Mar 29, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2018-2019 
    
Graduate Catalog 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Conducting (M.M.)


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Jan Wagner, Professor of Music
Armstrong Hall, Room 19; (540) 665-1291; jwagner@su.edu

The Master of Music in Conducting curriculum is designed to develop conducting, analysis and interpretive skills. Conducting degrees are offered in Band/Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Choral and Musical Theatre conducting.

Program Outcomes

Students completing the Master of Music in Conducting degree will be able to:

1. Communicate expressively through a combination of appropriate gestures, strong conducting technique, and effective verbal skills
2. Demonstrate skills in music theory through score study and analysis
3. Demonstrate knowledge of music literature within the major discipline

Degree Requirements

The degree requirement is 30 credit hours and an overall grade point average of 3.0.

Students must complete MUPP 640 Master’s Performance Recital  (2 credits).

Students in the Band/Wind Ensemble, Orchestra or Choral tracks will conduct 45 minutes of works representing the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary periods. The concert or performances on a series of concerts may include a large chamber ensemble and/or full orchestra. Musical theatre students will conduct a minimum of one act of a musical or revue. The performance may be a fully-staged production or in concert.

Course and Credit Requirements


  • APCN 502 Applied Conducting Credit(s): 4 (two semester sequence)
    (includes performance requirements)
  • APCN 602 Applied Conducting Credit(s): 4 (two semester sequence)
    (includes performance requirements)
  • Secondary Area (2 credits)

  • APCN 501 Applied Conducting Credit(s): 1
  • APCN 501 Applied Conducting Credit(s): 1
  • Credit(s): 3
  • Credit(s): 2 *
  • Music Theory electives Credit(s): 4
  • Music Literature electives Credit(s): 6
  • Comprehensive Examination - Pass/Fail

Recommended Electives


  • APMC 501 Applied Composition
  • Applied music
  • Credit(s): 2
  • Ensemble
    (maximum of 4 credit hours of ensemble may be applied toward degree requirements)

Total: 5 credits


Total: 30 credits


*Minimum grade of “C” required.

Applied Conducting Policies


For graduate students accepted into the Master of Music in Conducting curriculum:

Opportunities for laboratory conducting experiences with Conservatory ensembles and productions are available at the discretion of the applied conducting teacher and the conductor of the ensemble or music director of the production.

All ensembles must be existing groups. New groups offered for credit are not organized to provide a laboratory conducting setting.

The number of students accepted into the Master of Music in Conducting curriculum will be governed by the number of available podium opportunities.

Applied choral conducting instruction is registered through the chair of the Vocal/Choral Division.

Applied instrumental conducting instruction is registered through the chair of the Instrumental Division.

Applied musical theatre conducting instruction is registered through the chair of the Theatre Division.

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