Jordan College of Fine Arts
School of Music

Graduate Music Information, Policies and Procedures

I. Admissions

A. Application Requirements for Degree-seeking Students

Butler University offers the following Master of Music (M.M.) degrees in music:

Composition
Conducting - choral track
Conducting - instrumental track
Music Education - both thesis and non-thesis options
Music History
Music Theory (program available to those students matriculating no later than Fall 2011)
Performance - piano, voice and orchestral instrument
Piano Pedagogy - both thesis and non-thesis options

MM Degrees with a Double Major

Students may also earn an MM degree with a double major by combining two of the above areas. One area will be declared the primary major; the other will be the secondary major. Applicants will need to complete the relevant audition/interview for both majors. For complete details download the MM Degrees with a Double Major (PDF).

Contacting the Office of Admission:

Office of Graduate Admission
Butler University
4600 Sunset Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46208-3485

Local: (317) 940-8407
Toll Free: (888) 940-8100
Fax: (317) 940-8150
Email: admission@butler.edu
Web: www.butler.edu/admission
CEEB code: 1073

Contact the School of Music:

Dr. Eric Stark
Director of Graduate Studies in Music
Butler University
4600 Sunset Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46208-3485

Local: (317) 940-9064
Toll Free: (888) 940-8100
Fax: (317) 940-9258
Email: estark@butler.edu

Applications for graduate admissions in music must be completed by February 15.

Standard admission requirements (included for every degree plan):

  1. The application for Graduate Admission. This is available online or from the University Graduate Admissions Office. There is a $35 application fee; this fee is waived if the application is filed on-line. Former Butler students are also not required to submit the application fee.

  2. The School of Music Graduate Application. This application will be provided to you in an e-mail once you submit your University Graduate Admissions Application. (The School of Music application deadline is February 15, 2012.)

  3. An official transcript from each college or university previously attended. These must be mailed directly from the issuing institution to the University Graduate Admissions Office. An undergraduate degree must be completed before graduate study can begin. If the undergraduate degree is other than music, the requirements of Butler's Bachelor of Arts degree will be used by the Director of Graduate Music Studies, together with the appropriate faculty, to create an individualized plan of study, including any remedial work. Remedial work may also be required in other instances depending upon the undergraduate degree and the graduate degree program.

  4. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. Admission decisions are based on a number of factors including undergraduate GPA, audition/interview results, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores. Typical GRE scores (middle 50%) for Butler Master of Music students are 970-1270 (verbal plus quantitative) and 4.5-5.0 (analytical writing).

    • This requirement is waived for applicants who have an earned a master's degree in any field.
    • To take the GRE, students may visit GRE.org OR take the exam at a Sylvan Learning Center. (One location in Indianapolis is 2727 E. 86th Street; 317-257-7546.) Butler's GRE code is 1073.

  5. Three letters of recommendation. The letters must be on letterhead stationery that reflects the place of employment of the person providing the recommendation; the recommender should comment on the applicant's musical and academic abilities. The letters should be sent to:

    Office of Graduate Admissions
    Butler University
    4600 Sunset Avenue
    Indianapolis, IN 46208-3485

  6. For international students, a TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test) is required. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate financial resources sufficient to meet all education and living expenses prior to visa issuance. Additional details are available from the Admissions Office at 317-940-8100 or toll-free at 888-940-8100.

    • If the undergraduate degree is from an American university, or from a country where English is the official language, there is no TOEFL requirement. This requirement is also waived for students who successfully complete the highest level of English instruction at the American Language Academy (ALA). Also acceptable is an IELTS (International English Language training System) score of 6.0.
    • To clarify, the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of State require non-immigrant students to demonstrate financial resources sufficient to meet all education and living expenses for at least one year of study prior to visa issuance.

  7. Specific additional admission requirements, by degree:

    Composition: The candidate must submit scores and recordings of his/her original music. In addition, the applicant must arrange for a personal interview with the composition faculty of the School of Music.

    Conducting - Choral: An audition, including both conducting and a solo performance on either piano or in voice, is required; a videotape of the applicant conducting a rehearsal or performance (front view) may be substituted for the live audition. In addition, the applicant must arrange for a personal interview with the choral conducting faculty of the School of Music.

    Conducting - Instrumental: An audition or videotape of a recent performance is required to be approved by the instrumental conducting faculty of the School of Music.

    Music Education (both tracks): The applicant must arrange for a personal interview with the music education faculty of the School of Music.

    Music History: A document representing undergraduate music history work should be submitted. In addition, the applicant must arrange for a personal interview with the musicology faculty of the School of Music.

    Music Theory: A representative analysis paper from the applicant's undergraduate music theory work should be submitted. In addition, the applicant must arrange for a personal interview with the music theory faculty of the School of Music.

    Performance: An audition is required; an audition tape, preferably a videotape, may be sent in lieu of a live audition. A list of audition requirements is available from the School of Music admissions office and listed below.

    Piano Pedagogy (both tracks): The applicant must present an audition (live or videotaped) that demonstrates both teaching and performance proficiencies, as well as arrange for a personal interview with the piano pedagogy faculty of the School of Music.

 

B. Audition Requirements

Each audition includes a short interview. Sight-reading and scales/arpeggios are not required in any of the auditions.

