Graduate Programs
Our highly selective graduate programs include master of music and master of arts degrees as well as certificates and artist diplomas in several areas of study. Students can choose an emphasis in classical performance, composition, conducting, jazz studies, musicology, music theory, orchestral studies or Suzuki pedagogy. We’re committed to training the next generation of music professionals to excel through focused and driven work in the industry.
We provide you with the hands-on experience and recording opportunities you need to gain experience and build your portfolio. Our performance spaces are state-of-the-art and home to more than 300 events each year. Performance opportunities also abound throughout Denver’s vibrant music scene, only a quick light rail ride away. The majority of Lamont students receive some sort of financial assistance, making this unique education surprisingly affordable.
- Master's
A master’s degree is the first level of graduate study, typically requiring one to two years of full-time study. To pursue a master’s, you’ll need an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree. Many degrees are specialized to prepare you to enter the job market as a highly qualified applicant or work as an educator in your field.
- Certificate
A graduate certificate is approximately equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but with a more limited scope. Most can be achieved in a year or less, and many confer professional benefits such as licensure. Learn more about federal-aid designated certificates.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Artist Diploma, Conducting
About this Program
The artist diploma in conducting is a highly selective program for students determined to pursue a professional career in conducting.
Working closely with a faculty mentor, you'll supplement your existing qualifications with a selection of graduate-level music courses and performance experience with Lamont ensembles.
Conductors in the Artist Diploma program get hands-on experience leading the Lamont Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble or choral ensembles.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Artist Diploma, Performance
About this Program
The artist diploma in performance is ideal for talented, passionate musicians determined to pursue careers as solo performers. With a minimum of academic requirements, students in the artist diploma program study one-on-one with faculty and enjoy a wealth of performance opportunities.
In this highly competitive program, artist diploma students serve as role models for their fellow students and peers. They also participate in appropriate large and small ensembles as assigned, often assuming a leadership position.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Conducting
About this Program
The master of music in conducting offers professional training in Western choral, orchestral and wind traditions. Students have the opportunity to conduct award-winning ensembles in the spectacular Gates Concert Hall, gaining valuable hands-on experience.
The program covers all aspects of conducting and music direction, as well as extra-musical activities such as managing personnel, working with music libraries, running auditions and recruiting. A combination of individual and seminar training will ensure you're prepared to advance your career upon graduation.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Conducting
About this Program
The certificate in conducting is designed for conductors who have already achieved a master's degree but are not yet ready to pursue an artist diploma program. Students receive training in the art of conducting for Western art music while developing crucial skills for all areas of conducting and music direction, including hosting auditions, recruiting and managing personnel.
The certificate in conducting is available in three areas of study: orchestral, wind and choral, each of which will pair a student with one of Lamont's world-class music faculty. With the certificate in hand, graduates will be equipped to continue their studies with an artist diploma or doctoral degree, or to begin their pursuit of a professional music career.
A completed degree in music or its equivalent from a recognized school of music is required for admission.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Jazz Studies
About this Program
Jazz studies certificate students will explore the principles of jazz and build a deep knowledge that extends to performance and creation. This is a one-year program designed for extended work in an applied jazz performance area.
Students in the jazz studies certificate program focus on a curriculum of applied lessons, ensemble participation and jazz electives. Because studios are kept small, all students at Lamont study individually with faculty and enjoy a wealth of performance experience. As they progress through the program, students develop the skills needed to launch their professional careers.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Music Composition
About this Program
Aspiring composers expand their creative language while developing a diverse portfolio of compositions. They receive a rigorous training in harmony, counterpoint, analysis, conducting, orchestration, digital audio and, of course, composition.
With over 300 performances each year and a high ratio of performance students to composition students, Lamont offers many opportunities to have your creative work performed. Our state-of-the-art recording studio is wired to every performance and rehearsal space, allowing you to graduate with a diverse portfolio of digitally recorded works.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Music Entrepreneurship
About this Program
The Music Entrepreneurship Specialized Graduate Certificate offers students the opportunity to develop and manage their careers as working artists in the field of music. They will gain the background, practical skills, and critical perspectives necessary to develop an entrepreneurial career in their chosen area of expertise. The certificate combines expertise in 21st-century approaches to marketing with specialized coursework in the Lamont School of Music. It provides a streamlined way for music professionals in the early-to-mid stages of their career to gain the expertise necessary to promote themselves and their work. This is a 16-credit program that can be completed in one academic year. Students will earn eight credits offered by the Daniels College of Business, combined with eight credits in the Lamont School of Music.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Music Performance
About this Program
The master of music in performance prepares gifted musicians to pursue professional careers in music. This selective program provides a wealth of performance opportunities and a studio appointment with a faculty member.
Students receive extensive hands-on training in the performance of Western art music with a faculty of artist-teachers. Graduates go on to careers in performance, arts management, education, and more.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Music Performance
About this Program
The certificate in performance is a one-year program designed for extended work in an applied performance area. It combines personalized instruction, engaging classroom study and practical experience to provide students with a robust base of knowledge in their instrument.
Working closely with the Lamont School of Music's top-tier faculty, students perform with their peers while preparing for professional work in the music industry.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Music Theory
About this Program
Our master's program in music theory offers budding educators, performers and composers a robust catalog of specialties and concentrations. Small class sizes and advanced coursework reflect the Lamont School of Music's reputation as a premier music school in the West. Courses are offered on a broad range of topics, including counterpoint, Schenkerian analysis, set theory, serialism, contour theory, neo-Riemannian techniques and more.
