Music performance is a highly competitive field that promises both reward and satisfaction to those exceptional students with ample amounts of both talent and perseverance. Shenandoah’s music performance graduates are concert artists, solo and chamber musicians, professional accompanists and coaches, college-level artist-teachers and private studio teachers. They hold memberships in professional symphonies, choruses, opera companies and military bands and orchestras. In most cases the student who hopes to achieve these goals will continue with graduate study. The Conservatory offers a complete curriculum of music performance through the doctoral level, which emphasizes study at the highest professional level with historical and theoretical knowledge supporting the development of individualized interpretation. Competencies also include broad knowledge of repertory, literature and studies in pedagogy.

The Bachelor of Music in Performance includes rigorous study in both a major and minor applied area as well as courses in tonal and 20th century harmony, aural skills, sightsinging, keyboard harmony, music literature and history, conducting, counterpoint and other theory electives, in-depth literature and pedagogy studies in the appropriate applied area, form and analysis, symphonic and choral literature and certain special courses, such as accompanying (for keyboard majors), diction and literature (for voice majors) and reed-making (for double-reed majors). Recommended music electives include courses in music notation, instrumentation, arranging, conducting and instrument repair.among others.

The performance curriculum is further supported by academic studies in English, philosophy or religion, acoustics, foreign language, mathematics, and kinesiology or dance.

The development of solo performance skills is carefully nurtured through a series of experiences that begins with performances in studio classes and progresses through appearances in divisional recitals, performance forums and a half recital before culminating in a full solo recital.

The Master of Music in Performance is designed to expand and refine skills in applied music. Twelve credits of the 30 required for graduation are devoted to development and instruction in the major area, including applied music study and recital.

Support courses comprise another 12 credits in the curriculum. All students complete coursework in bibliography and research techniques and advanced analytical techniques. Advanced music literature electives are included in each curriculum and may be selected by the student to support his or her musical interests; performance majors study accompanying.

Six credits are devoted to electives. While the curriculum has suggested uses for these electives, the student may use them to develop individual interests.

Students accepted into the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance program begin with diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory. Those who demonstrate weakness will be required to seek remediation in a variety of credit and noncredit settings, possibly including completion of coursework that will not fulfill degree requirements. All deficiencies must be removed before candidacy is achieved.

A comprehensive review will occur at or near the conclusion of degree study. A full description of comprehensive information requirements for each degree is available in the Shenandoah University graduate catalog. Students achieve candidacy upon successful completion of the comprehensive examinations and after any deficiencies identified in diagnostic examinations are removed.

The doctoral program includes required performance studies (applied major study, recitals, including a lecture recital and applied pedagogy and repertoire), selected courses in music theory and literature, a research component and elective study.

During summer sessions, students enroll in 10 to 12 credits of course work. The structure, intensity and duration of the summer program is not conducive to larger course loads or applied study.
Study during the academic year is based on course availability and scheduling and should include applied instruction with lessons distributed across the duration of the semester. Students who are employed during the academic year will complete applied study on six weekends per semester, scheduled in conjunction with one course or seminar. Traditional full-time students may pursue a combination of course work and weekly applied study during the fall and spring terms. Some courses are available only during the summer term.

Artist Diploma (Post Baccalaureate and Post Master’s Certificate)
Available for majors in flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, guitar, organ, piano, string quartet and voice. The Artist Diploma is intended for the exceptional performers (or ensembles) who already hold a degree or equivalent conservatory or professional credential with appropriate credits in music history and theory and who are in the final stages of preparation to enter major competitions, audition for major orchestras or to begin a professional career. The Artist Diploma requires full-time study and a two-year residency period. Students receive faculty guidance in completing a program of study designed to enable the development of individual musical and intellectual interests and the command of certain basic skills that are universally recognized as attributes of a musician. All students will devote a major portion of their efforts to the development of their potential as performers and are expected to participate in many other dimensions of music making. Upon acceptance, a committee is appointed to guide the student through the program.