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Students sing during a graduate choral concert.

MA in Music Education Choral Concentration

About the MA in Music Education Choral Concentration

The MA in Music Education Choral Concentration is designed for teachers by teachers to serve professional music educators who wish to strengthen their classroom teaching. You will learn practical aspects of teaching elementary, intermediate and advanced students to develop their musicianship and technical skills.

Contact

Email
music@stthomas.edu

Curriculum Details

  • Program Overview
  • Core Courses
  • Choral Concentration Courses
  • Choral Elective Courses
  • Other Degree Requirements

    • Program Overview

    The Master of Arts degree with a concentration in choral music features a broad range of theoretical courses balanced by requirements that apply to choral directors' work with treble, emerging adolescent and mature adolescent voices. Unique to this program is its emphasis on practical application in graduate study as well as cooperation among classroom, vocal and instrumental music educators to produce superior music education in our schools.

    The Master of Arts in Music Education choral concentration curriculum requires 33 credit hours and consists of three elements:
    • Core courses covering a variety of topics.
    • A concentration to develop specific skills.
    • A master’s thesis or final project to conduct applied research in music education.

    Core Courses

    Core courses provide opportunities for all master’s students to place their specific skills within a broader musical and educational context.

    Required Core Courses (14 credits)
    • GMUS 600 Introduction to Scholarship and Research Methods in Music Education, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 601 Teaching and Learning, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 608 Foundations of Music Education, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 611 Perspectives in Music Theory, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 750 Musicianship, 1 cr.
    • GMUS 890 Master of Arts Final Project, 1 cr.

    Choral Concentration Courses

    The choral concentration explores effective ways to enrich the choral experience for singers in our classrooms focusing on conducting, pedagogy, repertoire and vocal development for students of all ages.

    Choral Concentration Courses (15 credits)
    • GMUS 518 Teaching Choral Repertoire, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 652 Global Traditions for Choirs, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 673 Choral Score Study and Literature I, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 674 Choral Score Study and Literature II, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 676 Voice Fundamentals, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 726 Intermediate Choral Conducting, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 727 Advanced Choral Conducting, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 728 Advanced Choral Conducting Lab, 1 cr.

    Choral Elective Courses

    Elective credits provide students opportunities to expand skills in their areas of interest.

    Choral Elective Courses (4 credits)
    • GMUS 517 Developing the Child Voice in the Classroom, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 523 Teaching Adolescent Voices in a Choral Setting, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 527 Vocal Jazz Techniques, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 536 Smithsonian Folkways Certification in World Music Pedagogy, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 537 Latin American Music, 1 cr.
    • GMUS 544-xx Topics in Music Education, credits vary (advisor approval required)
    • GMUS 574 Applied Voice Study (30-minute lessons), 1 cr.
    • GMUS 612 Topics in Music History, Literature and Theory, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 651 Dalcroze Musicianship, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 671 African Music Ensemble, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 742 Kodály Level II, 3 cr.
    • Other courses considered for elective credit (advisor approval required)

    Other Degree Requirements

    All students admitted to the Master of Arts in Music Education program with an instrumental concentration will complete the following non-credit requirements:
    • Music Diagnostic Exams
    • Oral Comprehensive Exam

    Program Overview

    The Master of Arts degree with a concentration in choral music features a broad range of theoretical courses balanced by requirements that apply to choral directors' work with treble, emerging adolescent and mature adolescent voices. Unique to this program is its emphasis on practical application in graduate study as well as cooperation among classroom, vocal and instrumental music educators to produce superior music education in our schools.

    The Master of Arts in Music Education choral concentration curriculum requires 33 credit hours and consists of three elements:
    • Core courses covering a variety of topics.
    • A concentration to develop specific skills.
    • A master’s thesis or final project to conduct applied research in music education.

    Core Courses

    Core courses provide opportunities for all master’s students to place their specific skills within a broader musical and educational context.

