Band Conducting Program

Among numerous other emphases in the graduate program, the UNL School of Music offers both a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in the wind band conducting area. The program director and principal advisor for band conducting majors is Dr. Carolyn Barber, UNL's director of bands.

Applicants to the band conducting program should be individuals who wish to join a community of scholars, performers and pedagogues dedicated to the study and practice of band conducting as an applied performance medium. Enrollment in the band conducting studio is intentionally limited and auditions are competitive. Typically, the studio includes just three students (a variable combination of MM and DMA candidates), therefore a high degree of musicianship, scholarship, and professionalism, as well as an engaging interpersonal style are essential. The objective of the program is to develop skillful, expressive conductors who are prepared to succeed in both professional and academic settings.

Following are snapshots of the MM and DMA programs in band conducting. For the most complete and accurate overview of our graduate programs as well as online application materials and financial aid information please consult the official handbooks web page.

For additional information on graduate study and financial aid, consult the School of Music's graduate studies web page.

MM in Wind Band Conducting

Courses in emphasis:
Conducting 6 credits
Wind band literature 6 credits
Conducting project 3 credits

Other music courses:
Applied music 4 credits (minimum on a single instrument)
Ensemble 4 credits
Intro to grad studies 2 credits
History & theory 9 credits
Related studies 2 credits
Convocation 0 credits (4 semesters)

TOTAL: 36 credits 

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE): not required.
• UNL Diagnostic Survey Exam: required before a student can register for classes. The DSE is administered to all incoming music graduate students the week prior to the start of classes in the fall semester.
• Residency: a minimum of eighteen credit hours — essentially two academic years (fall and spring semesters, rather than summer sessions) — due to the convocation and ensemble requirements. The total program (thirty-six credits) must be completed within six consecutive calendar years.
• Piano proficiency: no exam, and course work is not required.
• Foreign language proficiency: no exam, and course work is not required.

Application Procedures for MM in Wind Band Conducting

All band conducting applicants (MM & DMA) must have completed the application and screening process by January 15 to ensure that the School of Music's audition and financial aid deadlines are met.

Note: to be eligible for admission to the MM program, an applicant must have earned a minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA from an accredited instituion.

All applicants must do the following:

1. Complete the University's Graduate College application form and pay the $50.00 application fee.
a. NOTE: Degree/Major will be "Music (MM)" — leave area of specialization blank.
b. Include one official copy of transcripts of all undergraduate work and all previous graduate work (including all studies for which credit was granted; e.g. summer institutes such as Aspen or Interlochen).

2. Submit an Admissions Portfolio in SlideRoom. Our online process for applications can be found at this link

Following the receipt of application materials, the conducting faculty will review each file to determine which candidates will be invited to campus for an audition. This screening process must be completed by January 15 to ensure sufficient time to arrange for an on-site audition before the financial aid deadline. Wind band conducting auditions will take place in Februrary each year. The speciaic date will be determined in consultation with the candidate when the audition invitation is tendered. All travel arrangements and expenses associated with the audition process are the responsibility of the candidate.

Audition Procedures for MM in Wind Band Conducting

Upon faculty review of the materials that have been submitted, a limited number of finalists may be invited to campus for a formal audition and interview. The audition/interview process includes the following:

1. MM finalists should prepare to conduct at least three movements (applicant's choice) of Percy Grainger's Lincolnshire Posy. Each finalist is responsible for securing his or her own full score (Fennell edition).
2. Each finalist will perform a 25-minute audition with the UNL Wind Ensemble, adjudicated by the director of bands and members of the ensemble faculty. The audition will begin with a run-through of the selected movements, followed by 5 to 10 minutes of rehearsal (lead at the discretion of the applicant). For the remainder of the audition, the applicant will be coached in a quasi-lesson format by the director of bands.
3. Each finalist will have an interview with the director of bands and members of the band faculty to discuss the applicant's professional goals, philosophy, and experience, and to address any questions the applicant may have regarding the conducting program at UNL.
4. Each finalist will undertake a brief diagnostic exam designed to assess the applicant's aural skills, score reading and recognition, analytical skills, knowledge of terminology and transpositions, and familiarity with wind band literature (grades 1 through 6). The skills components of the exam will use Lincolnshire Posy as a point of departure.

DMA in Wind Band Conducting

Earned master's degree 30-36 credits

Courses in emphasis:
Conducting 12 credits 
Wind band literature 12 credits
Recitals 9 credits
Doctoral document 3 credits

Other music courses:
Applied music & electives 0-19 credits 
Ensemble 2-6 credits
Bibliography 3 credits
Doctoral seminar 3 credits
Grad study or curriculum in music ed 3 credits 
Performance practice 3 credits
Doctoral colloquium 0 credits (4 semesters)
Related area 0 or 16 credits

Total: 90 credits

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE): not required.
• UNL Diagnostic Survey Exam: required before a student can register for classes. The DSE is administered to all incoming music graduate students the week prior to the start of classes in the fall semester.
• Residency: a minimum of eighteen credit hours within a consecutive eighteen-month period or less. A minimum of two academic yars (fall and spring semesters, rather than summer) are required to complete the coursework due to the convocation and ensemble requirements. A minimum of three full years of graduate study is normally required to complete the entire program for the DMA degree. The time limit for granting the DMA degree is eight years from the time of filing the student's program of studies in the Office of Graduate Studies.
• Piano proficiency: an examiniation is required before scheduling comprehensive exams. Course work is optional. The band conductor's proficiency exam is evaluated by the director of ands and includes brief excerpts from the following:

1. Stravinsky Symphonies of Wind Instruments to assess the ability to express musical thought coherently (pace, balance, articulation, emphasis, etc.).
2. Holst Hammersmith to assess the ability to use the piano as a tool to exercise independent audiation and vocalization (student plays the bass ostinato while singing parts above).
3. Mozart Serenade in C minor or Schuman Chester to assess score reading and transposition.

