuba, piano, and percussion.  Individual instruction is also available in choral, orchestral, and wind conducting. The following letters identify the instrument/voice being studied.

Each graduate student entering Indiana State University as a music major (including choral conducting and wind conducting students) must declare a principal instrument/voice upon which to perform an audition. The audition must be completed prior to registration for graduate study.

Principal Instrument Study (Performance Concentration)

Prior to enrollment, each entering graduate student must audition for a committee of at least two, and preferably three or more, performance music faculty members from the appropriate division. Conditional admission may be granted on the basis of a recording or audition before one faculty member; auditions by recording are acceptable only if travel distance poses an extreme hardship. A student who does not pass the audition must enroll in and successfully complete Music 600 (1 credit) prior to enrollment in individual performance study (Music 676).

Each division may specify differing audition requirements, but the repertoire should be at least that of senior recital level. Prospective students may obtain audition requirements from the appropriate division coordinator: voice/choral; strings; winds/percussion; and piano.

Principal Instrument Study (Non-Performance Concentration)

Each entering graduate student must audition for at least one applied music faculty member from the appropriate division prior to enrollment. Expected performance standards will be commensurate with those of completed  junior level (Music 474). A student who passes the audition will be expected to complete two semesters of study on their principal instrument/voice (one each semester).   Students have the option of enrolling in Music 676 for total credit of not more than six credits toward degree requirements. A student who does not pass the audition must enroll in and successfully complete Music 600 (1 credit) with no credit toward graduation.

Elective Instrument Study

Those students who desire to take lessons for elective credit, even though majoring in subjects other than music or studying a secondary instrument, must audition before at least one applied music faculty member who teaches voice or the instrument on which the student desires instruction. The purpose of the audition is to evaluate the performance skills of the applicant for appropriate course placement. Detailed information about auditions is available from the School of Music.

The course number for all individual instruction is the same (Music 676). Suitable lesson times should be arranged with the instructor following registration, but no later than two days after the posting of performance study instructor assignments.

Each credit hour in an individual instruction course implies a minimum of 14 clock hours of private instruction. During the first and second semesters, this means one hour lesson each week that University classes are in session.  All individual instruction courses require a jury examination.

Certificate in Piano Pedagogy

 These certificates may be added to any area of concentration leading to the Master of Music degree.

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