Music Major

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Earn Your Major in Music

A major in music provides an excellent background for a variety of careers. Students have the option of selecting careers designed to prepare them as singers, instrumentalists, composers, songwriters, sound engineering techniques, music production, and music directing upon graduation. Students are encouraged to take specific courses that apply to their area of interest.

To receive the B.A. in Music, a student must successfully complete 48 credit hours of music courses with no grade below “C.”

Music Department Handbook

Technology Requirements for Online Learning

Music students

Music Major Courses

Required Cognate and Core Courses

  • MUS 000 Music Seminar (0)
  • MUS 111A Keyboard Skills I (Students may place into higher levels of Keyboard Skills.)
  • MUS 111B Keyboard Skills II
  • MUS 111C Keyboard Skills III
  • MUS 113A Music Theory and Musicianship I (4)
  • MUS 113B Music Theory and Musicianship II (4)
  • MUS 200 Intro to Music Technology for Majors (2-4)
  • MUS 240 Survey of African American Music (4)
  • MUS 451 Intro to Composition & Songwriting (2)
  • MUS 321 Form and Analysis (2)
  • MUS 350 History of Western Music I (4)
  • MUS 351 History of Western Music II (4)
  • MUS 490A Senior Project (1)
  • MUS 490B Senior Project (1)

Music Technology Concentration

Music majors in the Music Technology Concentration are required to take the following courses during their junior and senior years.

  • MUS 301 Advanced Music Technology (2)
  • MUS 190 Recording Techniques 1 (4)
  • MUS 390 Recording Techniques 2 (4)
  • MUS 203 Survey of Music Business and Entrepreneurship (4)

Elective Courses

Music majors are required to take eight (8) credit hours of elective courses in order to complete the degree in music. Students may choose any of the courses listed below to satisfy this requirement. (Not all courses are shown here.) Students are encouraged to take courses that apply to their area of interest.

  • MUS 011-058 Secondary Applied Instrument (up to 4 credits)
  • MUS 130 Women in Music (4)
  • MUS 210 Choral Conducting and Literature (2)
  • MUS 310 Vocal Diction for Singers* (2)
  • MUS 330 History of Jazz (4)
  • MUS 209 Music and Sound for Film and Game (4)
  • MUS 203 Music Business and Entrepreneur ** (4)

Required for all vocal performance majors
** Required for all music tech concentration

Additional Requirements

The music major must also complete the following:

Enrollment in applied music, an ensemble that serves as a laboratory supporting the primary applied music study, and Music Seminar each semester.

  • An applied jury in her major medium evaluated by the faculty each semester, except when she is scheduled to give a Junior or Senior Recital.
  • An exit project (senior recital, thesis, or composition) during the senior year prior to graduation.

Music Seminar

Music Seminar is a zero-credit, pass/fail, weekly meeting of all music majors and minors for the purpose of student recitals (matinées), seminars, workshops, special lectures, guest recitals, and listening labs. Music majors must be enrolled in Music Seminar each semester for a total of six (6) semesters. Music minors must be enrolled in Music Seminar for four (4) successive semesters. Music Seminar meets every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building Room 107.

Applied Music (Private Lessons)

The study of voice or an instrument is an integral part of the musical education of every music student. Therefore, she must complete a minimum of six (6) semesters of private lessons on a single instrument. All Applied Music students will attend group performance classes as scheduled by the instructor in addition to the private lesson.

Private voice lessons require a minimum of six (6) hours of practice and offer one (1) credit per semester. Private piano lessons require a minimum of twelve (12) hours of practice and offer one (1) credit per semester. Two Applied Music courses may not be taken concurrently for credit, nor may they be taken concurrently without permission of the Department Chair. Music majors in the Music Technology Concentration should enroll in Private Music Technology I and II during their junior year instead of taking private lessons.

Private lessons are offered in the following instruments:

  • MUS 011-018 Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, Harp)
  • MUS 021-028 Voice
  • MUS 031-038 Piano
  • MUS 041-048 Organ
  • MUS 360 Private Composition
  • MUS 361 Private Music Technology I and II
  • MUS 364 Private Conducting
  • MUS 051-058 Wind and Brass Instruments (Lessons to be arranged based on enrollment.)
  • MUS 061-068 Percussion (Lessons to be arranged based on enrollment.)

Recital Requirement

All Bachelor of Arts candidates are required to give a Junior Recital, the duration of which will be approximately thirty (30) minutes.

Ensembles

Ensemble participation is open by audition to all students of the College, with or without credit. A full year commitment is expected.

Music majors and minors are required to register each semester for an ensemble that serves as a laboratory supporting the primary Applied Music study. Upper-level music students may elect an additional ensemble (for 1 credit or zero credit) only with the approval of the primary applied music teacher and the department chair. A maximum of eight (8) semester hours of ensemble credit may be used in meeting departmental graduation requirements for both the music major and the music minor.


The following performance ensembles are offered:
  • MUS 070 Glee Club
  • MUS 071 Chamber Singers
  • MUS 090 Chamber Music
  • MUS 081A Contemporary Pop Music Ensemble
  • MUS 392 AUC Orchestra
* Vocal majors and minors are required to participate in Glee Club for a maximum of eight (8) semesters hours. This participation does not preclude concurrent participation in the other Music Department Ensembles.
* Vocal majors and minors are required to participate in Glee Club for a maximum of eight (8) semesters. This participation does not preclude concurrent participation in the other Music Department Ensembles.

Department Objectives


Upon completion of the various programs of study in music, a student will be able to . . .

  1. Recognize that music is an art as well as a powerful foundational with limitless applications.
  2. Become an outstanding musician in many music careers or in teaching.
  3. Become accomplished and adaptable in different instruments, compose, direct an ensemble, or musical theater program.
  4. Demonstrate a level of proficiency in music-related skills sufficient to meet the demands of their chosen career.


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