Performance (MM)
Instrumental, Vocal, Piano, Choral Conducting or Wind Conducting
Refine your musical skills and pave the way for your career with our master’s program, combining hands-on training with industry-driven insights to prepare you for real-world success.
Show off your skills with an audition
Whether you’re aiming to major in music or simply want to immerse yourself in a vibrant community through a minor or ensemble participation, auditioning is the first step! This is your opportunity to showcase your talent and unlock eligibility for valuable graduate assistantships and scholarships.
What Are My Job Opportunities?
Our alumni thrive as music educators, directors, professors and performers in orchestras and bands, soloists in international tours and entrepreneurs in the music industry.
Careers and Salaries
Program Details
A master’s in music provides advanced training in performance, composition and music education, designed to equip you with a wide range of professional opportunities in the music field.
What Will I Learn?
The Master of Music performance emphasis allows you to focus your passion into one of the following areas.
- Instrumental Performance
- flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone/euphonium, tuba, percussion, piano]
- Vocal Performance
- Piano Performance
- Instrumental Conducting
- Choral Conducting
- Piano Pedagogy
Taking Classes
Courses are presented through classroom, practicum, ensemble, studio and private instruction settings.
Designed for your life
Please check the schedule of classes for locations and times. Locations and times are subject to change.
NASM Accredited
East Texas A&M is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Curriculum
As part of the 30 semester-hour MM (Option II non-thesis) program, the Performance emphasis requires 16 semester hours in specialized coursework
Applied Study and Recital
Students complete 12 hours in Principal Applied Study, typically enrolling in MUS 552 for 3 credit hours per semester across four semesters. This portion of the program culminates in a formal graduate recital (MUS 555, 1 SH), showcasing the student's artistic development and performance skills.
Pedagogy and Literature
In addition, students take 4 to 6 semester hours in Pedagogy and Literature. This includes MUS 531, which covers teaching strategies and applied pedagogy specific to the student’s primary instrument or voice, and MUS 526, which focuses on the study and interpretation of repertoire relevant to professional performance.
Finding My Community
You'll discover a vibrant community of talented musicians who are dedicated to fostering world-class ensembles, bands and chorales. Our programs are recognized internationally with students competing and performing overseas.
Darla Meek
Faculty
Julee Walker, DMA
Faculty
Daniel Kelly, DMA
Faculty
Brian Zator, DMA
Faculty
Student Organizations
At East Texas A&M, student organizations can empower you through collaboration and innovation. Our organizations foster a supportive community that promotes professional development, networking and advocacy for student success.
I’m Looking For Something Different
Is this program close, but still not right for you? Check out our related degrees!
Financing My Future
East Texas A&M is one of the most affordable colleges around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Our tuition rates are some of the most competitive in Texas.
Cost Before Financial Aid
$3,669
for Texas residents
/
$7,341
For non-residents
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents. But don’t worry: there are many ways you can get aid, such as scholarships, financial aid, assistantships and more.
Additional Fees May Apply
- Online Courses ($50 per hour)
- Remote Locations ($20 per hour)
- Lab Fees ($5 – $30 per course)
Financial Aid
Financial aid includes a variety of programs, like scholarships, federal and state grants, and federal and state work-study programs. Find out how you may be eligible for scholarships, grants, loans and/or a graduate assistantship.
On-Campus Employment Opportunities
On-campus employment provides you with valuable work experience that complements your academic and professional aspirations.
Music students have the opportunity to apply for graduate assistantships that involve supporting faculty in teaching, rehearsal and performance preparation, offering practical experience in both academic and performance settings. Auditioning is your opportunity to showcase your talent and unlock eligibility for valuable graduate assistantships and scholarships.
How Do I Get Started?
If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When your ready, go ahead and follow the steps to apply below.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission, you must first meet the following criteria.
- GPA minimum 2.5
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Admission Process
Deadlines
2025 Audition Dates for all Graduate Music Majors
- February 22
- March 1
- March 8
Other dates available upon request
Applying to the MM program is a two-step process. First, apply to East Texas A&M University with ApplyTexas and then apply to the School of Music with GetAcceptd to sign-up for auditions (for Fall/Spring Candidates) OR complete the Submission Form (for Summer Cohort Candidates). If you are applying to the Summer Graduate Cohort, submit a link to a video of yourself teaching a class of children in lieu of an audition. One 20-minute session is adequate. (Because of pandemic limitations, a virtual teaching segment will be accepted.)
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
Select “Music, MM” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Complete the School of Music application form.
Sign-up for one of three audition options
- Live, in-person
- Live, virtual
- Recorded
Complete this Form to be considered for Admission
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Submit a statement of educational and professional goals of 500 words or less
- Educational and professional goals.
- How you believe this graduate degree will help you achieve these goals.
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Submit an academic piece on any topic that demonstrates your ability to write at a graduate level
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
- Apply for Graduate Assistantships, by contacting [email protected] with your name, contact information, undergraduate school and instrument.
- Instrumental (Woodwind or Brass)
- Percussion
- Piano
- Keyboard
- Jazz Ensembles
- Wind Band Conducting
- Choral Conducting
- Elementary Music Education (Be sure to complete the Submission Form.)
Audition and interview to gain acceptance to the program and be eligible for graduate assistantships and scholarships.
