Bachelor of Music, Applied Music Major

Instrumental Performance

Degree Requirements

Students must successfully audition before the music faculty for entrance into the Bachelor of Music degree program with a major in applied music.

Click on the articles below for detailed information about the Bachelor of Music - Applied Music - Instrumental Performance degree:

I. University Core Curriculum (33 - 38 credits)

University Core Curriculum

All students must complete at least thirty-three credits from eight areas of study, generally outside their chosen major. The eight areas are: English, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Socials Sciences, Fine Arts, Core Humanities, Capstone courses and Diversity courses. Faculty advisors are equipped to help answer questions concerning Core Curriculum courses and requirements, and the best time to solicit advice is each semester before registering for classes.

English--3-8 credits
- Refer to the "English" section of the Core Curriculum Web site.
- NOTE : Students who place in ENG 102 are not required to complete ENG 101.
Mathematics--3-6 credits
- Refer to the "Mathematics" section of the Core Curriculum Web site. (3-6 credits)
Natural Sciences--6-8 credits
- Refer to the "Natural Sciences" section of the Core Curriculum Web site. (6-8 credits)
Social Sciences--3 credits
- Refer to the "Social Sciences" section of the Core Curriculum Web site. (3 credits)
Fine Arts
- NOTE: Music majors will automatically satisfy the Fine Arts requirement by taking required music courses.
Core Humanities--9 credits
- CH 201--Ancient and Medieval Cultures (3 credits)
- CH 202--The Modern World (3 credits)
- CH 203--American Experience and Constitutional Change (3 credits)
Capstone Courses--6 credits
- Refer to the "Capstone" section of the Core Curriculum Web site. (6 credits)
Diversity--3 credits
- Refer to the "Diversity" section of the Core Curriculum Web site. (3 credits)

II. Foreign Language & Breadth Requirements (0 credits)

Foreign Language
1. Applied music majors studying the applied instrumental emphasis are not required to fulfill the College of Liberal Arts foreign language, and breadth requirements.

III. Major Requirements (83-92 credits)

Entrance Audition - required
Applied Instrumental Specialization (84 credits)
- MUS 100--Concert Attendance (0 credits) - Development of listening skills through attendance at musical events: music department concerts, master classes, approved community events. This is a repeated course. Must complete eight semesters.
- 100-level Applied Individual Instruction (16 credits)
- Applied Music credits must be on a single instrument.
- 300-level Applied Individual Instruction (16 credits)
- Upper division audition required. Applied music credits must be on a single instrument.
- Junior Recital (0 credits)
- Senior Recital (0 credits)
  - MUS 499-- Senior Recital: Applied Minor Instrument Instruction Credits must be earned on a single instrument. (2 credits)
- Piano Proficiency (0 credits)
- Functional piano sequence optional.
  - MUS 109R - Class instruction for students with limited or no keyboard experience.
  - MUS 110R - Class instruction for students with limited or no keyboard experience.
  - MUS 209R - Class instruction for students with minimal keyboard experience or as a continuation of MUS 109R and MUS 110 R.
  - MUS 210R - Class instruction for students with minimal keyboard experience or as a continuation of MUS 109 R-110 R.
- Major Ensemble (8 credits)
- Secondary Ensemble (5 credits)
- Music Core Courses (28 credits)
  - MUS 341- Music History I - Survey of Western music: ancient Greece through early Beethoven. (3 credits)
  - MUS 342 - Music History II - Survey of Western Art Music from late Beethoven to the present. (Prerequisite: MUS 341) (3 credits)
    MUS 203R - Music Theory I - Counterpoint and harmony; written and keyboard.(3 credits)
  - MUS 204R - Music Theory II - Counterpoint and harmony; written and keyboard. (Prerequisite: MUS 204R) (3 credits)
    MUS 211 - Sight-Singing and Dictation I - Solfege and dictation, rhythmic and melodic. (1 credit)
  - MUS 212 - Sight-Singing and Dictation II - Solfege and dictation, rhythmic and melodic. (1 credit)
    MUS 300 - Continuation Exam - Comprehensive exam covering the final two semesters of theory and sight-singing; written theory and oral ear-training. (0 credits)
    MUS 301 - Theory III - Continuation of MUS 203 and MUS 204, including study of diatonic and chromatic harmony. (Prerequisites : MUS 203 R; MUS 204 R.) (3 credits)
  - MUS 302 - Theory IV - Continuation of theory, including study of diatonic and chromatic harmony. (Prerequisite: MUS 301) (3 credits)
    MUS 311R - Sight Singing and Dictation III - Advanced solfege and dictation, rhythmic and melodic. (Prerequisite: MUS 212) (1 credit)
  - MUS 312R - Sight Singing and Dictation IV - Advanced solfege and dictation, rhythmic and melodic. (Prerequisite: MUS 311R) (1 credit)
    MUS 416 - Orchestration - Arranging music for full orchestra, band and chorus. Transportation, voicing transcriptions from piano score. (Prerequisites: MUS 301 and MUS 302.) (3 credits)
    MUS 408 - Form & Analysis - Analysis of song forms, variations, rondo and sonata forms. (Prerequisites: MUS 301 and MUS 302.) (3 credits)
- Music Literature (3 credits)
  Select ONE of the following (3 credits each):
  - MUS 124R - History of American Musical Theater - Cultural, musical and theatrical survey of musical theater in the United States, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present.(3 credits)
  - OR
    
