AGENDA ITEM NO: 10.6
UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
PRESENTED BY:
Francois Messier, Vice-Chair, Academic Programs Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
May 15, 2008
SUBJECT:
Item for Information:
College of Graduate Studies & Research: approval of reinstatement and revision of Performance Option in the
Master of Music program
COUNCIL ACTION: For information only
Under the authority delegated from Council to approve options in programs, new program names, minor
program changes and other curricular changes, the Academic Programs Committee reports approval of
the following:
College of Graduate Studies & Research: approval of re-instatement and revision of Performance
Option in the Master of Music program
At its April 11, 2008 meeting, the Academic Programs Committee approved the reinstatement and
revision of the Performance Option in the Master of Music program. The Committee noted that this
program will not have a large enrolment, but the department displays a commitment to program quality
and this is a program of value to the university. Attached are the program forms and a memo of support
from the College of Arts & Science.
New courses:
MUS 846.6 Applied Performance Seminar II
MUS 992.6 Project
ATTACHED:
Proposal documentation.
Proposal for Curriculum Change
to be approved by Council or by Academic Programs Committee
1. PROPOSAL IDENTIFICATION
Title of proposal: Revision of Master of Music program in Performance: change from Master of
Music with Thesis (18 credit units) to Master of Music with Project (30 credit units)
Degree(s): Master of Music
Field(s) of Specialization: Performance
(Piano, Collaborative Piano, Voice, Trumpet, Saxophone)
Degree College: Graduate Studies and Research
Home College: Arts and Science
Department: Music
Contact person(s) (name, telephone, fax, e-mail):
Gregory Marion (Graduate Chair)
Department of Music
Phone (306) 966-8355
email: gregory.marion@usask.ca
Dean McNeill (Head)
Department of Music
Phone (306) 966-6178
email: dean.mcneill@usask.ca
Date: May, 24, 2007
Approved by the degree college and/or home college:
The Graduate Council of CGSR approved this item in the form of two separate motions at the
October 5th, 2007 meeting:
That the Master’s of Music Performance be reinstated.
That the Master’s of Music Performance be converted from a Thesis to a Project based program.
Proposed date of implementation: immediately upon approval
2. Type of change
x Revision of program
x A change in the total number of credit units required for an approved degree program.
Proposal Document
Rationale for reinstatement (common to all Master's of Music Programs)
A number of years ago, the Department of Music had a graduate program. At one point in the 1980's the
decision was made that the program be treated on a “special case” basis only. The Department of Music
has had many students graduate from special-case Master’s programs, and in fact currently there are four
students pursuing Master’s degrees under such an arrangement. While those students have not suffered
with respect to quality of education, the status quo is neither optimal, nor desirable. The Department of
Music seeks to revise the Master’s Degree programs in Performance (Piano, Collaborative Piano, Voice,
Trumpet, Saxophone). We believe that this proposed revision is entirely in keeping with the direction that
the College of Arts and Science is headed, and, moreover, addresses concerns raised in the University’s
Systematic Program Review. In terms of objectives the program revision will allow the Department of
Music to recruit the strongest of students from across Canada. The program will never seek to extend
beyond the means of the Department. But we are a Department with an internationally recognized
faculty, with expertise well beyond the levels of the degrees we will be offering. The revision is
necessary. The controlled influx of Master’s students will have a marked impact on the overall mission of
the Department of Music. On one level, the Master’s students themselves will benefit from the high
degree of individualized attention they will receive from faculty. This will prepare the Master’s students
for admission to the most competitive and prestigious Doctoral programs in music throughout Canada
and the United States. On another level, the presence of a critical mass of Master’s students will elevate
the presence of the Department campus-wide. It is no secret that the University as a whole is placing
great stock in research, and a vital graduate program is a necessary component in achieving such an
objective. Faculty members require the added stimulation of regularly mounting an array of graduate
classes as a means of furthering their own research activities. What is more, the increasing urgency of
securing grants from external agencies (SSHRC, for instance) cannot adequately be addressed by the
Department of Music when: (a) our efforts are directed toward the task of continually having to recruit
graduate students on a piecemeal basis; and (b) so many of our current grant proposals cannot judiciously
factor in graduate student involvement; revision of the program will address these concerns in direct
ways. In a related vein, graduate students—as part of their necessary training—will take on certain
teaching responsibilities which in turn will help the Department at large to relieve some of its current
reliance upon sessional instruction, and will facilitate faculty teaching at the graduate level. The demand
for this revision is equally apparent. We must do more than maintain our present status: we must elevate
that status to the point of becoming the preeminent graduate music program in Saskatchewan, and be on
par, at least, with institutions such as the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the
University of Manitoba. At present, we cannot compete with these three institutions, each of which has
fully-fledged Master’s programs in music. Revision of the proposed programs will mean that we can
promote our uniqueness to potential Master’s students from Saskatchewan, and Canada as a whole.