*Applicants for the Graduate Summer Music Education Cohort should follow instructions on the Music (MM) Summer Cohort webpage.
Audition Requirements
- Sing 4 pieces: one in English, Italian, German and French.
- Be prepared to read text in Italian, German, and French to demonstrate correct pronunciation.
- Be prepared to read IPA and to transliterate text to IPA.
- Sight-reading
- All Major Scales and a Full-Range Chromatic Scale
- Two contrasting etudes (slow and fast) or portions of solo repertoire (lyrical and technical)
- Sight-read a short musical example
- Students interested in auditioning as a performance major should also be prepared to perform a movement or movements from a standard concerto, sonata or significant solo repertoire. Please contact the applied faculty member for your instrument with any questions.
- Timpani:
- One solo or etude
- Keyboard:
- One four-mallet solo
- One two-mallet solo or etude
- Sight-reading a two-mallet etude
- Drum-Set:
- Demonstrate two-four styles
- Snare Drum:
- One concert style solo or etude
- One rudimental style solo or etude
- A 20-30 minute audition that includes at least three works from different style periods. All selections must be memorized.
- Sight-reading
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
Deadlines
2025 Audition Dates for all Graduate Music Majors
- February 22
- March 1
- March 8
Other dates available upon request
Applying to the MM program is a two-step process. First, apply to East Texas A&M University with ApplyTexas and then apply to the School of Music with GetAcceptd to sign-up for auditions (for Fall/Spring Candidates) OR complete the Submission Form (for Summer Cohort Candidates). If you are applying to the Summer Graduate Cohort, submit a link to a video of yourself teaching a class of children in lieu of an audition. One 20-minute session is adequate. (Because of pandemic limitations, a virtual teaching segment will be accepted.)
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Music, MM” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $75 application fee
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Complete the School of Music application form.
- Sign-up for one of three audition options
- Live, in-person
- Live, virtual
- Recorded
Complete this Form to be considered for Admission
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accept evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
Submit a a statement of educational and professional goals of 500 words or less on the following prompt:
- Discuss your educational and professional goals and how you believe this graduate degree will help you achieve these goals.
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Record a video of yourself answering each of the prompts below, upload it to the platform of your choice, and share the link to your video with us via an email to your graduate coordinator.
Your video should not exceed 30 minutes in length.
- Begin with a brief self-introduction.
- What motivates you to pursue a Ph.D. degree in linguistics/applied linguistics?
- Do you think you are the right candidate for our Ph.D. program? Why?
- Have you conducted a research project before? If yes, please describe it briefly.
- What research areas would you explore and what research projects would you conduct if you were amitted to our Ph.D. program? Is there a particular faculty member that you would like to work with?
- What teaching experiences do you have?
- Are you interested in the online or face-to-face option?
- How much time/effort do you envisage the Ph.D. to require every week? Have you taken any online courses before?
- Do you have anything else you want us to know?
Note: Do not send the video file directly (e.g., as an attachment to an email). Be sure to use a platform, such as YouTube, which does not require registration or payment to upload the video and remember to check the accessibility of your link before submitting it to us (e.g., If using YouTube, the visibility setting of your video should either be public or unlisted, but not private). Visual aids (e.g., PPT slides) are encouraged but not required. If using visual aids, we would still like to see your face in the video (i.e., no voiceover presentations).
Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted
- Official sponsor statement
- Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $33,601 USD which is less than six months old
See the Office of International Program's “Confirmation of Financial Resource” for more details.
You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to East Texas A&M University:
- TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
- IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
- PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
- Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)
*Scores must be less than two years old.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Apply for outside scholarships once you are admitted to East Texas A&M.
Apply for Graduate Assistantships, by contacting [email protected] with your name, contact information, undergraduate school and instrument.
Instrumental (Woodwind or Brass)
Percussion
Piano
Keyboard
Jazz Ensembles
Wind Band Conducting
Choral Conducting
Elementary Music Education
Audition and interview to gain acceptance to the program and be eligible for graduate assistantships and scholarships.
*Applicants for the Graduate Summer Music Education Cohort should follow instructions on the Music (MM) Summer Cohort webpage.
Audition Requirements
- Sing 4 pieces: one in English, Italian, German and French.
- Be prepared to read text in Italian, German, and French to demonstrate correct pronunciation.
- Be prepared to read IPA and to transliterate text to IPA.
- Sight-reading
- All Major Scales and a Full-Range Chromatic Scale
- Two contrasting etudes (slow and fast) or portions of solo repertoire (lyrical and technical)
- Sight-read a short musical example
- Students interested in auditioning as a performance major should also be prepared to perform a movement or movements from a standard concerto, sonata or significant solo repertoire. Please contact the applied faculty member for your instrument with any questions.
- Timpani:
- One solo or etude
- Keyboard:
- One four-mallet solo
- One two-mallet solo or etude
- Sight-reading a two-mallet etude
- Drum-Set:
- Demonstrate two-four styles
- Snare Drum:
- One concert style solo or etude
- One rudimental style solo or etude
- A 20-30 minute audition that includes at least three works from different style periods. All selections must be memorized.
- Sight-reading
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
I Still Have Questions
We are here to help! Send us an email. We can answer your questions and assist you in the application process.
Contact the Department
- School of Music
- 903.886.5303
- [email protected]
- P.O. Box 3011