School of Music

Nathan Nabb, interim director
Scott LaGraff, associate director for graduate studies
Wright Music Building, Room 150
Phone: (936) 468-4602
Fax: (936) 468-5810
gwurtz@sfasu.edu
music.sfasu.edu

Graduate programs in music lead to the Master of Music with tracks in performance, conducting, music education and theory-composition. They are intended to further the development of professional competency, critical thinking and intellectual maturity. Five concentrations are available in the performance track: collaborative piano, keyboard, orchestral instrument, pedagogy and voice. Three concentrations are available in the conducting track: band, choral and orchestral. Four concentrations are available in the music education track: choral, instrumental and elementary/general music. Three concentrations are available in the theory-composition track: theory, composition or theory-composition (dual track). Two concentrations are available in sound recording technology: sound recording technology and music production. As of fall 2019, all tracks are 36-hour programs. The theory-composition track requires a thesis.

To increase access for students who cannot attend class on the SFA campus regularly, many of the required courses are available over the internet. This includes all of the courses needed to complete the general music core and all courses in the music education sequence. All music education concentrations and all three concentrations within the theory-composition track also are available online.

Graduate Faculty

Professors

• Mario Ajero, PhD, University of Oklahoma, Class Piano, Pedagogy
• Christopher Ayer, DMA, University of Cincinnati Conservatory, Clarinet
• Richard A. Berry, DMA, Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri - Kansas City, Voice, Pedagogy
• Jennifer Dalmas, DM, Florida State University, Violin, Viola
• Christina Guenther, DM, Florida State University, Flute
• Scott LaGraff, DMA, Louisiana State University, Voice
• Stephen Lias, DMA, Louisiana State University, Theory, Composition
• Nathan Nabb, DM, Northwestern University, Saxophone
• Ronald Petti, DM, Florida State University, Accompanying
• J.D. Salas, DMA, University of Kentucky, Tuba, Euphonium
• Debra Scott, DMA, University of North Texas, Trombone
• Gary T. Wurtz, DMA, University of North Texas, Trumpet

Associate Professors

• Tamey Anglley, DMA, Texas Tech University, Band
• James Adams, MM, University of Akron, Sound Recording Technology
• Deborah A. Dalton, DMA, University of Texas, Voice, Opera
• Tod Fish, DMA, University of Kansas, Choir
• Michael Murphy, PhD, Florida State University, Choir, Conducting and Music Education
• Brad Meyer, DMA, University of Kentucky, Percussion
• Jacob Walburn, DMA, University of Illinois, Trumpet
• Jamie Weaver, PhD, University of Oregon, Musicology

Assistant Professors

• Alex Amato, PhD, University of North Texas, Theory
• Daniel Brecht-Haddad, PhD, Kansas State University, Band
• Andrea Denis, DMA, Texas Tech University, Horn
• Kathryn Fenton, PhD, University of Western Ontario, Musicology
• Gregory Grabowski, DMA, University of North Texas, Orchestra
• Samantha Inman, PhD, Eastman School of Music, Music Theory
• Minhae Lee, DMA, Michigan State University, Piano
• Claire Murphy, MMEd, East Carolina University, Music Education
• Chris Turner, DMA, Louisiana State University, Voice

Instructor

• Chris Kaatz, MM, Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Band

Lecturers

• Debbie Berry, MA, Stephen F. Austin State University, Voice
• Carlos Gaviria, MM, University of North Texas, Music Theory, Bass
• Nita Hudson, MM, Stephen F. Austin State University, Voice, Opera
• Kirsten Nelson, DMA, University of Georgia, Theory
• James Taylor, MFA, Stephen F. Austin State University

Adjuncts

• Robert Eason, DMA, Indiana University, Saxophone
• Lawrence Greer, MM, Stephen F. Austin State University, Guitar
• Graham Mackenzie, MM, DePaul University, Oboe
• Evgeni Raychev, DM, Florida State University, Cello
• Ping-Ting Lan, DMA, University of North Texas

Staff Piano

• Thomas Nixon, DMA, Arizona State University 
• James Pitts, DMA, University of North Texas

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are awarded each year in the school to qualified students based upon eligibility and availability of positions. All prospective students planning to enroll in on-campus degree programs with complete application materials for a fall semester will be considered for any available assistantships unless the applicant indicates otherwise. Applicants hoping to be considered for assistantships should meet the deadlines for priority consideration. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Online students are not eligible for assistantships. For information and applications, contact the associate director for graduate studies of the School of Music (graduatemusic@sfasu.edu) or consult the School of Music website.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the graduate degree program, students must satisfy general admission requirements as determined by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. The GRE is not required. Additionally, all degree tracks require either an audition or an interview with the faculty member(s) in the appropriate area. Students wishing to pursue the theory-composition track should be prepared to provide a portfolio of scores and recordings of their work.

All required documentation must be submitted electronically prior to any audition or interview. Full details are available at app.getacceptd.com/sfasumusic.

Additional information and check sheets for each are available online.

Priority Consideration for Fall Admission

Jan. 15 - Priority Deadline for Documents

Applicants who submit all required documents, tests and recordings by this date will receive priority consideration for audition scheduling, scholarship awards, assistantships and admission placement.

March 15 - Priority Deadline for Auditions/Interviews

All auditions/interviews must be complete for priority consideration. Priority admission and assistantship decisions are usually made by early April.

Cutoff Date for Fall Admission

Although applications are accepted through July 15, there is no guarantee that positions will still be available. Applications that are not complete by July 15 will not be considered for fall admission.

Cutoff Date for Spring or Summer Admission

Students wishing to enter the Master of Music program at times other than the fall semester should apply as early as possible, but no later than Dec. 1 for spring or May 1 for all summer terms.

Comprehensive Examination

For non-thesis students in the Master of Music program, a comprehensive examination must be taken in the final semester. The comprehensive examination covers standard knowledge in music theory, history and the student’s concentration of study. Although this examination is written, deficiencies may be remediated by whatever action the examining professor deems necessary (project, oral examination, paper, etc.) For M.M. students writing theses, the thesis defense will serve as the comprehensive exam. The Performing Artist Certificate does not require a comprehensive exam or a thesis.

Individual Study Courses

A maximum of 6 semester hours of individual study courses (MUSI 5175  or MUSI 5176 ) may be applied toward the degree without special permission from the director of the School of Music and the dean of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts.

Requirements

In addition to meeting general degree requirements shown elsewhere in this bulletin, a music major must complete the following school requirements:

Theory

All graduate students must take the graduate placement exam in music theory prior to registering for their first term of classes. Students who pass are eligible to register for graduate-level theory coursework. Students who do not pass the placement exam must enroll in MUTC 4101 and successfully complete the course with at least a B before registering in graduate-level theory courses.

Students are encouraged to enroll in MUTC 5361  - Introduction to Graduate Music Theory as early as possible in their course of study, preferably as their first theory course. MUTC 5361  is a prerequisite to MUTC 5365  - Schenkerian Theory.

Music History/Literature

All graduate students must take the graduate placement exam in music history before registering for their first term of classes. Students who pass are eligible to register for graduate-level history coursework. Students who do not pass the placement exam must enroll in MUMH 4101 - Graduate Music History Review and successfully complete the course with at least a B before registering for graduate-level history courses, with the exception of MUMH 5331  - Music Bibliography.

Students are encouraged to enroll in MUMH 5331  as early as possible in their course of study. MUMH 5331  must be taken prior to or concurrently with a student’s enrollment in other music history courses.

Programs

• Music, MM

• Performing Artist Certificate