Instrumental Conducting

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Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting - Wind Band

Major code: M718

Coursework Requirements (PDF)

Required Proficiencies

This degree requires the following proficiencies.

Music Theory

Contacts

Prof. Brian Britt

Director of Athletic Bands

Prof. Lane Folds

Interim Associate Director of Concert Bands

Dr. Caroline Hand

Director of Concert Bands

Dr. Eric Shannon

Assistant Director of Athletic Bands

Application Deadline

To receive full consideration for admission and graduate assistantships, the application is December 15. The School of Music cannot guarantee an audition, interview, admission, or graduate assistantship if application is received after the deadline.

Assistantships

There is no separate application for assistantship. Unless the applicant indicates otherwise, we assume that all applicants are interested in being considered for assistantships. Please note that assistantships are usually awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters together. We very seldom have assistantships available for anyone entering in a Spring semester. OU Bands offers a 12-month stipend, tuition remission benefit, and healthcare benefits.

Procedure

Submit the online application (see Graduate Admissions page) and all materials described below. The band faculty will review the written and recorded materials to determine whether or not to invite the applicant to schedule a live, on-campus audition.

Required pre-screening materials for this degree

A video recording of a recent ensemble performance and rehearsal conducted by the applicant
- Submitted to the online application. Video files or links to online videos may be submitted under Digital Portfolio.
- Suggested video length is 10-15 minutes of rehearsal and 10-15 minutes of performance. The OU band faculty also suggest including your best clips (30”-1.5’ each) at the beginning of the video (for a total of ~5’) and a longer, unedited clip at the end of the video (5-10’). You may also elect to send a fully unedited 10-15’ video.

Notes from the band faculty on application materials

For the Resume described below, students pursuing a wind band conducting degree should include descriptions of position responsibilities with your employment history, as well as a list of repertoire you have conducted.
For the three letters of reference, it is possible for one person to satisfy both listed requirements.

Application materials required for all graduate degrees

These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Submitted to the online application under the Supplemental Materials tab.
- While style and format are free to vary, your document should include the following information:
  - Personal Contact Information
  - Education, including institutions attended and degrees earned (when applicable)
  - Employment history (including teaching experience for music education majors)
  - Noteworthy performances, conference presentations, or scholarly endeavors
  - Research publications, including thesis topics/titles, music compositions/arrangements, or other related scholarly work
  - Any academic/music honors, awards, or scholarships received
Statement of Purpose
- Submitted to the online application under the Supplemental Materials tab
- The personal statement is intended to provide insight into the applicant’s desire to pursue a graduate degree in music. Applicants are expected to prepare and submit original work that reflects their own ideas, experiences, written communication skills. The use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) tools to write, draft, substantially revise, paraphrase, or otherwise generate content is not permitted. Minimal use of assistive AI for grammar, spelling, etc. is allowable. By submitting the Statement of Purpose, applicants affirm that the work is their own, original, and complies with this policy. The program reserves the right to request clarification regarding submitted materials if concerns arise regarding authorship or originality.
- Please compose a brief personal statement (approximately 2–3 pages of double-spaced, 12-point font text with 1-inch margins) regarding your desire to pursue a graduate degree in music. Include responses to the following prompts:
  1. How would you describe your professional path to this point?
  2. Why do you want to pursue this degree at OU?
  3. How do you want to grow musically, artistically, pedagogically, and/or intellectually during your graduate studies?
  4. What skills, expertise, and experiences do you bring to graduate study at OU?
  5. Describe your post-degree plans (i.e., How will you apply your newly acquired academic knowledge and expertise?).
Three letters of reference
- Submitted to the online application under the Supplemental Materials tab
- Your three reference letters should include:
  - At least one letter from: your studio professor, ensemble conductor, chamber coach, etc., or a person who has considerable knowledge about your abilities as a performer or composer.
  - At least one letter from: a person who can speak to your abilities as a scholar of music.

Requirements for the Final Audition

The band faculty will review the application materials described above to determine whether to invite the applicant for next steps.

Step 1: Applicant is invited for a 15-30 minute pre-screening interview via online platform with band faculty.
Step 2: If applicant passes the pre-screening interview, they will be invited for a live, on-campus audition. The live audition will be a 20-30 minute conducting audition rehearsal with a University ensemble presented before a committee consisting of appropriate members of the Graduate Music Faculty. Conducting repertoire will be selected by the Director of Concert Bands.