Graduate Programs

The MM in Conducting (Instrumental) at Queens College is a two-year program, inclusive of major performance goals, leadership opportunities, and the acquisition and polishing of career skills.

The program enrollment is limited to no more than two students, attached variously to the Queens College Orchestra, the Studio Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, and other ensembles, where appropriate.

Requirements

Admission Requirements are the successful completion of:

• An Undergraduate Performance or Music Education Degree
• Video Submission (details here)
• Resume / CV documenting relevant performance experience as a conductor
• Personal essay of around 750 words describing your current professional goals and concomitant future plans. How has your background thus far served those goals and how do you expect graduate studies at Queens College to help you achieve them?
• PLEASE NOTE: Applications to the Instrumental Master of Music in Conducting Program will open again in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Successful candidates will show command of rehearsal skills, a readable and easily accessible physical conducting technique, insightful musical interpretation, and the potential for growth. Previous conducting experience is a requirement of the program, as is mastery of your own instrument or voice.

Degree Program

• Private lessons and Seminar, 4 Semesters (16 credits)
• Performance Practice e.g. 18th, 19th and/or 20th Century, 2 semesters (6 credits)
• Analysis for Performers, 1 semester (3 credits)
• Three semesters of electives, e.g. Languages, Theory, Musicology (9 credits)
• Writing about Music (2 credits)
• Orchestra, 4 semesters (4 credits)
• 36 Total Credits

The Master of Music in Jazz Studies prepares students for careers in jazz as performers, arrangers, composers, educators, and leaders.The program offers advanced courses in jazz harmony, improvisation, composition & arranging, and history. It also provides individual instruction, jazz performance ensembles, and elective courses specifically tailored to the needs of today’s professional musicians.

Program Requirements

There are two tracks to the MM Program in Jazz, the performance track and the composition track. The requirements for these programs overlap, but there are differences.

The Performance Track requirements are as follows:

Jazz Improvisation 1	3 credit hours
Jazz History	3 credit hours
Jazz Harmony I	3 credit hours
Jazz Arranging and Composition I	3 credit hours
3 Semesters of Individual Instruction	4 credit hours each semester
3 Semesters of Jazz Ensemble(s)	1 credit hour each, total 3 hours
Requirements:	27 credit hours
Elective credits:	9 credit hours
Total number of credit hours required for the MM Degree, performance track	36 credit hours

The Composition Track requirements are as follows:

Arranging and Composition I and II	3 credit hours each
Jazz History	3 credit hours
Harmony I	3 credit hours
Jazz Style and Analysis	3 credit hours
Counterpoint	3 credit hours
3 Semesters of Individual Instruction	4 credit hours each semester
Requirements:	30 credit hours
Elective credits:	6 credit hours
Total number of credit hours required for the MM Degree, composition track	36 credit hours

To graduate from the program, performance majors are required to give a graduation recital while composition majors are given a final project assignment by their individual instructor. Most students graduate in 4 semesters averaging 9 credit hours per semester.

International students must take 9 credits per semester (except in their last semester) in accordance with the rules for F-1 Student Visas. It is possible to complete the program in 3 semesters and U.S. residents, particularly students who are working full time, have up to 4 years to complete the degree.

Electives

A wide variety of elective courses are available for students in both tracks to fulfill their degree requirements. This means performance majors can take composition classes including Jazz Styles and Analysis and Arranging and Composition II as electives while composition majors can opt for performance-focused electives such as Rhythm Section Workshop, and Transcription and Ear Training.

Students also have access to digital recording and other technology-based electives from Queens College’s Music and Production (MAP) program along with a host of other classes from within the Aaron Copland School of Music.

Individual Instruction

Our faculty is comprised of both full-time and adjunct instructors. If a full-time faculty member teaches your specific instrument, that faculty member will assign your individual lesson instructor. Composition majors are required to take three semesters of composition lessons. Similarly, Performance majors must complete three semesters of instrumental or voice lessons.

However, Performance majors who achieve an A- or higher in each of their first two semesters of lessons have the option to study with a different instructor for their third semester.

This offers the flexibility of studying with an instructor who plays an instrument other than your primary one. It is important to note that students will not receive credit for individual lessons taken from musicians not employed by Queens College.

