Master of Music (MMus) Degree in the field of Tuba 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 Tuba 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 Tuba Performance must complete:

  • A minimum of 44 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 course substitutions 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 Tuba Performance44

Degree Requirements

Performance Requirements
MUSI 667TUBA FOR MAJORS-ADVANCED (minimum of 4 semesters)3
MUSI 635ADVANCED ORCHESTRA (minimum of 4 semesters)2
MUSI 636ADVANCED CHAMBER MUSIC (minimum of 4 semesters)1
MUSI 531ORCHESTRAL REPERTOIRE (minimum of 4 semesters)1
MUSI 641MASTER'S RECITAL I0
MUSI 741MASTER'S RECITAL II0
or MUSI 631 MOCK AUDITION
Academic Coursework
Select 1 course from the Approved Music Theory course offerings (see course list below)3
Select 1 additional course from the Music Theory or Music History course offerings (see course lists below)3
Select 2 courses from the Music Career and Skills Enhancement course offerings (see course list below)4
Select 6 credit hours from the Elective Requirements (see course list below) 16
Proficiencies 2
Students must demonstrate the following proficiencies:
Piano proficiency
Aural skills proficiency
Total Credit Hours44

Footnotes and Additional Information

Academic Coursework

Academic Coursework is comprised of at least 1 course (3 credit hours) from the Approved Music Theory course offerings, 1 course (3 credit hours) from the Music Theory (Approved or Additional) course offerings or from Music History course offerings, 2 courses (4 credit hours) from the Music Career and Skills Enhancement course offerings, and 6 credit hours from the Elective Requirements.  

Approved Music Theory Courses

MUSI 512ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS3
MUSI 513MODAL COUNTERPOINT3
MUSI 516ADVANCED ORCHESTRATION3
MUSI 517EARLY MODERN MASTERS3
MUSI 610MUSIC THEORIES OF THE WORLD: CROSS-CULTURAL APPROACHES TO PITCH, MELODY, AND RHYTHM3
MUSI 613TONAL COUNTERPOINT3
MUSI 614SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSIC THEORY AND MUSIC THEORY COMPOSITION3
MUSI 615MUSIC OF RAVEL: MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION3
MUSI 617MUSIC SINCE 19503
MUSI 723AESTHETICS OF MUSIC3

Additional Music Theory Courses

MUSI 315MULTI-MEDIA COMPOSITION3
MUSI 378 / ASIA 378CLASSICAL, CONTEMPORARY, AND CROSS-CULTURAL ASIAN MUSIC3
MUSI 403BASIC ELECTRONIC MUSIC3
MUSI 404ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMPOSITION3
MUSI 405MUSIC BUSINESS AND LAW3
MUSI 416ORCHESTRATION3
MUSI 417MUSIC FOR MEDIA3
MUSI 514SCORE READING AND THEORY AT THE KEYBOARD3
MUSI 605ADVANCED ELECTRONIC AND COMPUTER MUSIC SYSTEMS3
MUSI 606ADVANCED COMPUTER SOUND SYNTHESIS3
MUSI 611CLASSROOM PEDAGOGY3
MUSI 711ANALYTICAL APPROACHES3
MUSI 712SEMINAR IN ADVANCED ANALYSIS3
MUSI 713SPECIAL TOPICS IN ADVANCED ANALYSIS3

Music History Courses

MUSI 524AMERICAN MUSIC3
MUSI 525PERFORMANCE PRACTICES SEMINAR3
MUSI 527TOPICS IN EARLY MUSIC3
MUSI 528TOPICS IN THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES3
MUSI 529TOPICS IN 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES3
MUSI 530MUSIC, MAGIC, AND SCIENCE IN THE MODERN WORLD3
MUSI 534PROGRAM MUSIC IN THE 19TH CENTURY3
MUSI 543MUSIC AND MODERNISM IN FRANCE3
MUSI 621SELECTED STUDIES IN MUSIC HISTORY3
MUSI 623J.S. BACH: CAREER, WORKS, AND CRITICAL RECEPTION3
MUSI 624SEMINAR ON A SELECTED COMPOSER3
MUSI 625MOZART OPERAS3
MUSI 626THE CLASSICAL STYLE3
MUSI 627ROMANTIC SONGS AND PIANO PIECES3
MUSI 716MUSIC OF THE MIDDLE AGES3
MUSI 717RENAISSANCE MUSIC3

Music Career and Skills Enhancement Courses

LPCR 200ADVANCED MENTAL TRAINING2
MGMT 621NEW ENTERPRISES3
MGMT 625DESIGN THINKING1.5
MGMT 676MISSION AND VALUES AS A LEADER IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES1.5
MUSI 413INTRODUCTION TO DALCROZE EURHYTHMICS2
MUSI 500IMAGINATION AND COMMUNICATION: DEVELOPING MUSICAL SKILLS THROUGH THEATRICAL TECHNIQUES2
MUSI 501ENHANCED PERFORMANCE: WRITING, SPEAKING, PLAYING2
MUSI 502CONDUCTING: AN OVERVIEW OF PRACTICAL SKILLS2
MUSI 503DEVELOPING CAREER ENHANCING PROJECTS IN MUSIC2
MUSI 506PERFORMING WITH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY2
MUSI 507TECHNOLOGY FOR MUSICIANS2
MUSI 508FUNDAMENTALS OF PRIVATE TEACHING2
MUSI 509THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE FOR MUSICIANS2
MUSI 510PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSICIANS2
MUSI 519THEMATIC PROGRAMMING: THE ART OF THE RECITAL2
MUSI 520BUSINESS COMMUNICATION FOR MUSICIANS2
MUSI 538THE ART OF PERFORMANCE: PRESENCE ON STAGE2
MUSI 540APPLIED JAZZ IMPROVISATION: DEVELOPING SOLO IMPROVISATIONAL SKILLS IN THE JAZZ IDIOM2

Elective Requirements

Select 6 credit hours from the following: 16
Any course at the 300-level or above
Any language course at the 100-level or above
Any additional Music Theory, Music History, or Music Career and Skills Enhancement course
Secondary Lessons (any course between MUSI 251 and MUSI 297 with the exception of MUSI 281)
RICE JAZZ ENSEMBLE
APPLIED STUDIES IN JAZZ
CONCENTRATION PIANO
COLLEGIUM MUSICUM
PRACTICUM IN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
SONATA CLASS
GRADUATE INDEPENDENT STUDY

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/2024_25/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. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content) and by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). 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.
  • Transfer credit will not be considered for any performance coursework or other core requirements.

Additional Information

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