Earn your MA in Strings
The string program at the University of Iowa School of Music offers a comprehensive framework of private lessons, major performing ensembles, master classes, chamber music coaching, literature classes, and performance seminars driven by the broad experience of its faculty. Alumni hold positions in major orchestras and chamber ensembles, and teach at universities and conservatories around the world.
Our faculty is committed to a strong educational ethic at all levels of teaching, and we are committed to giving each student the best educational experience possible. Our program at Iowa has several distinct advantages:
- A curriculum centered on a close teacher/student relationship with weekly private instruction supported by weekly Studio Seminars. Intensive personal attention to each student carries on to large and small ensembles.
- Nationally accredited degree programs
- A unique chamber music experience with the newly established UI String Quartet Residency Program. Student ensembles have worked with such notable professional quartets as the JACK Quartet, the Linden Quartet, and the Cavani Quartet during their residencies at Iowa. These residencies provide unique interaction with the quartets and in outreach performance experiences.
- Master classes and performances with renowned guest artists.
- Numerous opportunities and venues for solo and chamber music performance.
- A dynamic string faculty who regularly perform and teach around the United States and the world.
- Opportunities for intensive study of orchestral repertoire and audition preparation.
- Opportunities to study and perform on baroque instruments.
Requirements and program planning
This information is intended to assist in your course planning but is not intended to serve as an official guide to graduation requirements. To confirm progress toward graduation, you should consult your advisor.
Course offerings
- Introduction to Graduate Study in Music (MUS:5300), 2 semester hours
Students exempt from MUS:5200 through the advisory examination in music theory must complete 6 semester hours from the following:
- Counterpoint Before 1600 (MUS:4200), 3 semester hours
- Counterpoint After 1600 (MUS:4201), 3 semester hours
- Jazz Theory (MUS:4730), 3 semester hours
- Tonal Analysis (MUS:5235), 3 semester hours
- Non-Tonal Analysis (MUS:5236), 3 semester hours
- Analysis of Popular Music (MUS:5237), 3 semester hours
- Special Topics in Theory and Analysis (MUS:5240), 3 semester hours
- History of Ideas in Music (MUS:6210), 3 semester hours
- Theoretical Approaches to Music (MUS:6211), 3 semester hours
- Theory Pedagogy (MUS:6215), 3 semester hours
- Advanced Tonal Theory and Analysis (MUS:6250), 3 semester hours
- Advanced Non-Tonal Theory and Analysis (MUS:6251), 3 semester hours
- Advanced Theory and Analysis of Popular Music (MUS:6252), 3 semester hours
Select from the music history courses in the following list. Only one 4000-level course (taken at the University of Iowa or equivalent transferred in from another institution) may count toward the 6 semester hours required:
- Music and Gender (MUS:4320), 3 semester hours
- Medieval and Renaissance Music (MUS:4325), 3 semester hours
- Baroque Music (MUS:4330), 3 semester hours
- 18th-Century Music (MUS:4335), 3 semester hours
- 19th-Century Music (MUS:4340), 3 semester hours
- 20th-Century Music (MUS:4345), 3 semester hours
- Advanced Jazz History (MUS:4350), 3 semester hours
- American Music (MUS:4355), 3 semester hours
- Jazz Matters (MUS:4360), 3 semester hours
- Studies in Film and Music (MUS:4610), 3 semester hours
- Teaching Music, History, and Culture (MUS:6305), 3 semester hours
- Topics in Musicology (MUS:6310), 3 semester hours
- Historical Approaches to Music (MUS:6312), 3 semester hours
- Topics in Ethnomusicology (MUS:6314), 3 semester hours
- Foundations of Ethnomusicology (MUS:6315), 3 semester hours
- Renaissance Music Notations (MUS:6326), 3 semester hours
- Music Editing (MUS:6375), 3 semester hours
Orchestra (MUS:3180), 1 semester hour each
- Applied lessons in major area (MUS:602-), 4 semesters at 2 semester hours each
- Note: Normally, applied lessons are taken each semester until the recital requirement is completed; requests for exceptions must be approved by the brass area.
- Advanced String Methods and Literature I (MUS:5121), 2 semester hours
- Note: Offered fall semester only.
- Advanced String Methods and Literature II (MUS:5122), 2 semester hours
- Note: Offered spring semester only.
- One of these for three semesters:
- String Chamber Music (MUS:3482), 1 semester hour
- Chamber Music Residency Program (MUS:3489), 1 semester hour
-
MA Recital (MUS:6900), 1 to 2 semester hours
Recital and final examination committee
MA Recital committees must have:
- 3 committee members:
- 2 of the 3 must be from the string area
- Principal advisor must be chair of the committee
MA final exam (comps) committees must have:
- 3 committee members:
- 2 of the 3 must be from the string area
- Principal advisor must be chair of the committee
Create your academic path
You'll find degree overviews, requirements, course lists, academic plans, and more to help you plan your education and explore your possibilities.
Current course list
The MyUI Schedule displays registered courses for a particular session and is available to enrolled students. The list view includes course instructors, time and location, and features to drop courses or change sections.
LaFosse collection of baroque string instruments
The University of Iowa School of Music is proud to own the LaFosse Collection of Baroque string instruments. The late Leopold LaFosse served as Professor of Violin at the University of Iowa from 1972 until his death in 2003.
Professor LaFosse bequeathed one of the finest collections of baroque instruments and bows to the School of Music. The collection is maintained by UI viola professor Christine Rutledge, who teaches baroque violin and viola.
Students who wish to learn baroque style and technique have a special opportunity at the University of Iowa by having access to these high quality instruments and bows.
String master classes
String students benefit from a variety of guest master classes and concerts from internationally-acclaimed artists, including:
- Frank Almond
- Charles Castleman
- Paul Kantor
- Jeremy Kittel
- Sally O'Reilly
- David Perry
- William Preucil
- Stanley Ritchie
- Sheryl Staples
- Almita Vamos
- Nancy Buck
- Jeffrey Irvine
- Pamela Ryan
- Peter Slowick
- Zuill Bailey
- Colin Carr
- Bonnie Hampton
- Joel Krosnick
- Mark Summer
- Robert Black
- Christopher Brown
- Craig Butterfield
- Diana Gannett
- Edgar Meyer
- David Murray
- John Patitucci
- Paul Sharpe
- Anthony Stoops
- Hans Sturm
- American String Quartet
- Arianna Quartet
- Ariel Quartet
- Brentano String Quartet
- Kenji Bunch
- Calder Quartet
- Cavani String Quartet
- Chiara String Quaret
- Daedalus Quartet
- Emerson String Quartet
- Dalí Quartet
- Fry Street Quartet
- Jupiter Quartet
- Kronos Quartet
- JACK Quartet
- Jasper String Quartet
- Joel Krosnick
- Jupiter String Quartet
- Lark Quartet
- Linden String Quartet
- Anne-Marie McDermott
- Miro Quartet
- Pacifica Quartet
- Navah Perlman
- Caroline Shaw
- David Schifrin
- St. Lawrence String Quartet
- Ying Quartet
Add a minor
Any student admitted to a graduate degree program in the School of Music may add a theory pedagogy minor by completing the required courses.
Strings faculty
Anthony Arnone
Scott Conklin
Erin Freund
Elizabeth Oakes
Volkan Orhon
Christine Rutledge
Katie Wolfe
Practice and perform
Need to book a music room, request an accompanist, check out audition information, rent a locker, or use a recording studio? Visit the Music Callboard for all scheduling and policy information.