Schedule and Academic Calendars

To learn about: the first and last days of classes in each semester, holidays and registration deadlines, visit https://www.qc.cuny.edu/communications/calendar-page/

Tuition Costs

Please visit: https://www.qc.cuny.edu/br/tuition-costs/

Scholarships

Even though these costs may seem high compared to the cost of college in other countries, the tuition at CUNY colleges is the lowest in the tri-state area because they are, to a degree, subsidized by the city of New York and so as a result, our jazz department does not usually provide full scholarships, paid internships or teaching assistantships. For more information regarding various scholarship opportunities that Queens College offers, please visit: https://qc-cuny.academicworks.com/opportunities

Foreign Language Requirement

Individuals whose native language is not English and whose post-secondary education was not in English are required to take one of the following: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL – Minimum Score=79), the International English Language Test System (IELTS – Minimum Score=6), or the Pearson Test of English (PTE – Minimum Score=53). We do NOT accept Duolingo or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition results.

Immunization

All students are required to have proof of immunization against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, as well as Meningitis, before they can register for classes. For more information on how to obtain proof of immunization, please visit https://www.qc.cuny.edu/health/

The Master of Music in Composition provides necessary training for classical composers. It includes intensive work with a faculty mentor, participation in a community of composers in a workshop setting as works are developed, and preparation of the student’s works for performances with the College or other ensembles. Core courses expand students’ abilities to engage in musical discourse across music disciplines. It can be a terminal degree, but it also prepares students to pursue doctoral study in composition (PhD or DMA).

Requirements

• An undergraduate degree with a major in music (or its equivalent).
• International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 79 is required for admission, or an equivalent score on the IELTS

After submitting your Queens College application:

• Please submit scores of two or three recent works to the GetAcceptd platform. Recordings are welcome but optional.

The Master of Arts in Musicology prepares students to enter PhD programs in musicology. It also serves music educators and others who may need a master’s degree and have a special interest in musicology. The program develops students’ abilities in the techniques of music analysis, academic research, and academic writing and introduces them to recent trends in music theory and musicology.

Requirements

• An undergraduate degree with a major in music (or its equivalent).
• International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 100 is required for admission or an equivalent score on the IELTS.

After submitting your Queens College application:

• Please submit one or more recent papers to the GetAcceptd platform.

The Master of Arts in Music Theory prepares students to enter PhD programs in music theory. It also serves music educators and others who may need a master’s degree and have a special interest in music theory. The program develops students’ abilities in the techniques of music analysis, academic research, and academic writing, introducing students to recent trends in music theory and musicology.

Requirements

• An undergraduate degree with a major in music (or its equivalent).
• International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 100 is required for admission, or an equivalent score on the IELTS.

After submitting your Queens College application:

• Please submit a recent paper, preferably on an analytical topic, plus one or two examples of composition in 18th- or 19th-century style. Upload these to the GetAcceptd platform.

The Master of Science in Education (Music) degree includes courses in advanced methods, conducting, and rehearsal techniques, as well as research in music education. It is designed to provide advanced professional training for those who already hold New York State Initial Teacher Certification and are teaching or seeking positions in choral, instrumental and/or general music in elementary and secondary schools. Electives are planned for the needs of the school music teacher or are drawn from other graduate music or education offerings. A limited number of students will be eligible to elect special concentrations in jazz studies or choral conducting or instrumental conducting each year. Courses are offered evenings and are geared to the schedule of the full-time teacher.

For more information about the Master of Science in Education in Music (Pre-K-12), visit our Graduate Admissions website.

The Music Education Advanced Certificate Program includes courses in the foundations of education, pedagogy, instrument methods courses, conducting, and student teaching. This course of study provides a pathway to New York State Initial Teacher Certification for those seeking positions in choral, instrumental and/or general music in elementary and secondary schools. It is designed for applicants who have already earned a Bachelors degree in Music but do not have a background in Education. Electives are planned for the needs of the school music teacher or are drawn from other graduate music or education offerings.

The Master of Music in Composition provides necessary training for classical composers. It can be a t

The Professional Studies and Artists Diploma Programs provide access to the finest music performance education. Ideal candidates may be:

• Classical instrumentalists/vocalists who wish to advance their study beyond the Master of Arts degree before entering a DMA program or professional positions.
• International students who possess advanced degrees in music from overseas institutions and are ready for advanced musical performance training in the United States but do not have the required English language skills to enter an MA program.