Admissions

MMT On Campus Interview Date

 February 4, 2012

Admissions Review Process

Prior to any invitation being extended to a candidate, the Music Education Division faculty will review all application documents. Additionally, a panel of Applied Conservatory faculty will review applicants' performance DVDs/CDs.

The combination of assessments prior to and during the audition and interview processes reflect the Music Education Division's desire to bring into the Master of Music Teaching program only those students who already possess a history of demonstrating excellence in their musicianship, pedagogy, and scholarship.

How to Apply

Applicants to the Master of Music Teaching program submit the following information to the Conservatory Admissions Office. 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 (could be taken during the senior year) "Music Teaching in Practice," PSYC 122 "Educational Psychology," EDUC 300 "Foundations of Education," and "Community Music Teaching Winter Term Internship"). Please see the Associate Dean 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). Recordings can be sent to the Conservatory Admissions office located at 39 W. College St., Oberlin, OH 44074 
3. Written essay (see Unified Application for details).
4. Official undergraduate transcript.
5. PRAXIS II Music Content Scores.
6. Letters of recommendation from three sources:
   1. principal applied teacher
   2. theory or aural skills teacher
   3. 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 (3 credits), basic/elementary conducting; one course (3-4 credits each) in mathematics and science (does not need to include a laboratory); distribution of other liberal arts courses can include courses in the arts, communication, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, science, & social sciences.

The $100.00 application fee is waived for continuing Conservatory students. Please email Beth.Weiss@oberlin.edu to request a waiver.

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).  Recordings can be sent to the Conservatory Admissions office located at 39 W. College St., Oberlin, OH 44074
3. Written essay (see Unified Application for details).
4. Official undergraduate transcript.
5. PRAXIS II Music Content Scores and GRE General Test score.
6. Letters of recommendation from three sources:
   1. principal applied teacher
   2. theory or aural skills teacher
   3. 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 (3 credits), basic/elementary conducting; one course (3-4 credits each) in mathematics and science (does not need to include a laboratory); distribution of other liberal arts courses can include courses in the arts, communication, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, science, & social sciences.
8. $100.00 application fee.

MMT Supplement (part of the Unified Application)

Prior to completing the Unified Application, you will want to read the following article by Don Hodges (click here) (with permission from Sage Publications) and prepare to respond to the following questions in the form of a scholarly essay:

• What implications for music education are suggested by the statement "all human beings are musical"?
• What are some ways in which musical training helps the brain organize?
• What idea from this reading had the most meaning for you? Why?

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.