Music (MM)
Meet your artistic and career goals through our internationally recognized music program.
Fine Tune Your Future
Become a part of our internationally recognized music program. Our Master of Music degree advances your knowledge in music theory, history, pedagogy, performance and more. Receive one-on-one instruction from our renowned faculty as you develop your skills and build your repertoire. Whether you aspire to teach or perform, our degree prepares you for a variety of careers. Join our community of recognized musicians and apply today! You can also learn more about the Music Department at our main department webpage.
See Yourself Succeed with a Degree In Music
Join Our Community
You'll discover a vibrant community of talented musicians who are dedicated to fostering world-class ensembles, bands and chorales. Our programs are recognized internationally with students competing and performing overseas.
Learn from the Best
You'll have opportunities to participate in studio recitals and master classes taught by renowned professors and nationally recognized guest musicians. Our faculty are dedicated to improving your music appreciation, comprehension and performance.
NASM Accredited
The Department of Music at Texas A&M University-Commerce is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Find Your Program
With over 300 majors, the Department of Music offers top-notch performing experiences while still providing one-on-one mentorship. You'll have many opportunities to participate in recitals and performances.
Focus Your Passion
The Department of Music offers three different tracks to cater to your research interests and career goals.
Music Education
Pass your love of music to the next generation. Our Music Education track equips you with the pedagogical skills to teach at the elementary, secondary and collegiate levels. Choose from any of the following specialties: winds, percussion, piano or voice. This track is available at our main campus location. We also offer a summer cohort option at the Mesquite Metroplex Center.
Total Credit Hours: 30
Music Performance
Engage in a wide variety of performance opportunities. This track develops your technical skills and abilities through large ensembles, chamber playing, solo performances and more. Focus areas include instrumental, piano or vocal performance as well as instrumental and choral conducting.
Total Credit Hours: 30
Piano Pedagogy
Develop essential skills for your teaching and performance craft. You will not only prepare repertoire for a solo recital but will receive extensive guidance and hands-on experience teaching piano in individual and group settings.
Total Credit Hours: 30
Faculty Spotlight
Daniel Kelly, DMA
The one-on-one aspect of music study is my favorite part of the job.
More About Daniel
Julee Walker, DMA
Ultimately, success comes from your own happiness. Having a well-balanced life is key.
More About Julee
Julia Bozone, DMA
More About JuliaWhat You Will Learn
A master’s degree in music will offer you the opportunity to:
- Become a part of a community of world-class musicians and scholars
- Receive private lessons from seasoned musicians
- Increase your knowledge in music history and theory
- Participate in conferences, master classes and workshops
Careers
Let your passion for music shape the lives of those around you. A Master of Music degree prepares you for a wide variety of careers. Our alumni have achieved positions at all levels of music including band or choir director, elementary music teacher, college professors, fine arts directors, studio or private instructor and more. Many of our graduates perform in orchestras, concert and military bands. Others work as collaborative artists and soloists in international touring groups or run their own companies.
Career Possibilities
Education
- College professor
- Band director
- Choir director
- Elementary music teacher
- Private teaching studio
Performance
- Military bands
- Professional orchestra
- Collaborative artists
- Solo artists
- International touring shows
- Musician in rock, country and jazz bands
Other
- Entrepreneur
- Composer
- Arranger
- Music business manager
Featured Courses
Graduate Program Cost
PROGRAM COSTS
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents.
Deadlines – Fall Admission
2024 Audition Dates for all Graduate Music Majors
- February 17
- February 24
- March 9
Other dates available upon request
Admission
Your Path to Becoming a Lion
Applying to the MM program is a two-step process. First, apply to Texas A&M University-Commerce with ApplyTexas and then apply to the Department of Music with GetAcceptd to sign-up for auditions (for Fall/Spring Candidates) OR complete the Submission Form (for Summer Cohort Candidates). If you are applying to the Summer Graduate Cohort, submit a link to a video of yourself teaching a class of children in lieu of an audition. One 20-minute session is adequate. (Because of pandemic limitations, a virtual teaching segment will be accepted.)
- Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
- Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
- Select “Music” as your “Major.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Complete the Music Department application form.
- Sign-up for one of three audition options
- Live, in-person
- Live, virtual
- Recorded
Complete this Form to be considered for Admission
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator, [email protected], unless otherwise specified below.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Submit a statement of educational and professional goals of 500 words or less
- Educational and professional goals.
- How you believe this graduate degree will help you achieve these goals.
Submit an academic piece on any topic that demonstrates your ability to write at a graduate level
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Music :: (MM) Domestic Audition Step
Audition and interview to gain acceptance to the program and be eligible for graduate assistantships and scholarships.
*Applicants for the Graduate Summer Music Education Cohort will submit a link to video footage of their teaching in lieu of an audition. Send a link for the video footage to the Music Education Coordinator at [email protected].
Audition Requirements
- Sing 4 pieces: one in English, Italian, German and French.
- Be prepared to read text in Italian, German, and French to demonstrate correct pronunciation.
- Be prepared to read IPA and to transliterate text to IPA.
- Sight-reading
- All Major Scales and a Full-Range Chromatic Scale
- Two contrasting etudes (slow and fast) or portions of solo repertoire (lyrical and technical)
- Sight-read a short musical example
- Students interested in auditioning as a performance major should also be prepared to perform a movement or movements from a standard concerto, sonata or significant solo repertoire. Please contact the applied faculty member for your instrument with any questions.
- Timpani:
- One solo or etude
- Keyboard:
- One four-mallet solo
- One two-mallet solo or etude
- Sight-reading a two-mallet etude
- Drum-Set:
- Demonstrate two-four styles
- Snare Drum:
- One concert style solo or etude
- One rudimental style solo or etude
- A 20-30 minute audition that includes at least three works from different style periods. All selections must be memorized.
- Sight-reading
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
- Apply for Graduate Assistantships, by contacting [email protected] with your name, contact information, undergraduate school and instrument.
- Instrumental (Woodwind or Brass)
- Percussion
- Piano
- Keyboard
- Jazz Ensembles
- Wind Band Conducting
- Choral Conducting
- Elementary Music Education (Be sure to complete the Submission Form.)
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Applying to the MM program is a two-step process. First, apply to Texas A&M University-Commerce with ApplyTexas and then apply to the Department of Music with GetAcceptd to sign-up for auditions (for Fall/Spring Candidates) OR complete the Submission Form (for Summer Cohort Candidates). If you are applying to the Summer Graduate Cohort, submit a link to a video of yourself teaching a class of children in lieu of an audition. One 20-minute session is adequate. (Because of pandemic limitations, a virtual teaching segment will be accepted.)
- Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
- Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
- Select “Music” as your “Major.”
- Pay the $75 application fee.
Complete the Music Department application form.
- Sign-up for one of three audition options
- Live, in-person
- Live, virtual
- Recorded
Complete this Form to be considered for Admission
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator, [email protected], unless otherwise specified below.
- Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accept evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
Submit a a statement of educational and professional goals of 500 words or less on the following prompt:
- Discuss your educational and professional goals and how you believe this graduate degree will help you achieve these goals.
Submit an academic piece on any topic that demonstrates your ability to write at a graduate level
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce:
- TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
- IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
- PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
- Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)
*Scores must be less than two years old.
Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted
- Official sponsor statement
- Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $26,025 USD which is less than 1 year old
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for outside scholarships once you are admitted to A&M-Commerce.
- Apply for Graduate Assistantships, by contacting [email protected] with your name, contact information, undergraduate school and instrument.
- Instrumental (Woodwind or Brass)
- Percussion
- Piano
- Keyboard
- Jazz Ensembles
- Wind Band Conducting
- Choral Conducting
- Elementary Music Education
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
