School of Music Graduate Programs I

Message from the Dean

The purpose of the College of Fine Arts is to prepare students for professional work in the fields of music, theatre, or visual arts. Strong emphasis is placed on studio instruction: the focus of the student’s development of professional skills and techniques through personalized instruction. Faculty members are carefully selected for their ability to impart knowledge, their personal accomplishments in the arts, and their commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. Among the College of Fine Arts faculty are artists, performers, and scholars of national and international reputation.

The Boston University College of Fine Arts is comprised of the School of Music, the School of Theatre, and the School of Visual Arts. Although each School has its own faculty and program of study, all three Schools share the goal of providing the best possible training in the arts.

Walt C. Meissner
Dean ad interim

Facilities and Resources

Most School of Music activities take place at the six-story Commonwealth Avenue building that houses the College of Fine Arts. This building contains a 485-seat concert hall; music studios and practice rooms; three halls for large ensemble rehearsals; a recording studio; two electronic music studios; an academic computing center; and a keyboard instruction lab. Opera rehearsal and coaching studios are located in a spacious facility across the street from the College of Fine Arts. The Tsai Performance Center, three blocks away on the Boston University campus, is an outstanding concert and rehearsal space for the major performing organizations of the School of Music. The Opera Institute performs at the Boston University Theatre, which is also the home of the Huntington Theatre Company.

The library within the School of Music maintains a large collection of scores, recordings, and books. The Boston University Mugar Memorial Library contains a distinguished research collection of books, microfilms, and journals, and offers a full array of library services such as reference, electronically delivered information, course reserves, and interlibrary loans. Mugar Library’s Gotlieb Archival Research Center includes significant music-related holdings of manuscripts, letters, and first editions.

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Degree Programs

Along with programs leading to the Bachelor of Music degree,
the School of Music offers graduate programs in the following areas:

Master of Music (MusM)

Composition
Conducting, Orchestral and Choral
Historical Performance
Music Education
Musicology
Performance
Theory

Doctor of Musical Arts (MusAD)

Composition
Conducting, Orchestral and Choral
Historical Performance
Music Education
Performance

Artist Diploma

Conducting
Historical Performance
Performance

Performance Diploma

Opera Institute (Certificate)

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Faculty

Strings

Woodwinds

Brass

Percussion

Harp

Piano

Voice

Historical Performance

Collaborative Piano

Musicology and Ethnomusicology

Composition and Theory

Music Education

Conducting

Musical Organizations

Opera

Muir Quartet, in Residence

Peter Zazofsky, violin
Lucia Lin, violin*
Steven Ansell, viola*
Michael Reynolds, cello

Alea III, Contemporary-Music Ensemble-in-Residence

Theodore Antoniou, Director

(*) Boston Symphony Orchestra Member

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Performance in the School of Music

Programs of study within the School of Music vary according to degree sought, area of specialization, and major instrument. However, every degree candidate in music must study a major instrument with the exception of students in the following programs: MusM in Theory, MusM and MusAD in Composition, MusM and MusAD in ­Conducting, MusM in Musicology, MusM in Music Education (Professional Track), and MusAD in Music Education.

Instruction is offered in the following areas:

Bassoon
Cello
Clarinet
Double Bass
Flute
French Horn
Harp
Harpsichord
Historical Performance
Oboe
Percussion
Piano
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba
Viola
Violin
Voice

Each student taking applied music is assigned to a member of the faculty for private instruction. Individual instruction is given in half-hour or hour lessons and every effort is made to consider the student’s preferences in studio assignment.

Musical Organizations and Ensembles
Participation in a musical organization is a vital component of the graduate program. These organizations and ensembles include:

Alea III
Chamber Chorus
Chamber Orchestra
Collaborative Piano
Opera Theatre
Opera Workshop
Percussion Ensemble
Symphonic Chorus
Symphony Orchestra
Time’s Arrow, New Music Ensemble
Concert Choir
Wind Ensemble
Women’s Chorale

String, woodwind, brass, harp, and percussion students must enroll in the Symphony or Chamber Orchestra or the Wind Ensemble by audition. Voice students must enroll in Symphonic Chorus and one small ensemble by audition. Participation in opera workshop or opera theatre fulfills an ensemble requirement for MM voice students. Keyboard performers may join either vocal or instrumental organizations, or participate in collaborative piano course assignments.

Factors considered in placing students in an ensemble include playing ability, specific needs of the various organizations, and previous performance experience.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215

4 May 2009
Boston University
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