Summer MM Courses

June 16 – July 3
M, T, W, Th – 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Hollander Hall

Dr. Sandra Snow, Professor and Director of Choral Programs 

A laboratory chorus for singers and graduate students in choral conducting. The repertoire is drawn from both historical choral music and contemporary music for the global stage.

July 7 – July 25
M, T, W, Th – 3:45 – 5:45 pm; F – 1:20 – 3:20 pm
Hollander Hall, Music Building

Dr. Derrick Fox, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Research and Creative Endeavors

 This course is designed for students to explore choral music from historical and contemporary musical practices and understand and apply knowledge of historical and social contexts.
Enrollment preference will be given to graduate students in choral conducting.

June 16 – July 3 (No class July 4)
M, T, W, Th – 3:35 – 4:35 p.m. and F – 1:20-3:20 p.m.
M-Th – 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Hollander Hall

Dr. Sandra Snow, Professor and Director of Choral Programs, MSU

It is designed to examine choral pedagogy and rehearsal strategies and improve a conductor’s ability to be musically specific through conducting gestures.
Enrollment preference will be given to graduate students in choral conducting.

June 16 – July 25
M/W/F – 8:00 am – 10:05 am
219 Music Practice Building

Dr. Stuart Chapman Hill, assistant professor of Choral Music Education

 Philosophical views regarding the nature of music education leading to the development of a personal, professional philosophy of music education.

T/Th – 8:00 am – 10:15 am
219 Music Practice Building

Dr. Juliet Hess, associate professor of music education, MSU

Develop the ability to analyze the world and music education contexts in a manner that draws on sociological thought to consider various issues in music education through analysis of noted literature.

June 16 – July 25
T, W, Th – 1:20- 3:30 p.m.
235 Music Building

Dr. Michael Callahan, associate professor of music theory, MSU

Intended to help music educators and conductor develop skills that utilize the keyboard as a resource for teaching, demonstration, and music learning. Students will learn to realize open scores (including SATB choir) transpose single-and multi-line music, harmonize melodies, and improvise simple phrases and accompaniments. At least a basic familiarity with the piano is assumed, but the course is not restricted to pianists; non-pianists should Dr. Callahan at mrc@msu.edu for suggestions on how to prepare.

June 16 – July 25
T, W, Th – 1:20 – 3:30 pm
419 Music Practice Building

Dr. Gordon Sly, Professor of Music Theory

Analysis of choral, orchestral, and band music as a means of enhancing interpretation and performance.

June 17 – July 25 (No class July 4)

T, Th – 11:15am-1:10pm

419 Music Practice Building

Instructor – TBA

Elements of music theory, with emphasis on voice leading and harmonic analysis in diatonic and chromatic music. This remedial course is required for those who do not pass the Orientation Examination in Music Theory. Credit for this course will not count toward a graduate degree.

June 17 – July 24
T, Th – 11:15am-1:10pm

Richard Desinord, Assistant Professor of Music Theory

This course examines strategies for teaching theory in the classroom and within ensemble settings and private lessons. Emphasizing practical application, the course equips educators with tools to integrate harmonic analysis, ear training, and formal concepts into rehearsals to enhance musical understanding and performance.

June 17 – July 25
M, W, F – 10:25 am – 12:40 pm
Location TBD

Dr. Kenneth Prouty, associate professor of musicology, MSU

 This seminar will address the teaching and learning of music history and culture, from the perspective of critical pedagogy and related fields of study. Drawing upon case studies from classical, vernacular, and popular forms, the course will engage with the development and pervasiveness of musical canons, as well as the development of alternative strategies and approaches to the teaching of music. Additional topics for consideration will include music and public pedagogy, musical curation and social media, and the development of institutional structures devoted to musical learning across various cultural contexts.

June 16 – July 25
M, W, F – 10:25 am – 12:40 pm
Location TBD

Dr. Nicholas Field, Assistant Professor of Musicology

June 21-22
Sa, Sun – 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location TBD

Dr. Ryan Shaw, Associate Professor of Music Education

 This 2-day workshop focuses on getting familiar with hip-hop music. Participants will explore elements of hip-hop culture, learning the history and major subgenres and figures involved. Additionally, participants will engage in lyric writing, rapping, and beat production. There will be a focus on experiential learning and the development of project-based hip-hop focused units applicable to a variety of school music courses.

July 12 – July 13

Sa, Sun – 9:00am-5:00pm

103 Music Practice Building

Stuart Chapman Hill, Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education

How does the “create” part of national and state standards fit into the choral classroom? How can composing, arranging, and other creative activities be integral extensions of, rather than departures from, choral performance and repertoire? This workshop focuses on giving choral conductor-teachers a toolkit for weaving creative activities into the fabric of the choral classroom. Participants will experience and develop activities that grow singers’ composing, arranging, and improvising skills, all grounded in choral music making and connected to specific repertoire and standards.

June 16

MUS 845, sec. 301 and 302 [1 credit]

Secondary Emphasis: Voice

– July 25
Time arranged
Location TBA

Instructors TBA

Private instruction in piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion is specifically designed for graduate students in music education. Space in these courses is limited. If you are interested, please contact the Graduate Office at musgrad@msu.edu prior to May 3, 2024.

June 16 – July 25 — Time arranged
108 Music Building

Deborah Moriarty, professor of piano, MSU

Private instruction in piano. Space in this course is limited. If you are interested, please contact Professor Moriarty prior to May 5, 2025.

June 16- July 25 – Time arranged

Location TBA

Jane Bunnell, professor of voice, MSU; Additional instructor TBA

Private instruction in voice specifically designed for graduate students in choral conducting or music education. Placement in each section will be determined by background and skill level. Space in this course is limited. If you are interested, please contact the Graduate Office at musgrad@msu.edu prior to May 5, 2025