Required classes

E85.2036-Advanced Musical Acoustics
E85.2047-Advanced Computer Music Composition
E85.2598-Fundamentals of Digital Signal Theory I Lab
E85.2599-Fundamentals of Digital Signal Theory
E85.2600-Digital Audio Processing I
E85.2601-Digital Audio Processing II
E85.2616-Master’s Project Prep. (Colloquy)
Cognate Elective - 1 class of student’s choice. Cognates are courses outside your academic program, and pertain to graduate study. Sample Cognate classes:

E85.2402-Psychology of Music
E88.2191-Arts Heritage & Criticism
E38.2091-The Mass Mind
E38.2036-Evolution of Technology

Detailed course information can be found in the Courses section.

Music Theory and History placement exam

Basic competence in music history and theory is a prerequisite for all graduate degree programs in music. Entering graduate students are required to take advisory exams in both areas. You have the option of taking the placement exam in the Fall 2007 OR Spring 2008 term. The history and theory placement exams can only be taken ONCE. If you do not pass, you will be required to take remedial classes (up to a maximum of 8 credits) to fulfill the requirements. These classes and credits will not count toward your degree. More information can be found at http://theory.smusic.nyu.edu/placement/.

Performance Requirement

Each student is required to complete a performance requirement which consists of a music class involving performance. This may be taken in the form of an ensemble course for 0 - 3 credits. Please note that classes in private instruction do not count toward the performance requirement.

Master's Thesis

The Master’s Program culminates with the submission and defense of an individual thesis document, to be completed under the supervision of one of the full-time Music Technology faculty members. The thesis should reflect an original contribution to the field of music technology, bringing the students’ classwork experiences and interests together with their potential career paths. Possible research areas include but are not limited to: technology-based performance and composition techniques, interactive music systems, spatial audio, tools for computer music, music information retrieval, digital audio effects, new recording, mixing, mastering or production techniques, software development for music applications, etc.

Proposal: Before the beginning of their final year, students are required to (1) identify a thesis advisor from amongst the full-time Music Technology faculty, (2) discuss ideas for their work and following review and approval by the faculty advisor, (3) submit a 2-page proposal containing: thesis title, brief introduction to the topic, motivations, goal and general work plan. Once this proposal is approved and a second reader is selected from the full-time Faculty, students begin on the project and enroll in the Colloquy in Music Technology (E85.2616) to prepare the thesis, as well as discuss research methodologies and current literature in the field. Students should schedule regular meetings with their advisor until the thesis is complete.

Report: The thesis itself should be approximately 60 pages long, documenting the idea’s purpose and development, and its musical, aesthetic and technical implications. This document, to be completed by the end of the final year of studies, will be evaluated using the standard criteria for scholarly work. It must conform to the Graduate Division Master’s guidelines for form, bibliography and footnotes. Creative graphics are encouraged to enhance the presentation’s visual impact. The title page should show the thesis title and the student name within the top half to two-thirds of the page. The bottom portion of the page should contain the following:

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
Master of Music in Music Technology
in the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions
in The Steinhardt School
New York University
Advisor: TheNameOfYourAdvisor
[DATE:yyyy/mm/dd]

Oral Defense and Approval: After completing the document, students will submit copies of the thesis to both advisor and second reader and schedule a date for a public oral presentation, where the work is to be demonstrated and defended. Before this defense, students will secure a Thesis Approval Form from The Office of Graduate Studies, 82 Washington Square East, 2nd Floor, available here:

http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/student_services/pdfs/graduate_ma_thesis_approval.pdf

Upon successful completion of this defense, the student will submit four (4) printed copies, and one digital copy (as a .pdf) of the finished document (including any amendments or suggestions resulting from the defense process) to the Music Technology Graduate Assistant Office. One of the printed copies will be placed on permanent reserve on the second floor of the NYU Bobst Library with the Music Technology Collection. Additionally, the Thesis Approval Form will be completed and signed by the thesis advisor and second reader, then filed in the Office of Graduate Studies. Please note that the Registrar's Office requires this form to be filed before approving the student’s graduation.

Resources: Students are encouraged to examine previously completed projects. A database of past projects is available online here. These projects can be checked out from Bobst Library or from the Music Technology Graduate Assistant Office. Students are also strongly encouraged to demonstrate their work (both during development and after completion) at the Music Technology Open House.