MuCT Graduate Assistantship Descriptions

Contact: Dr. Nora Engebretsen

Assistantship needs may change during the course of the academic year. In some cases, more than one vacancy may exist for one of these positions. All assistantships on this list require an interview.

Aural Skills (available Fall 2025)

Students selected for these positions teach aural-skills courses on an alternate basis with the instructor. They assist with class preparation, grading, record keeping and outside-of-class testing. They also run help sessions and tutor individual students. Qualifications include high levels of skill in keyboard playing, sight singing and ear training involving music of the common-practice period. Knowledge of moveable-do, do-minor solfeggio and aural skills involving music of the 20th century is desirable, but not required. During the assistantship interview you will be expected to sight read at the piano in chorale style; sight sing chromatic and/or modulating tonal melodies; identify and correct performance errors; identify harmonic and melodic progressions in piano texture. This is a ¼ position, requiring 10-12 hours of work per week.

Composition (available Fall 2026)

The student selected for this position assists in undergraduate composition instruction, provides administrative and production assistance to the Composition area, and may be assigned other duties as needed. Qualifications include some teaching experience, strong composition skills and good organization skills. For majors only. This is a ¼ position, requiring 10-12 hours of work per week.

MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music (available Fall 2025)

The student selected for this position assists the Director and Coordinator of MACCM Operations in routine office tasks (sorting, filing, mailing and preparation of materials for performance and/or the library archives). He/she also assists in all aspects of preparation for the annual New Music & Art Festival and visits of guest artists. Qualifications include strong interest in and knowledge of contemporary music, good writing skills, interest in program management and basic computer skills. Open to composition majors only. This is a ¼ position, requiring 10-12 hours of work per week.

Music History (available Fall 2025)

Students selected for these positions primarily assist with class preparation, grading, and record keeping and occasionally teach class and proctor exams. They also run help sessions and tutor individual students. Qualifications include strong interest in major historic periods, good writing skills and knowledge of music theory. Students who apply for this assistantship should have a grade of B or better in undergraduate history courses. This is a ¼ position, requiring 10-12 hours of work per week.

Music Technology (available Fall 2025)

Students selected for these positions primarily assist with studio/workstation maintenance, class preparation, grading, scheduling and record keeping, and occasionally teach class and proctor exams. They also run lab sessions, tutor individual students, and assist as needed with the activities of the Music Technology and Recording Studios. Qualifications include extensive knowledge of digital and analog studio techniques, proficient computer skills, and background as a composer. Music Composition majors only. This is a ¼ position, requiring 10-12 hours of work per week.

A more detailed description of the music technology assistantships is available.

Music Theory (available Fall 2025)

Students selected for these positions teach music-theory courses on an alternate basis with the instructor. They assist with class preparation, grading, and record keeping. They also run help sessions and tutor individual students. Qualifications include knowledge of harmony, voice leading, and forms of the common-practice period. Keyboard skills and knowledge of theories of 20th century are desirable, but not required. During the assistantship interview you will be expected to identify common-practice voice leading errors and other atypical tonal phenomena; sight read at the piano in chorale style; recall information regarding analytical techniques for music of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. This is a ¼ position, requiring 10-12 hours of work per week.

Non-major Offerings (available Fall 2026)

Graduate students selected for these positions attend the full-class meeting each week, and then teach small breakout sections.  The course covers fundamental concepts of music and its social contexts, including western classical music and popular music. Other typical duties include class preparation, paper grading, record keeping, tutoring students, and proctoring exams. Students who apply for this assistantship should have a grade of B or better in undergraduate music history courses. This is a ¼ position, requiring 10-12 hours of work per week.

Instrumental and Choral Arranging (available Fall 2025)

The student selected for this position primarily assists with class preparation, grading and record keeping, and occasionally teaches class and proctors exams. He/she also runs help sessions, tutors individual students, and proofreads scores. Qualifications include knowledge of instrumental and choral arranging, 20th-century analytical/compositional techniques, and music theory. The ability to use professional computer notation software is required. This is a ¼ position, requiring 10-12 hours of work per week.

World Music (available Fall 2025)

The student selected for this position primarily assists with class preparation, grading and record keeping, and occasionally teaches class, proctors exams and coaches small ensembles. He/she also runs help sessions and tutors individual students. Qualifications include strong interest in world music, good writing skills and knowledge of music theory. Students who apply for this assistantship should have a grade of B or better in undergraduate history courses. This is a ¼ position, requiring 10-12 hours of work per week.