• Foreign language proficiency: no exam, and course work is not required.

Application Procedures for DMA in Wind Band Conducting

All band conducting applicants (MM & DMA) must have completed the application and screening process by January 15 to ensure that the School of Music's audition and financial aid deadlines are met.

* Note: to be eligible for admission, an applicant to the DMA program must have earned a minimum masters GPA of 3.250 from an accredited institution.

All applicants must do the following:

1. Complete the UNL Graduate College Application form and pay the $50.00 application fee.
a. Include one official copy of transcripts of all undergraduate work and all previous graduate work (including all studies for which credit was granted; e.g. summer institutes such as Aspen or Interlochen).

2. Submit an Admissions Portfolio in SlideRoom. Our online process for applications can be found at this link

3. Submit a Statement of Purpose. The statement must be 500 to 700 words, using Microsoft Word software. The document must be double spaced using Times 12-point font. The statement should be written by the applicant describing his or her future goals and how the DMA can help attain those goals.

4. Complete a Written Exercise. The statement must be 500-700 words, using Microsoft Word software or PDF format. The document must be double spaced using Times 12-point font. The written exercise must be completed without consulting any outside references (human, electronic or in-print) and should address the following topic:
a. Select two compositions performed, conducted or originally composed from a recent Masters or DMA recital that represent different historical periods or contrasting styles or genres.
i. Discuss the characteristics of style and form in each composition, and
ii. Discuss each composer's contribution to THIS PARTICULAR GENRE OF MUSIC (i.e., discuss additional compositions, historical nd/or theoretical significance of contribution, or compare/contrast your composition to well-known compositions of a similar genre or style).

The essay must include this honor code statement at the beginning of the essay: "On my honor, I have not received any unauthorized aid on this essay." Students' essays will also be subjected to random plagiarism software checks. Any violatins of the honor code statement of evidence of plagiarism will result in the student's application portfolio being withdrawn from futher consideration.

Following the receipt of application materials, the conducting faculty will review each file to determine which candidates will be invited to campus for an audition. This screening process must be completed by January 15 to ensure sufficient time to arrange for an on-site audition before the financial aid deadline. Wind band conducting auditions will take place in February each year. The specific date will be determined in consultation with the candidate when the audition invitation is tendered. All travel arrangements and expenses associated with the audition process are the responsibilty of the candidate.

Audition Procedures for DMA in Wind Band Conducting

Upon faculty review of the materials that have been submitted, a limited number of finalists may be invited to campus for a formal audition and interview. The audition/interview process includes the following:

• DMA finalists should prepare to conduct all six movements of Percy Grainger's Lincolnshire Posy. Each finalist is responsible for securing his or her own full score (Fennell edition).
• Each finalist will perform a 25-minute audition with the UNL Wind Ensemble, adjudicated by the director of bands and members of the ensemble faculty. The audition will begin with a run-through of selected movements, followed by 5-10 minutes of rehearsal (lead at the discretion of the applicant). For the remainder of the audition, the applicant will be coached in a quasi-lesson format by the director of bands.
• Each finalist will have an interview with the director of bands and members of the band faculty to discuss the applicant's professional goals, philosophy, and experience, and to address any questions the applicant may have regarding the conducting program at UNL.
• Each finalist will undertake a brief diagnostic exam designed to assess the applicant's aural skills, score reading and recognition, analytical skills, knowledge of terminology and transpositions, and familiarity with wind band literature (grades 1 through 6). The skills components of the exam will use Lincolnshire Posy as a point of departure.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs)

The School of Music offers GTAs in various areas on a competitive basis to students in both the MM and DMA programs. Appointments are for one year only, and are renewable for one additional year depending upon satisfactory scholarship and musical progress. DMA students may be reappointed for a third year, depending on their residency situation. GTAs in the band area assist with show planning and performance preparation for the Cornhusker Marching Band, assist in conducting the University Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Campus Bands, assist, conduct and administer the Big Red Express athletic pep bands, assist with undergraduate conducting classes, and participate in all aspects of the band program. Given the diversity of professional preparation afforded by a GTA in the band area, the assistantship is considered an essential element of each graduate wind band conducting student's program. However, the GTA application and appointment process is distinct from the graduate audition and admissions process. Admission to the academic program does not guarantee a GTA appointment in any area.

Assistantships include a stipend, health benefits and tuition for up to 24 credits. For up-to-date informaation and an application contact Janet Sievert, Assistant to the Director, 121 Westbrook Music Bldg., University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Lincoln, NE 68588-0100 or email music2@unl.edu.

Doctoral Fellowships

The Hixson-Lied Fellowships in Music are awarded to newly admitted doctoral graduate assistants in the School of Music who possess credentials of exceptional quality. Students may hold these fellowships through the usual time period of completing their degree. Cash awards to Hixson-Lied Fellows are currently valued at $4500 per year in addition to the GTA stipend. UNL Graduate Studies Endowed Fellowships (Othmer, Chancellor's, and Edgren) are also available on a competitive basis to newly admitted doctoral students. To be considered for such an award, consult with your major dvisor during the audition and admissions process.

Other Financial Aid

Information abou student loans may be found at the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, 16 Adminstration Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0411, 402/472-2030.