    Required Core Courses (14 credits)
    • GMUS 600 Introduction to Scholarship and Research Methods in Music Education, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 601 Teaching and Learning, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 608 Foundations of Music Education, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 611 Perspectives in Music Theory, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 750 Musicianship, 1 cr.
    • GMUS 890 Master of Arts Final Project, 1 cr.

    Choral Concentration Courses

    The choral concentration explores effective ways to enrich the choral experience for singers in our classrooms focusing on conducting, pedagogy, repertoire and vocal development for students of all ages.

    Choral Concentration Courses (15 credits)
    • GMUS 518 Teaching Choral Repertoire, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 652 Global Traditions for Choirs, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 673 Choral Score Study and Literature I, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 674 Choral Score Study and Literature II, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 676 Voice Fundamentals, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 726 Intermediate Choral Conducting, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 727 Advanced Choral Conducting, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 728 Advanced Choral Conducting Lab, 1 cr.

    Choral Elective Courses

    Elective credits provide students opportunities to expand skills in their areas of interest.

    Choral Elective Courses (4 credits)
    • GMUS 517 Developing the Child Voice in the Classroom, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 523 Teaching Adolescent Voices in a Choral Setting, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 527 Vocal Jazz Techniques, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 536 Smithsonian Folkways Certification in World Music Pedagogy, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 537 Latin American Music, 1 cr.
    • GMUS 544-xx Topics in Music Education, credits vary (advisor approval required)
    • GMUS 574 Applied Voice Study (30-minute lessons), 1 cr.
    • GMUS 612 Topics in Music History, Literature and Theory, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 651 Dalcroze Musicianship, 3 cr.
    • GMUS 671 African Music Ensemble, 2 cr.
    • GMUS 742 Kodály Level II, 3 cr.
    • Other courses considered for elective credit (advisor approval required)

    Other Degree Requirements

    All students admitted to the Master of Arts in Music Education program with an instrumental concentration will complete the following non-credit requirements:
    • Music Diagnostic Exams
    • Oral Comprehensive Exam

    Our Students and Alumni

    Andrew Elbin headshot.
    "Singing Cannon and Round in our History of Music Education class tops my list for favorite music memories. I work at an international school in Yangon, Myanmar. My wife and I are teaching online classes during COVID-19 from family homes in the US."
    Natalia Romero Arbelaez headshot.
    "Musicianship blew me away. Dr. Kathy Thomsen completely transformed how I saw ear training and helped me think about music making with my students in a completely new light."
    The St. Thomas Arches
    "Soak in all the information you can. Don’t take yourself too seriously. There is so much joy to be found in learning that takes place during your graduate studies. Remain open to others experiences and don’t be afraid to bring your own voice to the conversation."

    Sounds of Celebration

    A student smiling after conducting in the Graduate Choral Conducting concert.

    Annual Choral Conducting Concert

    Our choral conducting students celebrate in concert as they conclude their summer conducting courses.

    Faculty

    Albert Pinsonneault headshot.

    Dr. Albert Pinsonneault

    Dr. Albert Pinsonneault is Director of Choral Activities at the University of St. Thomas. His scholarship focuses on choral blend and intonation, the physical/kinesthetic act of conducting, new music for choir and the music of F. Melius Christiansen.
    Read Dr. Pinsonneault's Full Bio
    G. Phillip Shoultz, III headshot.

    Dr. G. Phillip Shoultz, III

    G. Phillip Shoultz, III serves as Associate Conductor and Director of Learning & Engagement of VocalEssence. He is also the Cantor for Worship, Music, and the Arts at Westwood Lutheran Church and the host for Minnesota Orchestra Young People’s Concerts. Phillip has won the 2015 ACDA Conducting Competition and multiple Teacher of the Year honors.
    Read Dr. Shoultz's Full Bio
    Debra Capener headshot.

    Dr. Debra Capener

    Dr. Debra Capener, Soprano, is currently serving as Interim Area Head of Vocal Studies at St.Thomas and teaches Performance Studies and Performance Studio Classes. Dr. Capener specializes in vocal cross training and embraces both contemporary and classical pedagogies in her work with students.
    Read Dr. Capener's Full Bio

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