Majors
Information for All Music Majors
Core Music Courses
All music majors take courses in the following areas: Music Theory, Aural Skills, Music History and Literature, and Basic Conducting. The required courses in each area may vary slightly according to the program.
Applied Music
The Music Department offers applied lessons in piano, organ, voice, classical guitar, percussion, and all string, brass, and woodwind instruments. There are eight levels for voice and each applied instrument. Levels one, two, and three are considered pre-major. Music Education majors must be assigned level seven to student teach and complete level seven to graduate. Music Therapy majors must complete level seven to graduate. Music Performance majors must complete level eight to graduate. B.A. majors must be assigned level six to graduate. (The levels of competency are available from the Music Department.) Students may also take lessons in jazz improvisation, accompanying, and composition.
Private lessons are given each week. Students may register for applied lessons as 1 credit (half-hour lesson), 2 credits (hour lesson), or 3 credits (hour lesson with additional work). Music majors are required to attend all assigned studio classes in their applied area.
Performance majors are required to perform a junior recital (half hour) and senior recital (one hour); Music Education and Music Therapy majors are required to perform a senior recital (half hour).
Music Ensembles
All music majors are required to participate in a major ensemble: Chorale, Wind Ensemble, College-Community Orchestra or Women's Choir. Music Education, Music Therapy and Performance majors are required to participate in a major ensemble every semester. B.A. in Music majors are required to participate in a major ensemble for four semesters. All students receiving a music major scholarship are required to participate in a major ensemble every semester.
Piano Proficiency
All Music Education, Music Therapy and Performance majors must pass the Piano Proficiency exam. In the B.A. in Music program, Piano Majors--and only Piano Majors--must also pass the exam. Students take the necessary class piano courses (Class Piano I, II, III or IV) until they have passed the exam. If a student is struggling, applied lessons in piano may be recommended. Details about the Piano Proficiency exam are printed in the Music Department Handbook.
Music Seminar
All music students register for Music Seminar, MUS 100 every semester. Meeting once per week, many seminars present pertinent topics with faculty, special speakers, master teachers or guest recitalists. Most seminars, however, are recitals with multiple student performers. As part of MUS 100, students are also required to attend a specified number of concerts throughout the semester.