Be immersed in a musical environment that showcases your creativity and passion through numerous performance experiences both on campus and locally. Work closely with a faculty mentor, collaborate with your colleagues and enhance your opportunities for musical growth with visiting guest artists.
The MM program in performance concentrates on the performance and teaching of music with an emphasis in performance.
Students work with faculty mentors to achieve a professional level of performance through individual recitals; chamber music; and choral, orchestral, jazz, music theatre and operatic ensembles, depending on their area of emphasis. Performance opportunities both on and off campus further develop the knowledge and abilities necessary to become leaders in a musical community through teaching, performing or art advocacy. The opportunity to collaborate with music scholars, theorists, composers, educators, dancers and theatre artists provides students with a broad and well-rounded foundation for advanced careers in music or continued study at the doctoral level.
Additionally, students learn skills that are needed to be a highly successful working musician including audition preparation, networking, learning organizational strategies, opportunity creation, and developing an entrepreneurial mindset.
At A Glance
Music Performance, MM
- Offered by: Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
- Location: Tempe
Plan of study
The Plan of study is the required curriculum to complete this graduate level program.
Degree requirements
Required Core (4 credit hours)
MUP 527 Studio Instruction (4)
Concentration (6 credit hours)
MUP 527 Studio Instruction (4)
MUP 596 Solo Performance (1)
MUP 597 Solo Performance (1)
Area of Emphasis (10-11 credit hours)
Other Studies in Music (11-12 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (0 credit hours)
written comprehensive exam (0)
Additional Curriculum Requirements
Students select an area of emphasis from the following: instrumental performance, jazz performance, keyboard performance, or multiple woodwinds performance. Students should see the academic unit for specific requirements for the selected area of emphasis.
The other studies in music requirement includes six credit hours of MHL coursework and five to six credit hours of MTC coursework. Students should see the academic unit for specific requirements.
Area of emphasis credit hours may include electives depending on course selections.
Completion of diagnostic exams in musicology and music theory is required of all new graduate music students prior to enrollment in courses for these programs through the ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre. This is tracked internally within the academic unit.
Additional information on degree requirements for all graduate music majors may be found on the check sheets posted under each degree: https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/degree-programs/music/graduate.
Admission requirements
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a U.S. bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from an institution in another country that is officially recognized by that country.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee: https://admission.asu.edu/graduate
- School of Music, Dance and Theatre application (including a resume, personal statement and repertoire list): https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/admissions/music/graduate-steps-to-apply
- official transcripts
- prescreening video (voice applicants)
- three letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency (https://admission.asu.edu/international/graduate/english-proficiency). The School of Music, Dance and Theatre does not offer conditional admission under any circumstances.
Applicants must perform an audition for admission. Auditions are scheduled following receipt of completed application materials and, when applicable, a favorable review of prescreening materials. Information about the audition may be found at https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/admissions/music/graduate-auditions.
A bachelor's degree in music is not required for admission to a master's program. However, all applicants without a bachelor's degree in music should contact MDTAdmissions@asu.edu for information on potential remedial courses. Remedial courses may be taken at ASU, another accredited university or a community college before or after admission to this program, but they must be completed prior to starting graduate-level course requirements in music history and music theory.
Voice Applicants: Students should see the program website for application deadlines. After receipt of completed application, including recommendation letters, transcripts and proof of English proficiency, and review of prescreening materials, an applicant may be invited for an audition.
Instrumental and Keyboard Applicants: Students should see the program website for application deadlines. After an applicant's complete application materials have been received, including recommendation letters, transcripts and proof of English proficiency, the applicant is confirmed for an audition.
Information about this program
Visit the School of Music website for full details.