Under the close supervision of a faculty member, students write a thesis that contributes to the field on a topic of their choosing. By serving as Graduate Teaching Assistants for our undergraduate theory courses, our music theory students receive a scholarship and stipend and also immediately gain teaching experience.
Graduate students in the music theory program can also pursue a dual degree with any concentration from the master of music program. Equipped with this deep body of knowledge, music theory graduates go on to careers in music education, performance, composition, arrangement and arts direction or administration.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Music Theory Pedagogy
About this Program
The certificate in music theory pedagogy allows a conductor, composer, musicologist, pedagogue or performer to develop the skills and knowledge required to teach basic music theory at the high school or possibly college level. A condensed program that is adaptable yet rigorous, it encourages students not only to build on excellence in critical thinking through required courses, but also to develop diverse, creative and individualized notions of teaching and learning through a unique portfolio capstone project. Students are also encouraged to tailor their certificate experience to their desired outcome in the community, such as through university teaching, private teaching and web-based courses.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Musicology
About this Program
Committed to fostering critical thinkers and writers, the master of arts in musicology offers a wide range of courses in classical and vernacular Western and non-Western music. Courses focus on the study of music in its historical, analytical and cultural contexts. Master's candidates may also pursue a dual degree with a master of music in performance.
A master's thesis may draw on topics from a variety of sub-disciplines, including:
- Historical musicology
- Popular music studies
- Jazz history
- Ethnomusicology
- Music technology
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Orchestral Studies
About this Program
Designed for instrumentalists who have already completed a music degree at a qualified institution, the certificate in orchestral studies is a one-year program that provides advanced orchestral training with a minimum of academic requirements. The program is selective, intensive and focused, and is geared toward instrumentalists determined to pursue an orchestral career.
With two hours of one-on-one faculty instruction per week, students in the program refine their orchestral repertoire and gain a more thorough understanding of the challenges of performing orchestral music at the professional level. You graduate with refined performance abilities that provide you with a foothold in the competitive world of orchestral performance.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Performance and Composition
About this Program
In this online certificate, performers develop their virtuosity on their major instrument while cultivating skills in original composition. Modules consist primarily of individual lessons in both performance and composition. Live remote meetings are enhanced with flexible tools such as video recordings, asynchronous discussions, online masterclasses, and more.
On their major instrument, students are expected to meet the same high standards as other graduate majors. In composition, faculty meet students where they are—beginning or professional—helping them to develop compelling and substantial projects.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Performance and Orchestral Audition Preparation
About this Program
With two hours of one-on-one faculty instruction per week, students in this online program refine their orchestral repertoire and gain a more thorough understanding of the challenges of performing orchestral music at the professional level. Students will take a weekly one-hour lesson focusing on solo repertoire as well as a second weekly lesson focusing on orchestral repertoire. Graduates leave with refined performance abilities that provide a foothold in the competitive world of orchestral auditions.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Performance and Recording & Production
About this Program
In this online certificate, performers develop their virtuosity on their major instrument while cultivating skills in recording/production. Modules consist primarily of individual lessons in both performance and recording/production. The recording/production component can be closely customized to the needs of the individual student and may include topics such as classical/acoustic recording techniques, live concert recording, electro-acoustic production (popular crossover as well as classical tradition), and performance/improvisation with live electronics. Live remote meetings are enhanced with flexible tools such as video recordings, asynchronous discussions, online masterclasses, and more.
On their major instrument, students are expected to meet the same high standards as other graduate majors. In the recording and production modules, faculty meet students where they are—beginning or professional—helping them to develop exciting and substantial projects.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Piano Pedagogy
About this Program
The certificate in piano pedagogy prepares musicians for professional careers through advanced levels of coursework, teaching practice, and assessment while maintaining high performance standards. This intensive one-year program combines applied lessons with an overview of elementary and intermediate pedagogical constructs, group teaching techniques, current research trends, updated pedagogical materials and sequencing, and practicum experience.
Practical experience is integrated with all pedagogy coursework through the Lamont Piano Preparatory Program, a piano teaching laboratory. This program provides a unique opportunity for supervised teaching experience in both group and individual lesson settings while using a comprehensive and nationally respected curriculum. Faculty feedback and video recording provide individualized mentoring for maximum professional growth.
This certificate can either be pursued concurrently with the MM degree in Performance with an emphasis in piano or as a stand-alone program.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Suzuki Pedagogy
About this Program
For music educators looking to strengthen their abilities as instructors of the violin or cello, our certificate in Suzuki pedagogy provides comprehensive, long-term training in one of the world's most time-honored teaching methods.
The successful completion of each level of this program entitles the participants to receive a Suzuki teaching certificate for that level from the Lamont School of Music. Lamont's certificate in the method is backed by the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Suzuki Pedagogy
About this Program
The master of music in Suzuki pedagogy, offered for violin and cello, is a performance degree combined with a Suzuki certification.
The Suzuki Method is a teaching system that has become a powerful and positive force in music education, and the Lamont School of Music is one of the few schools in the nation to offer certification paired with a graduate degree in music. In maintaining high performance standards, the program is tailored to the 21st-century professional artist-teacher.
