Why UMKC?
- The Conservatory of Music and Dance aims to meet or exceed the educational standards set by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) for the training of undergraduate music students. To that end, the Conservatory endorses the acquisition of skills in musicianship and general studies.
Fast Facts
Enrollment
- 14,500 University total
- 625 Conservatory of Music
- 240 Conservatory graduate
- 385 Conservatory undergraduate
- 9% Conservatory international
- Accreditation and accolades
- UMKC is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
- The UMKC Conservatory of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Certification Board for Music Therapists.
- UMKC has appeared in the Time/Princeton Review: Best Colleges for You and has consistently made the U.S. News and World Report list of America's Best Colleges.
- 95 percent of UMKC faculty have a Ph.D. or the highest degree in their field.
- UMKC's student-to-faculty ratio is a low 14-to-1.
Student Organizations
- Sigma Alpha Iota
- Mu Phi Epsilon
- Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society
The Conservatory maintains an affiliation with:
- National Federation of Music Clubs
- CMENC; Student Organization of MENC
- The National Association for Music Education
- American Music Therapy Association
- International Association of Jazz Educators
- American Guild of Organists
- American Choral Directors Association
Real World Experience
- Students collaborate with local musicians and experience all aspects of composition withing this metropolitan area.
Careers
Salaries
Admission Requirements
- New students must meet the general requirements for admission to the University
- UMKC application
- Transcripts of all your coursework
- ACT or SAT scores
- Application Fee
- Submit the Conservatory's supplemental application and audition request form
- The supplemental application is due at least 30-days prior to your audition date
- Auditions are scheduled only after receipt of this application
- Perform a 10-minute audition in your major area; instrumental, voice or keyboard
- Submit your portfolio of composition
- Two to three scores of your original compositions
- Recordings of these compositions
- You may be asked to interview with the composition faculty
Prerequisite Courses
Major Courses
required courses
- Conservatory 101-301(a) Applied Study (10 hours)
- Ensemble(b) (Eight Semesters) (8 hours)
- Communications 110 Fundamentals of Effective
- Speaking and Listening (3 hours)
- Conservatory 133-134
- Beginning Composition I, II (6 hours)
- English 300-level Writing Intensive Course (3 hours)
- Conservatory 233-234Intermediate Composition I, II (6 hours) Conservatory 235 Techniques of Electronic Music I (3 hours)
- Conservatory 329 Advanced Ear Training (2 hours)
- Conservatory 331A; 431 Orchestration I, III (5 hours)
- Conservatory 333(c) Advanced Composition (three semesters) (9 hours)
- Conservatory 427 18th-Century Counterpoint (2 hours)
- Conservatory 428 Contemporary Harmonic
- Contrapuntal Styles (3 hours)
- Conservatory 433 Composition Recital (3 hours)
- Electives (Theory course 300 or above) (2(3) hours)
- Area of Concentration(d) (16-18 hours)
- Electives (14 hours)
- Conservatory 310 Keyboard Skills IV (2 hours)
- Successful completion of Conservatory 310, Keyboard Skills IV, with a grade of B- or better is required.(a) Students majoring in composition must complete level 301 secondary in any applied area. (b) Ensemble: Participation as a performer by enrollment in a major ensemble (other ensembles may be substituted for a major ensemble only by petition) for a minimum of four semesters is required.
- Four additional semesters (not necessarily major ensembles) must be fulfilled either through additional enrollment as a performer or through enrollment in Conservatory 301G Ensemble for Composers, though a minimum of two semesters of Conservatory 301G must be taken.
- It is expected that students enrolling for Conservatory 301G more than once will observe a different ensemble or ensembles each time they enroll.
Other Programs Available
Faculty
- Conservatory Composition Faculty receive national and international recognition with awards and commissions and are at the top of their field internationally.
Contact us
UMKC Office of Admissions
120 Administrative Center
University of Missouri-Kansas City
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499
(816) 235-1111
www.umkc.edu
Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may
call Relay Missouri at:
1-800-735-2966 (TT)
1-800-735-2466 (voice)
Visit us
Contact the UMKC Welcome Center at 816-235-UMKC (8652), or toll-free at 1-800-775-UMKC (8652), and we'll arrange a guided campus tour and a meeting with faculty and staff.
