Information for Current Students

General Information

1. By the first week of February in their second year, all MM and MSM students must contact the Director of Graduate Studies in order to complete the application for degree.

2. All organ students (both MM and MSM) are required to play a jury each semester prior to finals week.

3. All courses in which students receive an "Incomplete" must be finished by the end of the third full week of the following semester. If not completed by that time, students will receive an "F" in that course.

4. Students will be placed on probation if they take two "Incomplete" grades in any one semester.

5. Students whose GPA is below 2.7 for three semesters will lose their fellowship.

6. Organists in both the MM and MSM programs may be required to sing in Choral Conducting class three times per week as part of their fellowships.

7. Private voice lessons are available for $800.00 per semester for twelve one-hour lessons. The Music Department pays for lessons on only one instrument, including choral conducting. Those studying more than one instrument must pay $800.00 per semester for twelve one-hour lessons and an accompanying fee of $100.00.

Recitals and Worship Service

In partial fulfillment of the degree, all MM students must present a recital; all MSM students must present a recital and/or a musically articulate worship service. Typically, this occurs in the student’s final semester of residency at Emory.

If a standard recital is presented, it must be accompanied by program notes addressing each of the works performed (see below).

If the worship service option is selected (for MSM students only), the student must prepare a background statement on the music employed, addressing its liturgical function, its history, and aspects of performance practice. While these notes are not printed as "program notes," they are to be typed and formally presented to the examining committee no later than one month before the presentation of the service. These notes will constitute a liturgical and musical commentary on the service, and are required for award of the degree.

Recital Hearings

Choral: Hearings for all students (MM and MSM) will take place one week before the recital; they are required for completion of the degree. The complete program must be prepared by the hearing date. From the program, the student will conduct a selection of his or her choice, and the committee will then select other compositions or portions of works that the student will be required to perform. Hearings will last no more than thirty minutes.

Organ: Hearings for all students (MM and MSM) will take place four weeks before the recital and will be held in Glenn Memorial Auditorium; they are required for completion of the degree. The complete program must be prepared by the hearing date. From the program, the student will play a selection of his or her choice, and the committee will then select other compositions or portions of works that the student will be required to perform. Hearings will last no more than thirty minutes.

Program Notes

All students (MM and MSM) are required to write program notes for distribution at their recitals. These notes must be scholarly and demonstrate the recitalist’s knowledge of the works performed. However, they need not be considered major research projects. A paragraph about each major work on the program will satisfy this requirement.

Program notes are an integral part of the recital and must be submitted to the Professor of Worship (for MSM students) and to the Director of Graduate Studies (for all students) six weeks prior to the date of the scheduled recital. Program notes must be typed, and an electronic copy must be furnished.

Oral Examinations

All students must complete an oral examination before receiving their degrees. The exam will be no more than one hour in length, and must be scheduled during the final exam period. To prepare, students should review carefully all of the work they have completed and all of the course notes they have taken over the course of their two-year program. The student will be asked to respond to three types of questions:

1. Questions about materials covered in the courses that they regard as most integral to their work at Emory. Students should be prepared to explain how and why these courses have benefited them professionally.

2. Analytical questions about a number of musical works, presented in score and not known by the student ahead of time. The committee will select works related to the coursework that the student has taken at Emory.

3. General questions relating to music history.