Voice:
Prepare 30 minutes of memorized repertoire from which the audition committee will choose. The audition will last approximately 20 minutes. Repertoire must include at least one selection in French, Italian and German, as well as one aria from opera or oratorio. Repertoire should represent various periods and styles. Auditioners should bring a copy of undergraduate transcripts (unofficial) and a résumé detailing his/her performance history and repertoire. Auditioners may bring their own accompanist or, with sufficient notice, one will be provided.

Strings:
Be prepared to play for 20-30 minutes, with repertoire representing at least three different periods (Baroque, Classic, Romantic, 20th Century). No accompanist will be provided or required, however you may bring your own accompanist if you choose. At least one piece must be memorized. Sight-reading may also be included in your audition. The audition will include a short interview.

Brass and Woodwinds:
Students should be prepared to play entire work(s) from the standard repertoire. Selected works should be musically and technically advanced, i.e. suitable as major works on a senior recital. An accompanist is strongly recommended. Etudes, scales, arpeggios, and orchestral excerpts may also be included. Students should confer with the faculty member with whom they wish to study about specific requirements and appropriate repertoire.

Percussion:

Applicants must perform one major solo in 3 of the 5 instrumental areas listed below:

I. Snare Drum: concert style and/or rudimental style
II. Marimba
III. Timpani
IV. Multiple-Percussion or Latin Percussion: an audio recording and score of a recent solo performance will satisfy the Multiple-Percussion requirement. For Latin Percussion: demonstration of techniques on bongos, congas and timbales
V. Drum Set: demonstration of time keeping in contrasting styles (jazz, rock, funk, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian) and a prepared solo - with or without audio accompaniment

In addition, it is recommended for each applicant to prepare 2 contrasting orchestral excerpts for snare drum, xylophone and timpani. A demonstration sight-reading ability on snare drum, marimba and timpani may be asked.

The audition will include a short interview.

Piano:
Performance: Applicants should plan to play from memory selections from at least three of the following areas: J. S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue or larger work; Classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven; Significant work from the Romantic Period; Standard 20th century work. You will also be asked to sight-read as part of this audition.

All other degrees: Applicants should plan to play from memory three important contrasting works from different styles and periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary).

Piano Pedagogy (thesis and non-thesis):

  1. A live audition/interview. Applicants should plan to play from memory selections from at least three of the following areas: J. S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue or larger work; Classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven; Significant work from the Romantic Period; Standard 20th century work. You will also be asked to sight-read as part of this audition. Each audition/interview is scheduled for 30 minutes.
  2. A 45-60 minute videotape or DVD demonstrating teaching abilities, postmarked no later than one week before the audition date.

Revised 08/07

 

C. Acceptance

The Graduate Office of Admissions will notify each applicant by mail as to whether admission has been granted. Any qualifying conditions will be indicated in the acceptance letter.

Upon admission, a student is assigned to an academic advisor.

To change from one music degree program to another, a student must submit a new graduate application to the Office of Graduate Admissions and be admitted into that program.

Students who do not enter with a bachelor's degree in music will be required to complete the coursework required for Butler's Bachelor of Arts degree in music in addition to the graduate coursework prescribed for their degree program.

 

D. Diagnostic Exams

The Graduate Music Diagnostic Exams are administered prior to the start of classes, and are required for placement purposes. The following exams are administered:

  • music theory - required of all degree plans
  • music history - required of all degree plans
  • diction - required of vocal performance and choral conducting majors
  • translation - required of music history and music theory majors. The student may choose either French or German; a dictionary may be used.

A student who does not pass one or all of these exams will be required to take the required remedial course in their area of deficiency within the first 12 credit hours of coursework. These remedial courses count as elective credit in the student's degree plan, but will not fulfill specific course area requirements.

All incoming graduate students are required to take the appropriate exams, including Butler University graduates. More information concerning these exams is sent to all incoming students.

 

E. Non-degree Graduate Students

A person holding a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university who wishes to take graduate work for purposes other than obtaining an advanced degree (e.g., for teacher licensure to transfer to another institution, or for self-enrichment) may file a non-degree application. Application forms may be obtained from and submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission, and are also available online.

An official transcript with a baccalaureate degree posted must be mailed directly from the issuing institution to the Office of Graduate Admission. Applications must be received one week prior to the first day of class.

If a non-degree student chooses to enter a graduate degree program, the student must complete a graduate degree-seeking application and follow the applicable admissions procedures for the appropriate major.

All non-degree students are urged to become degree-seeking by the time they have completed 9-12 semester hours of graduate credit. A student can petition the Director of Graduate Music Studies to have up to 12 hours of non-degree work applied toward the degree program.

 

F. Renewed Enrollment

Any student whose attendance is interrupted by one academic year or more must file an Application for Renewed Enrollment. The application should be submitted to the following:

  • Office of Graduate Admission - if the student is seeking enrollment into a new degree program or changing status from non-degree to degree-seeking
  • Office of Registration and Records - in all other circumstances

Students enrolled in a graduate program at Butler University 10 or more years ago may be considered for re-admission for graduate study. Candidates must submit a new graduate degree-seeking application (see section above on applying for graduate admission) and meet current admission requirements.

Only coursework taken subsequent to the new admission will be counted toward degree requirements. All academic records, however, will be maintained so that the transcripts will reflect all of the studies and cumulative grade point average undertaken at Butler University.

An official transcript for any college work taken since a student's last enrollment at Butler must be mailed directly from the issuing institution to the Office of Registration and Records.

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