Masters Degree

It is official....kind of! Four years ago I decided to begin my Masters Degree in Music Education, and it has been one of the best choices I have made for my career. More on that aspect in a later post...

At the end of the program, each student participates in a Comprehensive Exam. Luckily, I didn't have to take a paper test. Rather, I had the opportunity to do a 90 minute Oral Exam along with a 90 minute score study. I will quickly talk through this process so you all know what kind of a week I had. This past Thursday was the day of my comps...and after completion I felt a tid-bit better!

For comps, you start with a score study. After picking up my score from the secretary, I was escorted to a practice room where I was left with all the allowed resources...a piano and pencil! I spent the next 90 minutes analyzing the score, both the macro-analysis (form) and the micro-analysis (harmonic structures). Along with analysis, I was expected to come up with an idea of what time period this piece was composed. Did I mention that the title AND composer/arranger was not provided. A small portion of my oral comps would also revolve around my "findings" on the score study. I was lucky to have a small direction of study provided for my study, which means my committee provided me with some questions to kind of get the ball rolling on the study. To my surprise, the 90 minutes flew by and before I knew it the next student was knocking at the door to replace me and scoot me on to the oral comps.

So I made the trek down the stairs to room 109, where my committee was waiting for me. Before I go on, I do have to say that the comps weren't near as bad as I thought they would be...I think! Anyway, at the end of week 1 all students taking their comps were provided with "Directions of Study", which are essentially study guides of what we should look over from the past 4,5,6, etc. years we have been in the Masters Program. I spent the past 3 weeks studying, stressing, studying, and stressing over these directions of studies. Luckily I had a couple other colleagues taking the comps, and we spent numerous hours in the library talking over the information.

So...back to the oral comps. The four of us spent the next 90 minutes having "scholarly conversation" over the materials. I'm not going to lie, there were moments in the comps where I flat out had to tell my committee that I didn't know the information. There were other times where I would provide them an unsure answer, only to have silence as a response. THOSE were the moments that made the comps difficult. But overall, the committee did a great job of making me feel at ease and guiding me along the way. After about 80 minutes of comps, it became apparent that they had heard as much as they needed and that we were coming to a conclusion. The next part of the comps was the most nerve-racking. The committee asks you to step out of the room so they can discuss what they feel the next step should be. The options are as follows 1) pass with no need to continue with study, 2) partial pass, but you are required to review some information and come back the following week to finish up, or 3) not pass and have to return the fall to make up any areas that the committee feels you need help in.  Well needless to say, that was the longest wait of the day. After what seemed like an eternity,  the chair of my committee (Dr. Fuelberth) came out, gave me a hug, and congratulated me. Dr. Nierman and Dr. Woody proceeded to congratulate me as well!

THEN I relaxed...for the most part. You see, I was one of 9 students who took their comps this summer, and although I didn't know them all that well...I was nervous for them. I wanted them to succeed. For some reason I hung some of my success on how our group did. So I didn't get to relax completely, because 4 other colleagues still needed to complete their comps. Long story short, everybody who took their comps during the summer of 2012 passed...and I can safely say we were all nervous before hand and relieved afterwards.

As I said in the beginning of this post, deciding to obtain a Masters Degree was one of the best decisions I have made for my career, and I am extremely proud that I finished it. Not saying I had doubts...I'm just proud that I did! I am nervous to see what my life consists of next summer without classes. I already have had thoughts about what my next level of schooling will be...another Masters, a Doctorate, or just classes to stay involved. I would be more than happy to have suggestions or ideas from my most faithful followers :)

Where words fail...

...music speaks - Hans Christian Andersen

It is 11:30 on a Sunday night and I have  spent an hour and a half reading through my Teaching Music Through Performance in Choir book. Yea, sounds dorky. Tomorrow I begin week 2 of my summer classes, and during week 4 I will be taking my comps. Part of my comps include a 90 minute score study, followed by a 90 minute oral exam. To prepare for my score study, I decided to listen through the examples provided in the TMTP books and read descriptions of the music. This forces me to listen and not just hear. It forces me to be a bit more active and less passive.

One goal I have kind of adopted is to perform as many of the songs in this book series as possible. This forces me to stretch and broaden my scope, because often times I will look at a song and it won't be a song that Helzer will do. Having the series as a resource will greatly help me to find a connection to the pieces. Nonetheless, I was listening through and studying, and a special song crossed my playlist. This is a song that I encountered as a singer in my choir at Grand Island Northwest, and again a song I had the pleasure to conduct with my Ogallala Concert Choir. It is simply amazing how much music can move a person. Although this piece is sung in French, it still cuts deep to my heart. There are experiences that will always be tied to this song. It use to be a song that took me back to high school and all of the great memories, and it now takes me back to Ogallala and the wonderful kids I had the pleasure to work with. For those of you who sing, you understand. For those of you who don't, I strongly encourage you to find a choir to sing in. Be it at church, a community choir, or somewhere else. Find an opportunity to make music and create community with a group of like-minded people. That being said, please take a break and enjoy!