    MUS 122R - Survey of Jazz - Chronological study of jazz music and musicians with emphasis on directed listening.(3 credits)
  - OR
    
    MUS 431 - Exploring World Music - Music and human culture focusing on non-Core Humanities. Representative societies explored. Field study, music-making projects, performance analysis required. (General Capstone and Diversity course.) (Prerequisites: MUS 121 or MUS 342; CH 201; ENG 102; junior or senior standing.(3 credits)
  - OR
    
    MUS 425 - Film Music - Interdisciplinary study of film music, focusing on the various functions of different kinds of music used on soundtracks. (General Capstone course.) (Prerequisites: ENG 102; CH 201; junior or senior standing.) (3 credits)
- Conducting (2 credits)
  - MUS 362--Beginning Conducting - Introduction to conducting; developing skills to convey musical ideas through gestures. (Prerequisite: Pass the Continuation Exam) (2 credits)
- Music Literature Electives (4 credits)
- NOTE: Course work must be numbered 300 or above. Piano majors should take 4 credits of MUS 483.

IV. Minor Requirements (0 credits)

A minor is not required for the Bachelor of Music degree program.

V. Electives (0 - 12 credits)

Use electives to help round out your education while bringing your total credit number to the required total. Remember that 42 or more credits must be from courses numbered 300 or above.

VI. Total Credits (128 credits - 138)

A candidate for a bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 128 credits, 42 or more of which must be in courses numbered 300 or above.

Piano Proficiency

All Bachelor of Music students are required to pass a Piano Proficiency Examination. It is highly recommended that students complete this examination prior to their junior year. Bachelor of Music students are advised to begin work on piano proficiency during freshman year by enrolling in piano proficiency courses:

MUS 109 - Functional Piano
MUS 110 - Functional Piano
MUS 209 - Functional Piano
MUS 210 - Functional Piano

To pass the Piano Proficiency Examination, Bachelor of Music applied instrumental students will be expected to know and perform the following piano skills:

The ability to play major and harmonic minor scales, two octaves through three sharps and flats.
The ability to transpose a melody.
Play a prepared piece of advanced level 4 or beginning level 5 difficulty as specified in the Magrath repertoire books. Check with a committee member for prior approval.
Play a prepared accompaniment to an instrumental solo. Check with a committee member for prior approval. The piece must be performed with the instrumental soloist.

Continuation Exam - MUS 300

All undergraduate music majors pursuing a Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree must fulfill the Continuation Exam requirement before enrolling in upper-division theory or music education coursework. This comprehensive exam covers the final two semesters of both the theory and sight-singing sequences. It is strongly recommended students take the exam following the second year of study within their degree program. Exams will be offered each May and August. The Continuation Exam is divided into two equally weighted segments: written theory and oral ear-training sections.

NOTE: Remember that the Continuation Exam must be passed and completed before enrolling in upper-division theory and oral-ear-training courses. Students will have two opportunities to pass the Continuation Exam before official admittance into the chosen music degree program is denied.

Recital Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Music in Performance degree must present a junior and senior recital. Specific requirements depend upon the instrument. For specific information concerning Recital Requirements, follow the links below:

General Music Recital Policies and Procedures - Information on scheduling, pre-recital hearings, finding an accompanist, printing and the required content of programs, recordings, forms, fees, and reserving Nightingale Concert Hall.
Recital Procedures for Bachelor of Music Majors - Information about Junior and Senior recitals for Applied Music majors.

NOTE: For all students entering the Bachelor of Music-Applied Music and the Bachelor of Music-Music Education degree programs, any grade of C- or lower in the coursework for the major must be repeated (courses may only be repeated once).

Suggested Courses

To help students get a sense of what the course load of a four year Bachelor degree program might look like, a suggested schedule is provided. It is highly recommended that students consult with their academic advisor for building an actual plan that best suits the student's particular interests For more information on the University Core Curriculum requirements, explore the following links:

Suggested Schedule for the Bachelor of Music Applied Music Degree