The Hayes School of Music offers a Master of Music degree and Master of Music Therapy degree

For Assistance:

Dr. Jennifer Snodgrass, Director of Graduate Studies
Hayes School of Music
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina 28608
828-262-7231  snodgrassjs@appstate.edu

Master of Music degree is designed for persons who wish to pursue a musically and intellectually challenging course of study in music education or music performance.

• Master of Music in Music Education [with concentrations in General Music, Band Directing, and Choral Directing]  for the student who desires a course of study leading to a North Carolina Advanced Masters certificate.
• 
Master of Music in Music Performance - for the student who desires a course of study in advanced instrumental or vocal performance, or composition.

Master of Music Therapy degree is designed to prepare board-certified or board-eligible music therapists for advanced music therapy practice. Our graduate students are able to work individually with esteemed performance and academic faculty, all of whom strive to deliver excellent instruction and mentoring.

• 
Music Therapy Equivalency - for the student who holds an undergraduate degree in a field other than music therapy and who wishes to prepare for professional certification as a music therapist.
• 
Master of Music Therapy - for the board-certified or board-eligible music therapist who seeks to broaden and deepen her/his competence in music therapy.

Other opportunities through the College of Education

• Music Specialization for Professional Educators - two graduate programs leading to the Educational Specialist's Degree, Curriculum Instruction and Higher Education provide for an academic concentration in music and are offered through the appropriate department in the College of Education.

Application and Admission Requirements

Application requirements for the Master of Music vary by program. However, all student applications must include the following:

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• Completed application to the graduate school;
• Official GRE general exam scores
• Acquired proficiency in music theory, music history/literature, and music performance

Additional Requirements:

Master of Music in Music Education

• North Carolina “A” license or the equivalent from another state.
• Master of Music Education/Band Directing: An on-site band conducting audition is required. Contact the Program Director for audition information.
• Master of Music Education/Choral Directing: A video recording of current choral conducting is required, and should be submitted to the Program Director.
• Master of Music Education/General Music: A video recording of current classroom teaching is required, and should be submitted to the Program Director.

Master of Music in Performance Auditions:

• Audition with members of the performance faculty. Specific audition requirements are outlined by performance concentration.

Master of Music Therapy

• 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores from the GRE OR 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree, GRE official scores at the 25th percentile level, and better than 3.0 on the GRE Writing test.
• Certification or eligibility for certification by the Certification Board for Music Therapists, or enrollment in the Music Therapy Equivalency Program. Continuation in the MMT program by Equivalency students requires a grade of at least a B (3.0) in each music therapy course taken in each of the first two semesters of the equivalency program and a cumulative Equivalency GPA of 3.0.
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can address the applicant’s academic, personal and professional suitability for graduate-level work in music therapy.
• Completed Master of Music Therapy Program Questionnaire.
• Live or recorded audition demonstrating music skills for professional music therapists. (Not required of Equivalency applicants). The audition will consist of three popular, folk, or standard songs, each sung and played on either piano or guitar by the applicant. The Equivalency/Master's applicant must demonstrate proficiency on his/her principal instrument, basic piano proficiency, and ability to sing with accurate pitch and pleasing voice quality.
• An interview (live or by web cam) with the Music Therapy Admissions Committee

Graduate Assistantships and Scholarships

• Winds, Percussion, Guitar, and Band
• Piano
• Music Therapy
• The Hayes String Quartet (Endowed Graduate String Quartet)
• QUINTESSENTIAL! (Endowed Graduate Vocal Performing Artists)

Other graduate assistantships are awarded to full-time graduate students on a yearly basis and carry an $8000 stipend. Responsibilities of the graduate assistants are varied according to the interests of the graduate student and the needs of the Hayes School of Music.

Assistantships are available in the areas of vocal and instrumental applied instruction including guitar class, band directing, music theory, music education, music therapy, and computer-assisted instruction.

Students are selected on the basis of audition and recommendation. The selection process for music therapy graduate assistants will also include an interview. The deadline for application submission for those interested in securing an assistantship is March 1.

The Cratis Williams Graduate School at Appalachian awards several scholarships to outstanding graduate students each year. These scholarships of $1000-$3000 are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, talent, and financial need.

Graduate Music Faculty and Curricula

Graduate students at Appalachian study and perform with caring faculty composed of dedicated professionals who have earned graduate faculty status by their nationally recognized accomplishments in music performance, music composition, music education, music therapy, and music research.

The graduate programs are designed to provide the student with a practical and interesting course of study that is intellectually challenging.

The Music Education degree programs are based on a core of courses (Choral or Band Literature, Vocal or Instrumental Techniques, Advanced Conducting, Bibliography and Research, Analytical Techniques, and Philosophy of Music) and culminate in a Practicum, Thesis, or Recital experience.

The Music Performance degree programs offer the student opportunities to refine his/her performance skills through applied study, classroom instruction, ensemble experiences, and public recitals.

The Master of Music Therapy degree program is designed to broaden music therapy knowledge and skills, particularly in areas of advanced practice, while also permitting deepening of expertise in the student's chosen area of clinical practice.

Summer Study

Both Master of Music degree programs of study can be completed during a sequence of four summer sessions (6-week terms). The Hayes School of Music adheres to a schedule of carefully planned course offerings that assists the student in the timely and efficient completion of the graduate degree. While some courses for the Master of Music Therapy degree program are offered in the summer, completion of the degree will usually require a minimum of three semesters during the academic year.

Graduate Advising

Each graduate student is assigned an adviser who is a member of the Hayes School of Music graduate faculty. The adviser serves as the mentor for the graduate student, guiding him/her through the course of study from the initial registration to commencement.

Other important information

• More Information for Prospective Graduate Students
• A Handbook for Graduate Students in Music
• Request Information on Graduate Studies
• Auditions and Required Repertoire
• Alumni - “Where are they now?”
• Current Graduate Students