Music, Master of Arts

Offered by the Department of Music
Dr. Shellie Gregorich, Chairperson
Butler Center 108, (570) 662-4714, e-mail sgregori@mansfield.edu

The Master of Arts in Music program is designed to meet the needs of the music professional who wishes to expand and strengthen their understanding and skills in the discipline of music through study in one of four offered concentrations:  choral conducting, collaborative piano, instrumental conducting, or general music with an emphasis in music education. Prior music teaching experiences is advisable, but not required. A maximum of six credit hours may be transferred from a NASM accredited master’s degree program. The department will determine what courses may transfer to each of the concentrations in the Master of Arts degree.

The MA in Music degree program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190-5248, (703) 437-0700, (nasm.arts-accredit.org/).

Mission, Vision and Values Statement

The faculty of the Mansfield University Music Department are dedicated to the development of musical excellence in all aspects of our programs. We promote leadership skills which emphasize Character, Scholarship, Culture and Service through a personalized educational environment using music as our communication tool. We are committed to stimulating the continuous pursuit of learning, performance and skill acquisition. We recognize and embrace the important role our liberal arts core education provides our students. To accomplish this mission the department pledges:

1. We will promote character. Our faculty and students will exemplify the highest standards of ethical behavior, incorporating respect for self, others and our surroundings. We will devote ourselves to the holistic development of individuals, fostering personal accountability, honesty and advocacy through character education. Courage, integrity, and honor exemplify our core values. As the art of music demands honesty and integrity, so too, will we expect our department to promote and encourage these values in all we do.
2. We will foster scholarship. We will model a life of intellectual curiosity, celebrating the creation and dissemination of new ideas in music. We will embrace the use of rigorous, responsible and critical inquiry to understand, acquire and share knowledge. We apply what we learn by recognizing that each of us is both student and teacher engaged in the continuous pursuit of learning. We will, therefore, maintain a faculty dedicated to the highest standards in teaching, musical performance and scholarship.
3. We will enhance culture. We will serve and lead the region and beyond in promoting diversity and cultural awareness through music. We will accomplish this mission by vigorously engaging with one another, capitalizing on the gifts bestowed on our community through the arts, and celebrating our similarities and differences. Through open discourse and performance, we will create meaningful experiences that compel us towards understanding and compassion for all humanity.
4. We will advocate service. Knowledge invests us with the power to improve our world and the responsibility to act. We will be engaged in our community. Our students, faculty and staff will partake in volunteerism and service activities as a natural outgrowth of the University Mission in order to impact lives now and in the future. We encourage and actively promote on our campus and surrounding community an awareness of the importance of the role of music in the enrichment of the human spirit.

Core Student Learning Outcomes for the Master of Arts in Music Program

 After completion of any concentration in the Master of Arts in Music program students will be able to:

• demonstrate effective written and oral communication.
• demonstrate effective research skills appropriate to the area of concentration.
• evaluate, analyze, and synthesize theoretical, historical, and performance information in order to create more effective musical performances or to enhance their teaching.

 Student Learning Outcomes specific to the Instrumental Conducting Concentration

• Students will master coordination of gesture and Impulse of Will and apply these skills appropriately in a varied repertoire for large and small ensembles.
• Students will communicate effectively during rehearsal and performance settings.
• Through analysis and synthesis of theoretical, historical and performance information, students will create more artful, musically meaningful performances.
• Students will demonstrate leadership in all aspects of performing program development.
• Students will refine their instrumental technique and their understanding of instrumental pedagogy and apply these skills in the instrumental rehearsal.

 Student Learning Outcomes specific to the Choral Conducting Concentration

• Students will refine their conducting technique as applied to choral organizations.
• Students will expand their knowledge of choral literature from various historical periods and stylistic genres.
• Students will develop rehearsal techniques that can be incorporated in various levels and types of choral ensembles.
• Students will increase their musicianship through score study, sight-singing, playing the piano, and listening in rehearsal.
• Students will perform effectively on voice and demonstrate an understanding of the vocal instrument.

 Student Learning Outcomes specific to the Collaborative Piano Concentration 

• Students will perform recitals of collaborative music that are musically effective.
• Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of significant collaborative piano repertoire.
• Students will take on a leadership role in working with musicians in rehearsal and lesson settings.

 Student Learning Outcomes specific to the Music Education Concentration

• Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of music education literature, including pedagogy, philosophy and repertoire, and will create curriculum and research proposals, projects and theses.
• Students will demonstrate a variety of pedagogical techniques through the creation of lesson plans, in-class discussions, and papers.
• Students will demonstrate performance skills through conducting, arranging, or applied study.