Master of Music (MMus) Degree in the field of String Quartet Performance

Program Learning Outcomes for the MMus Degree

Upon completing the MMus degree, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate technical and musical competence in performance, composition, or historical scholarship at a professional level.
  2. Develop advanced analytical skills in music theory and a deep understanding of how those skills inform music performance.
  3. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the relationship between music history and music performance.
  4. Develop career development skills that complement their professional-level performance skills.

Requirements for the MMus Degree

The MMus degree in the field of String Quartet Performance is a non-thesis master's degree. For general university requirements, please see Non-Thesis Master's Degrees. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the MMus degree in the field of String Quartet Performance must complete:

  • A minimum of 45 credit hours to satisfy degree 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 of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory, studio). 
  • A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of full-time graduate study at Rice University. 
  • A maximum of 2 courses (6 graduate semester credit hours) from transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
  • 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 non-thesis master’s degree.

Students completing the MMus degree in all fields of study must participate in core music, applied music, and other required music courses as well as in chamber music and large ensembles, plus electives. They are entitled to one hour of private lessons each week of each semester they are enrolled as an MMus degree candidate; private or group lessons beyond this may result in additional fees. 

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 MMus Degree in the field of String Quartet Performance45

Degree Requirements

Performance Requirements
MUSI 698ADVANCED STRING QUARTETS (minimum of 4 semesters)3
MUSI 690INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENT COACHING FOR STRING QUARTET MAJORS (minimum of 4 semesters)3
MUSI 635ADVANCED ORCHESTRA (minimum of 2 semesters)2
MUSI 705APPRENTICESHIP - ARTISTIC OUTREACH (minimum of 4 semesters, 2 credit hours per semester)2
MUSI 742STRING QUARTET RECITAL (minimum of 3 semesters) 10
MUSI 741MASTER'S RECITAL II 10
Academic Coursework
MUSI 405MUSIC BUSINESS AND LAW3
MUSI 407CHAMBER MUSIC IN THE CLASSIC PERIOD3
Select 1 course from the following:3
1 course from the Music History course offerings (see course list below)
1 course from the Music Theory course offerings (see course list below)
3 credit hours of Independent Study in Music History or Music Theory (MUSI 649)
Proficiencies 2
Students must demonstrate the following proficiencies:
Piano proficiency
Aural skills proficiency
Total Credit Hours45

Footnotes and Additional Information

Course Lists to Satisfy Requirements

Academic Coursework  

Academic Coursework is comprised of MUSI 405, MUSI 407, and 1 course (3 credit hours) from the Music History, Music Theory, or Graduate Independent Study Coursework below.

Music History, Music Theory, and Graduate Independent Study Coursework
Select 1 course from the following:3
ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS
MODAL COUNTERPOINT
SCORE READING AND THEORY AT THE KEYBOARD
ADVANCED ORCHESTRATION
EARLY MODERN MASTERS
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RESEARCH METHODS
AMERICAN MUSIC
PERFORMANCE PRACTICES SEMINAR
TOPICS IN EARLY MUSIC
TOPICS IN THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES
TOPICS IN 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES
MUSIC, MAGIC, AND SCIENCE IN THE MODERN WORLD
PROGRAM MUSIC IN THE 19TH CENTURY
SATIE, COCTEAU, & LES SIX: PARIS IN THE 1920s AND BEYOND
MUSIC AND MODERNISM IN FRANCE
MUSIC OF RICHARD STRAUSS
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC AND COMPUTER MUSIC SYSTEMS
ADVANCED COMPUTER SOUND SYNTHESIS
MUSIC THEORIES OF THE WORLD: CROSS-CULTURAL APPROACHES TO PITCH, MELODY, AND RHYTHM
CLASSROOM PEDAGOGY
TONAL COUNTERPOINT
SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSIC THEORY AND MUSIC THEORY COMPOSITION
MUSIC OF RAVEL: MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSTION
MUSIC SINCE 1950
SELECTED STUDIES IN MUSIC HISTORY
J.S. BACH: CAREER, WORKS, AND CRITICAL RECEPTION
SEMINAR ON A SELECTED COMPOSER
MOZART OPERAS
THE CLASSICAL STYLE
ROMANTIC SONGS AND PIANO PIECES
GRADUATE INDEPENDENT STUDY 1
ANALYTICAL APPROACHES
SEMINAR IN ADVANCED ANALYSIS
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ADVANCED ANALYSIS
MUSIC OF SCHOENBERG
MUSIC OF STRAVINSKY
AESTHETICS OF MUSIC

Footnotes and Additional Information 

Policies for the MMus Degree

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

For Instrumental Performance, Vocal Performance, and Orchestral Conducting applicants, an audition is required. Composition applicants must submit portfolios, and Musicology applicants must provide samples of their written work. Musicology applicants must also complete advanced music tests as well as the Graduate Record Examination for admission consideration.

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.

Performance

Students are expected to perform frequently during their residency at Rice. MMus students in any of the performance fields of study must present at least two full recitals. Composition and Conducting students should present recitals as specified by their degree programs. Students are expected to attend both faculty and student recitals. In addition, all MMus students must participate in the school’s conducted ensembles as assigned.

Thesis

A thesis is required for MMus students in the field of Musicology. In lieu of a thesis, MMus students in the field of Composition must produce an original work of extended scope. Both thesis and original work must be publicly defended.

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 MMus degree should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guidelines:

  • No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the degree.
  • 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 MMus Degree  

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