Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 32
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MUSC 8213 | Opera Diction | 2 |
| MUSC 8216 | Aria Repertoire | 2 |
| MUSC 8220 | Opera Workshop (4 terms) | 8 |
| MUSC 8234 | Opera Major | 2 |
| MUSC 8244 | Opera Major | 2 |
| MUSC 8254 | Opera Major | 2 |
| MUSC 8264 | Opera Major | 2 |
| MUSC 8274 | Opera Role Performance | 1 |
| MUST 8701 | Research in Music | 3 |
| MUST 8708 | History of Opera | 2 |
| MUST 8709 | History of Opera | 2 |
| Electives 1 | 4 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 32 | |
- 1
A maximum of one term of vocal coaching may be taken.
Language Examination: Candidates in Opera must present undergraduate coursework in French, German and Italian languages (or pass a translating and speaking examination at Temple) at the time of admission to the program. Where the transcript or pass-off examination does not reveal such study, the appropriate deficiency course(s) must be taken prior to completion of the master's degree.
Additional Requirements:
Diagnostic Examinations:
Diagnostic examinations in Aural Theory, Written Theory, and Music History are required for all entering master's students, except students in the Jazz Studies, Music Education, Music Technology, and Music Therapy programs, who arrange their examinations within their respective departments. In addition, Keyboard students take an additional two-hour examination in Keyboard Literature. As stated in the Boyer College Graduate Handbook, "students may not take final qualifying examinations nor perform graduation recitals until all diagnostic examinations have been successfully completed."
Entering master’s students who require the diagnostic examinations in Aural Theory, Written Theory, and Music History will be contacted by the Music Studies department to schedule the testing date and time.
A. Graduate Diagnostic Examination in Aural Theory
The examination lasts approximately 40 minutes and asks students to:
- Dictate a chord progression that modulates and contains chromatic harmony by writing out the bass line and identifying chords with Roman numerals and inversions.
- Complete a two-part melodic dictation that modulates and contains chromatic pitches.
B. Graduate Diagnostic Examination in Written Theory
The examination lasts one and one-half hours and is in three parts:
- Harmonic analysis of a diatonic chorale, and basic part-writing exercises using diatonic harmony.
- Harmonic analysis of a chromatic chorale, and part-writing exercises using chromatic harmony.
- Analysis of the form, motives and phrase structures of the first movement of a Classical-era piano sonata.
C. Graduate Diagnostic Examination in Music History
The examination consists of objective questions (multiple choice, matching, and/or true/false) covering musical works, composers, forms, styles, terms, and instruments. It is divided into five sections: Medieval/Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century.
D. Conditions for Exemption from Diagnostic Examinations
The requirement to take the Diagnostic Examination in any area is waived only for graduates of the Boyer College of Music and Dance who:
- matriculate and enroll in the term immediately following completion of all undergraduate degree requirements; and
- received grades of "B-" or better in every undergraduate course taken in each individual examination area to be waived.
Piano Proficiency:
In addition to the written Diagnostic Examinations required upon entrance to the program, Opera majors take a functional piano examination encompassing the following points:
- playing a prepared accompaniment (music can be used);
- sight-reading a simple accompaniment; and
- improvising an accompaniment to a simple melody.
Remedial coursework may be required.
Professional Development Policy:
In addition to taking the required subjects for their degrees, all students in the Boyer College of Music and Dance are obligated to serve in a number of capacities in order to enrich their academic and musical expertise. Boyer College of Music and Dance believes that such experiences give impetus to successful professional careers. Among the duties that may be required are conducting laboratory classes; tutoring; teaching private lessons; coaching; participating in the distribution and inventory control of Temple University-owned musical instruments and instructional materials; participating in ensembles; accompanying; performing at admissions and open house events; supervising performance classes; and engaging in other academic activities.
Performing Ensembles:
- Touring: All students in touring performing ensembles are required to participate in all scheduled tours. These tours, usually one or two weeks in length, often take place immediately after termination of academic terms. Students must arrange their schedules to accommodate this requirement.
- Non-Credit Participation: With special permission, graduate students for whom there is no ensemble requirement, or where previous ensemble credits exceed the graduation requirement, may participate in choral and instrumental ensembles without cost, with prior permission from the ensemble director, the department chair and the Associate Dean.
Independent Study Courses:
Independent study courses provide a special opportunity for graduate students to work in a highly individualized setting with one or more faculty members. All such study must receive the approval of the faculty member providing the instruction, the students' major advisor, and the Associate Dean. Approval is granted only after the student has presented a detailed description of the intended independent study project. Approval of independent study projects is granted only for students whose academic and musical record provides substantial support for the benefits of this type of study. In no case may more than 20% of a graduate student's curriculum be taken as independent study. Private lessons beyond those required in the curriculum are not an appropriate form of independent study.
Acceptable English:
All students, including those for whom English is not the native language, are expected to present all written work in acceptable English. No double standard exists to differentiate students on the basis of proficiency in the use of the English language. Students are also responsible for becoming familiar with the College's statement on plagiarism and academic honesty.
Graduate Private Lesson Policy:
Weekly one-hour private lessons are provided for all matriculated master's and doctoral performance majors in good standing, provided at least three additional credits of programmatically required graduate-level study are taken simultaneously. A $250 per term lesson fee (subject to change without notice) is charged for all private lessons. Tuition remission may not be used to cover the private lesson fee.
Private applied lessons beyond the four-term requirement currently in effect for graduate performance students may be extended with the permission of the jury, department chair, and the Associate Dean or Dean of the Boyer College of Music and Dance.
Incompletes:
All incomplete grades and keyboard proficiencies must be fulfilled by the first day of the month in which the student expects to graduate.
Culminating Events:
Comprehensive Examination:
The Voice and Opera program requires a one-hour comprehensive examination in music literature and theory. When admitted to the College, a list of 100 musical works of the standard literature from the Middle Ages through the 20th century is made available to the student as an aid to prepare for the examination. This examination should be taken in the penultimate term of study.
The examination is in three parts: identification of specific selections from a list of 100 works, identification of a "mystery" selection, and score analysis. Two graduate faculty members grade the examination. Students must pass all three sections. A score of 70% or better must be achieved in the identification section, and a "Pass" or "Weak Pass" must be achieved in the "mystery" selection and the score analysis section.
The examination is administered approximately ten times each year. Students notify the Assistant Dean no later than one week prior to the requested examination administration date. For examination dates, see the Graduate Music Examination Schedule.
Adjudicated Roles:
Opera majors must have accumulated at least two major adjudicated roles or one major and two minor adjudicated roles in addition to opera theater assignments. Fully-staged opera productions with orchestra are typically presented each term. Opera roles are adjudicated by three full-time music faculty members.