Artist Diploma (AD) in the field of Orchestral Conducting

Program Learning Outcomes for the Artist Diploma

Upon completing the Artist Diploma, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the technical mastery and musical expertise requisite to having a significant professional career in their chosen area of performance.
  2. Master intellectually the stylistic differences when performing music of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, modern and contemporary eras and be able to apply them in performance.
  3. Accumulate a significantly expanded and diverse list of repertoire.
  4. Be equipped with multiple extra-musical career skills.

Requirements for the Artist Diploma 

For general university requirements, see Diploma Programs. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the Artist Diploma in any field of music performance must complete:

  • A minimum of 41 credit hours to satisfy diploma requirements. 
  • A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above).
  • A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
  • A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of full-time graduate study at Rice University.
  • A minimum overall GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework.
  • A minimum program GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the diploma program. 

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor, or where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the department or program's Official Certifier. Additionally, these must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary

Total Credit Hours Required for the Artist Diploma41

Diploma Requirements

Program Requirements
MUSI 760INDIVIDUAL AND COMMITTEE INSTRUCTION FOR ARTIST DIPLOMA (minimum of 4 semesters)4
MUSI 761ARTIST DIPLOMA RECITAL 10
MUSI 762ARTIST DIPLOMA SEMINAR3
MUSI 763ARTIST DIPLOMA SPECIAL PROJECT (minimum of 2 semesters)3
MUSI 764ARTIST DIPLOMA PERFORMANCE (minimum of 4 semesters )3
Academic Coursework
Select 2 courses from the Music Career and Skills Enhancement course offerings (see course list below)4
Total Credit Hours41

Footnotes and Additional Information 

Course List to Satisfy Requirements  

Academic Coursework

Academic Coursework is comprised of a minimum of 2 courses (4 credit hours) from the Music Career and Skills Enhancement course offerings

Music Career and Skills Enhancement
Select 2 courses from the following:4
ADVANCED MENTAL TRAINING
NEW ENTERPRISES
DESIGN THINKING
MISSION AND VALUES AS A LEADER IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
INTRODUCTION TO DALCROZE EURHYTHMICS
IMAGINATION AND COMMUNICATION: DEVELOPING MUSICAL SKILLS THROUGH THEATRICAL TECHNIQUES
ENHANCED PERFORMANCE: WRITING, SPEAKING, PLAYING
CONDUCTING: AN OVERVIEW OF PRACTICAL SKILLS
MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE: THE MIND/BODY CONNECTION
TECHNOLOGY FOR MUSICIANS
FUNDAMENTALS OF PRIVATE TEACHING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSICIANS
MUSIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP
THE ART AND BUSINESS OF STUDIO TEACHING
THEMATIC PROGRAMMING: THE ART OF THE RECITAL
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION FOR MUSICIANS
THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD AND THE MUSICIAN'S BODY
THE ART OF PERFORMANCE: PRESENCE ON STAGE
APPLIED JAZZ IMPROVISATION: DEVELOPING SOLO IMPROVISATIONAL SKILLS IN THE JAZZ IDIOM

Policies for the Artist Diploma

Shepherd School of Music Graduate Program Handbook

The General Announcements (GA) is the official Rice curriculum. As an additional resource for students, the Shepherd School of Music publishes a graduate program handbook, which can be found here: https://gradhandbooks.rice.edu/2023_24/Shepherd_School_of_Music_Graduate_Handbook.pdf

Admission 

A live audition is required for Instrumental Performance, Vocal Performance, and Orchestral Conducting applicants.

Academic Standards

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

Further information on curricular requirements for all majors and degree programs is available from the Shepherd School of Music.

Grading Policy

A minimum grade of B- (2.67 grade points) per course is expected of all music students in their major applied area. A grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in a course in the student's major applied area is considered unsatisfactory and will be evaluated in the following manner:

  • A music major who receives a grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in a course in their major applied area will be placed on music probation. Music probation signifies that the student’s work has been sufficiently unsatisfactory to preclude graduation unless marked improvement is achieved promptly. A student on music probation may be absent from class only for extraordinary reasons and may not represent the school in any public function not directly a part of a degree program.
  • If a student receives a second semester of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in a course in their major applied area, whether for consecutive semesters or not, the student will be discontinued as a music performance major and merit scholarship from the Shepherd School will be discontinued.

Note: For music history and musicology majors a grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in any music history course is considered unsatisfactory and will be evaluated as above.

Graduate degree requirement: a minimum overall grade point average of 2.67 is necessary for graduation. 

Leaves of Absence and Voluntary Withdrawal

Music majors must obtain permission in writing from the dean of the Shepherd School before requesting a leave of absence from the university. Requests must be in the dean’s office before the first day of classes in the semester for which leave is requested.

Music majors taking voluntary withdrawal from the university are not guaranteed readmission into the Shepherd School and may be asked to reapply/reaudition. Students should explain the reasons for their withdrawal to the dean before leaving campus.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.

Program Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the Artist Diploma should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guidelines:

  • Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director on an individual case-by-case basis. 

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Shepherd School of Music website at: https://music.rice.edu

Opportunities for the Artist Diploma

Other Musical Opportunities

Lectures and Performances

A visiting lecturer series, a professional concert series, and numerous distinguished visiting musicians contribute to the Shepherd School environment. The Houston Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Chorus, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Masterworks Chorus, Da Camera, Context, and Chamber Music Houston, as well as the activities of other institutions of higher learning in the area, also provide exceptional opportunities for students to enjoy a wide spectrum of music.

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Shepherd School of Music website at: https://music.rice.edu