Dec 17, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Conducting (M.M.)


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Patrick Brady, Associate Professor of Theatre - Musical Theatre Conducting
Ruebush Hall, Room 127-H; pbrady@su.edu

Timothy Robblee, Associate Professor of Music - Wind and Choral Conducting
Amstrong Hall, Room 21; (540) 545-7227; trobblee@su.edu

Jan Wagner, Professor of Music - Orchestral Conducting
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:

  • communicate expressively through a combination of appropriate gestures, strong conducting technique and effective verbal skills
  • demonstrate skills in music theory through score study and analysis
  • 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) 
  • APCN 602 Applied Conducting Credit(s): 4 (two semester sequence) 
  • Secondary Area (2 credits)

  • APCN 501 Applied Conducting Credit(s): 2 (two semester sequence)
  • *
  • Music Literature Electives Credit(s): 4
  • Music Theory Electives Credit(s): 4
  • Comprehensive Examination - Pass/Fail

Conservatory Electives


Conservatory electives do not include additional AP** or AE** lessons in the student’s major applied area of study. A maximum of 6 credit hours of ensemble may be applied toward conservatory electives. 

Total: 8 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.

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