Rationale for change of credit units, from "thesis-based" to "project-based" for the MMus
(Performance):
The rationale for changing to a 30 cu project-based program is based upon comparisons with Master of
Music in Performance programs across the country (see attached material). None of these programs
requires a document over and above the recital requirement. Those institutions with a thesis requirement
for MMus in Performance degrees (for example, UBC) regard recitals as the equivalent of the thesis.
Others are simply course-based, with a recital requirement. Our intention is to remain competitive with
other institutions by placing the emphasis on Music Performance. Having a course-based curriculum
ensures that research and coursework in the areas of bibliography, musicology and theory, as well as
applied music, are all closely supervised by experts in these areas (see curriculum). Academic writing,
advanced bibliography and advanced analysis are all addressed in our performance curriculum revisions.
The final project consists of two recitals of solo and/or chamber music, in keeping with the requirements
of all other MMus performance programs in Canada. The final performance requirement synthesizes the
knowledge gained in applied lessons and in the study of musicology, theory and analysis; the criteria for
judging the Final Project will take into account creativity with regard to interpretation, expert technical
command and effective musical communication of the repertoire chosen.
4. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS:
Please see the detailed appended program outline, which traces the process for students from the
application through the convocation stages of the degree. This degree will expect a normal residency
period of two years. Courses (of which the core courses are common to all Master's of Music degrees)
will be offered on a rotating basis, with a two-year cycle as the model, and will be taught by Graduate
Faculty in the Department of Music.
5. RESOURCES:
Given the degree of faculty rejuvenation, the Department of Music is well poised for the revision of this
program. We believe—as mentioned above—that graduate student teaching will directly benefit the
Department by lessening its reliance on a sessional budget and will also lighten faculty loads in the area
of undergraduate teaching. Said in another way, the Department possesses sufficient resources for the
revision, and should new courses be added, existing faculty would cover them quite easily. The number of
grad students accepted in music (in all areas of specialization) will not exceed ten, with current resources.
6. RELATIONSHIP AND IMPACT OF IMPLEMENTATION:
The Department of Music is already very active within the University community, and beyond in a
variety of research, performance, and Outreach and Engagement Initiatives. The revision of the graduate
program would allow our new graduate students to participate in established programs such as the Fine
Arts Research Lecture Series, the In Performance Convo Series, the Brown Bag Lunch Series, and any
number of performance settings. Additionally, revision of the program would allow the Department to
mount new initiatives such as a Prairie University Consortium: Graduate Student Conference in Music
Theory/(Ethno) Musicology/Music Composition (currently in the planning stages). This activity would
bring together graduate students in music programs across western Canada in a conference setting where
students would submit paper proposals to be assessed by a program committee comprised of faculty
members at various prairie institutions. Faculty would also offer round-table discussions concerning the
professional world into which students are emerging. Further, graduate students in music would have
ample opportunity to exchange ideas with the larger graduate student body at the University of
Saskatchewan, formally (via interdisciplinary coursework and colloquia), and informally through the
auspices of Graduate Students’ Association. Additionally, the presence of a graduate program in the
Department of Music would strengthen the undergraduate experience immeasurably, with those pursuing
post-baccalaureate degrees serving as role models for our BMus, BMusEd, and BA candidates. The
proposed revision of the graduate program has been fully vetted at the departmental level, and has
received the unanimous support of our faculty.
