Graduate students will perform at a level consistant with the common standards of Graduate School as specified by the National Association of Schools of Music (performance skills are contained in the NASM Handbook).

Students will perform standard literature for their instrument/voice The music selections will be appropriate to the masters degree level and performance practices at the professional level.

Graduate students must pass a pre-recital hearing indicating the music required for their recital has been prepared to a professional performance-ready level. Students will present at least one graduate recital which indicates they have attained the appropriate level of mastery of their instrument/voice at a level which must be  consistent with the national standards  of the National Association of Schools of Music(NASM). Subsequently, the "recital-ready" student performs his Recital and is reviewed by at least three faculty members

Masters of Music Recital Review and Pre-Recital Hearing Performance Standards:
     The application of performance standards used for each instrument or voice will vary  widely based upon composers, periods and styles; nevertheless, the following standard performance qualities are checked by all faculty and assessed in the specific context of the particular performance piece :
   Intonation,
   rhythmic accuracy and
   tone quality 
Students must sing/play in turn, with the proper/appropriate intonation and tone quality and within the prescribed rhythmic patters for the  periods and composers and styles of their performance pieces
     This can be difficult to correctly assess for anyone other than the  faculty who are the private teachers of the performer. This is one of the hardest areas of music to assess because often the individual teachers are the only ones making the ultimate assessment/judgment about student readiness to perform their recital.
For the Recital Review, at least three faculty members evaluate the student performance as passing or failing and provide detailed feedback

The ideal is for each student to pass the pre-recital hearing at the first attempt; however, due to the rigorous application of indicator standards that are common to the SHSU Masters Music Program faculty,  a high, yet realistically attainable criterion is that  Students should pass the pre-recital hearing with no more than three (3) attempts. 100% of students will pass the pre-recital hearing within three attempts and be judged "recital ready"
ALL students will pass their subsequent Recital review

The master's students performed well according to the criteria. The majority of the students passed their hearing on the first attempt; however, all masters students passed within the 3 attempts. All students passed the recital without issue.

The School of Music Faculty have found that recreating the performance environment within practice sessions both with the faculty member and peers has aided the students' success in the performance of the hearing and the recital.

MM studens should obtain a basic comprehensive knowledge of music beyond their own expertise.

MM students need to obtain an appropriate level of musical knowledge beyond their area of expertise. This should include but is not limited to music performance/ pedagogy, conducting, music theory, music history.

Students will take an oral comprehensive exam in their final semester of study.  This test will be relevant to all aspects of study that the student has experienced in the program including, performance/pedagogy, music theory and music history.  The test will be administered by a minimum of three school of music faculty from the designated fields of study.

Students are scored in three different categories; their applied area; music history; and music theory.  They are scored as "High Pass"; "Pass"; and "Fail."  The School of Music expects 90% of the students to pass on the first attempt with none or few additional assignments.

MM students successfully passed the comprehensive exam within the 90% range. Many students did, however, have to do additional assignments in order to satisfy the expectation of the faculty committee.

The School of Music Faculty realize that the Master's candidates perform well in their applied areas of expertise, however, yet still lack in the other academic disciplines. Using a holistic approach to teaching in the applied areas and including instruction of a theoretical and historical nature has increased the candidates success in obtaining a broad knowledge base.