Master of Music Teaching

How to apply

Applicants to the Master of Music Teaching program submit the following information to the Conservatory Admissions Office. Applications are still being accepted for Summer 2008 enrollment. Material must be submitted prior to being invited to campus to meet the Music Education faculty.

Continuing Oberlin Students

Typically, continuing Conservatory students will not apply for the MMT program until the second semester of their third year OR during their fourth year of undergraduate study. Should students in their first, second, third, or fourth years wish to take "core music education courses" in preparation for the MMT degree application (i.e., MUED 505 "Music Teaching in Practice," PSYC 122 "Educational Psychology," EDUC 300 "Foundations of Education," and "Community Music Teaching Winter Term Internship"). Please see Associate Dean Alegant in order to be assigned to a Music Education adviser.

  1. Unified Application
  2. CD/DVD of musical performance on applied instrument or voice (visit the Conservatory Admissions site for repertoire requirements).
  3. Written essay (see Unified Application for details).
  4. Official undergraduate transcript.
  5. PRAXIS II Music Content Scores.
  6. Three letters of recommendation:
      • from principal applied teacher
      • from theory or aural skills teacher
      • from other non-applied or liberal arts   teacher
    Letters should comment on the applicant's performance in instructional, tutoring, or mentoring roles; personal, professional, and musical strengths and challenges.
  7. Completed courses in: Ethnomusicology, basic/elementary conducting; distribution of liberal arts courses (3-4 credits each) in the areas of arts, communication, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, science, & social sciences.

The $100.00 application fee is waived for continuing Conservatory students.
 

   Applicants With Undergraduate Performance Degrees
  1. Unified Application
  2. CD/DVD of musical performance on applied instrument or voice (visit the Conservatory Admissions site for repertoire requirements).
  3. Written essay (see Unified Application for details).
  4. Official undergraduate transcript.
  5. PRAXIS II Music Content Scores and GRE General Test score.
  6. Three letters of recommendation:
      • from principal applied teacher
      • from theory or aural skills teacher
      • from other non-applied or liberal arts   teacher
    Letters should comment on the applicant's performance in instructional, tutoring, or mentoring roles; personal, professional, and musical strengths and challenges.
  7. Completed courses in:  Ethnomusicology, basic/elementary conducting; distribution of liberal arts courses (3-4 credits each) in the areas of arts, communication, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, science, & social sciences.
  8. $100.00 application fee.

On-Campus Interview

Applicants will meet with the Music Education faculty. Applicants will be asked to describe their reasons for wanting to teach and for entering the graduate music teaching program at Oberlin, as well as to describe their prior music teaching experience (if any). This interview conversation will assist faculty in determining whether or not the applicants are sincere, caring, flexible, and motivated in their quests for pursuing a graduate degree in music teaching. Additionally, the conversation will allow faculty to assess applicants' oral communication skills.

Also at the meeting, applicants will demonstrate their skills (i.e., keyboard proficiency, harmonization, sight-singing, and rhythm-reading). Keyboardists and orchestral/band instrumentalists should prepare a vocal selection to sing (i.e., art song, aria, hymn, folk tune, children's song). Further, applicants will prepare a written lesson plan and teach a lesson (private or group/class instruction) segment to the Music Education faculty.