7. BUDGET:
There are no negative budget implications, since we are revising an existing program. The current faculty
will cover the addition of any new courses, should such courses become necessary. The addition of 12
credit units does not require a change in resources. (The change from MUS 994.0 (Thesis) to 992.6
(Project) increases the total by 6 credit units, without any additional faculty burden; the addition of MUS
846.6 (Applied Performance Seminar II) assigns due credit to a second year of Applied study which has
always been the norm for MMus (Performance) students, and hence will not alter faculty loads.
Master of Music in Performance (Fall 2007)
The Master of Music in Performance degree (project based) requires a minimum of 30 post-baccalaureate credit
units. The degree is offered in the following areas: Piano, Collaborative Piano, Voice, Trumpet, and Saxophone.
(A) Specific Admission Requirements
1. A Bachelor of Music (Honours), or equivalent, with a cumulative average of 80% in the final 60 credit units
(supply an official transcript).
2. Three letters of recommendation.
3. A current résumé.
4. A statement of intent in which the candidate describes his/her prior academic background, readiness to
undertake the Master of Music Degree in Performance, and the purpose/rationale for wanting to enroll in the
program.
5. TOEFL Examination results for applicants from non English-speaking countries.
6. All entering graduate students in the MMus program are required to sit assessment examinations in Musicology
and Music Theory. The examinations are given in the week prior to the start of classes. Deficiencies must be
addressed before taking “Course Requirements” (Sections (C & D), below).
(B) Application Process
1. Submission of a comprehensive list of works studied during the student's undergraduate degree. Indicate (with
an asterisk) all works performed publicly.
2. a. Submission of an unedited DVD made within the last 12 months, or live audition.
b. Submission of an example of academic writing within the final two years of a BMus (or equivalent) program,
e.g. a term paper.
3. Audition requirements:
Piano: Three works of different periods, including two movements of a classical sonata, a major work of the
Romantic period and a contrasting work of one’s own choice.
Collaborative piano: a selection of 4 art songs from different periods, one major instrumental chamber work and
one solo work from the advanced standard repertoire.
Voice: A minimum of 5 works that span 1600-present. A work from each of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic,
20th-century, and contemporary periods (since 1950) must be represented. The list must include at least one
selection of each of the following: operatic aria from the baroque or classical eras; 19th-century art song in
French or German. At least three European languages (e.g. Italian, French, German, Spanish) and English must
be represented in the selection.
Trumpet, Saxophone: Three contrasting works of different styles.
4. Submission of completed application to the College of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of
Saskatchewan by February 15 of the year in which candidate plans to commence graduate studies.
5. Submission of completed application for Financial Assistance to the College of Graduate Studies by February
15 of the year in which the candidate plans to commence graduate studies.
(C) General Course Requirements (as listed in the Univ. of Saskatchewan Calendar)
1. MUS 841.3* Advanced Bibliography and Research Techniques 3 cu
2. MUS 845.3 Seminar in Music Analysis 3 cu
3. MUS 853.3 or 854.3 Seminar in Musicology I or II 3 cu
*Note: Graduate students who have previously taken a bibliography course may petition the Department of Music
Graduate Committee to have the bibliography requirement waived and to have another 800-level elective substituted
in its place.
(D) Specific Area Requirements
1. MUS 844.6 Applied Performance Seminar I 6 cu
and MUS 846.6 Applied Performance Seminar II 6 cu
2. One course chosen from the following:
MUS 840.3 Seminar in Music Literature 3 cu
MUS 843.3 Seminar in 20th Century Music Materials 3 cu
MUS 851.3 Seminar in Music Theory 3 cu.
MUS 852.3 Seminar in Performance Practices 3 cu
MUS 855.3 Seminar in 20th Century Music Theory 3 cu.
MUS 898.3 Special Topics 3 cu.
