Master's Degrees in Music
Master's degrees in music are available in a variety of formats. Among these are the Master of Music (M.M.), the Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), and the Master of Music Education. At this level, you'll likely pick a concentration in performance, composition, or conducting, as well as complete a thesis or final project assignment. Performance concentrations are broken down further by instrument, with specializations in brass, strings, woodwinds, piano, guitar, and voice. These degree programs tend to be intense, rigorous, and competitive.
Composition students can specialize further in such areas as music theory or music technology. The former option can be useful if you're looking to teach, while the latter option can help you build skills and experience if you're looking to go into recording and production. Music technology encompasses training on digital audio workstations (DAWs) and studio mixing consoles. MFAs in electronic music and recording media are also available.
Music education degrees deal with music history, theory, research, and pedagogy (the practice of teaching). Degrees in this concentration are commonly awarded as Master of Music or Master of Music Education degrees. Music education programs are typically the only graduate-level music programs available online.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Makes you eligible for teaching jobs in community colleges as well as some 4-year schools
- Enhances your employability for teaching private music lessons in non-college settings, like music stores or music teacher networks
- Allows you to take more advanced courses in composition, theory, or performance than those offered in undergraduate schools
- Gives you a chance to expand your network of advanced musicians
Cons
- Many performance and composition jobs are freelance and based almost entirely on the quality of the performance or composition; therefore, they don't require advanced degrees
- Master's degree holders generally don't earn more money than musicians with less education, except for those in teaching
- Entrance into master's degree programs can be competitive and highly selective
Common Courses and Requirements
Courses taken will vary based on the type of graduate-level music degree program you pursue. Performance students will need to take applied music (private lessons) and performance courses. Final projects or theses for performance students usually consist of a group or solo recital. A written thesis might also be required.
Composition students will focus on learning directly from a faculty composer and will need to complete an original composition as the thesis assignment. If you're looking at a music education program, you'll need to complete several courses on teaching theories, likely including a music education research course. All types of degrees usually allow for some customization through elective requirements in ethnomusicology, music theory, and pedagogy.
Online Degree Options
Due to the intense hands-on nature of the field, online degrees in performance, conducting, and composing are generally unavailable. Online degrees in music education are more common, but the options are still fairly slim. These types of degrees are typically offered as Master of Music degrees, and they blend musicology (the study of music) with music theory and pedagogy. Courses in this area typically look at the music from historical and cultural perspectives, covering such topics as jazz, blues, and the music of Africa.
Getting Ahead with This Degree
Master's degrees in music can help boost your profile as a music teacher, performer, or studio musician. Those with master's degrees might also be considered better candidates for education jobs in public schools than those with bachelor's degrees plus certification. Master's degrees also open up doors for teaching jobs in community and junior colleges.
While working toward this degree, it will be to your benefit to be an active participant in the music scene both on campus and in the city or town in which you study. You can begin working as a private lesson instructor or studio musician, or you can actively compose original works apart from those assigned to you as part of your program. It may also behoove you to build your proficiency with the technological sides of the music business, which can range from using DAWs to planning social media strategies for artists.