3. MUS 992.6 Project 6 cu
The Project for Master of Music in Performance will consist of two recitals of solo and/or chamber music, with
program notes approved by the Advisory committee.
Total graduate course requirements 30 cu
(E) Professional Activities
A meaningful graduate experience is enhanced by participating in a number of professional activities, and is
expected of students in the Master of Music degrees. Toward that end, the Office of the Vice President Research at
the University of Saskatchewan offers the annual Fine Arts Research Lecture Series in Music, providing a forum for
the exchange of scholarly ideas through the presentation of scholarly research in formal papers and lecture recitals
prepared by both members of the Department of Music and guests from the national and international scholarly
community. In a similar vein, the Department of Music offers an annual “In Performance” Convo Hall concert series
with appearances by faculty, and guest performers from around the globe, so as to facilitate the important dialogue
between artists and scholars.
(F) Language Requirement
The foreign language requirement is as follows:
Trumpet, Saxophone, Piano: no requirement
Collaborative Piano: no requirement
Voice: proficiency in two of French, German, Italian
The student can fulfill the language requirement in one of three ways: (1) prior successful completion of an
Undergraduate course in French, German, or Italian; (2) take and pass a 100-level course in French or German at
the U of S or (3) pass a proficiency test as outlined in the Graduate Studies section of the Calendar. The language
requirement must be satisfied by the end of the student’s third semester of coursework.
(G) Keyboard Requirement (non-keyboard majors)
The student must demonstrate adequate keyboard skills through transcripts. Any deficiency must be satisfied by
taking and passing MUS 317.1 or the equivalent.
(H) Master of Music in Performance Project (MUS 992.6)
1. The Project (MUS 992.6) will consist of two recitals of solo and/or chamber music. All Master of Music in
Performance students must register in the MUS 992 according to the timelines of the Graduate Calendar.
2. All graduate students enrolled in the Master of Music in performance degree must submit a formal proposal of
repertoire for each recital at least two months before the recitals. The repertoire will be decided by the candidate in
consultation with the candidate’s principal advisor, and may consist of solo and/or chamber music, depending on the
instrument or voice. Each recital will be approximately 60 minutes in length, and will include program notes,
written according to guidelines stipulated by the Department of Music Applied Area.
3. The written proposal, to be prepared in consultation with the principal advisor, will be presented formally at a
meeting of the candidate’s committee, comprised of the principal advisor, two additional faculty members in the
Performance area, and the Head of the Department of Music (ex officio). The proposal, along with the program
notes, must be approved by the committee.
4. The public recitals will be scheduled before the end of the Graduate term, and will be juried by the members of
the Advisory Committee.
(I) Residency requirement
The minimum requirement is one year (two years recommended)
(J) Faculty for the MMus (Performance) Program: (full-time, tenured faculty, members of the College of
Graduate Studies).
Piano, Collaborative Piano: Prof. Kathleen Solose
Voice: Dr. Garry
Saxophone: Dr. Glen Gillis
Trumpet: Prof. Dean McNeill
(K) Digital record of Project
A digital recording of the two recitals on CDs, and an electronic version of the program notes will be the record of
the Project, and submitted to archives.
New courses:
MUS 846.6 Applied Performance Seminar II
The continuation of intensive study of a wind, percussion, string, keyboard instrument or the voice will
include advanced performance techniques, repertoire and recital preparation. A continuation of Applied
Performance Seminar I. Prerequisite: Applied Performance Seminar I
Rationale for introducing this course. This course represents a second year of Applied study on an
instrument or voice, as outlined as a requirement for the revised Master of Music (with Project)
Program in Performance.
MUS 992.6 Project
The Project for the Master's of Music in Performance will consists of two recitals of solo and/or chamber
music, with accompanying program notes. The repertoire for these recitals will be decided by the
principal advisor in the Performance area, and will be tailored to the individual Graduate Student
according to the areas of interest of the student in relation to their Graduate study, and the research areas
of the Principal Advisor and/or Advisory Committee.
Rationale for introducing this course. This course will be a requirement in the revised Master's of Music
in Performance degree, and represents the major project for fulfillment of the degree.