Music Minor

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Earn Your Minor in Music

A minor 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.

Music Department Handbook

Technology Requirements for Online Learning

Music students

Students wishing to pursue a music minor must audition for the music department faculty and begin a course of study no later than fall semester of the sophomore year. Additionally, they are required to take music theory and keyboard skills assessment tests. For minors, MUS 113A is a prerequisite for all other core courses in the department. After acceptance into the minor, the following courses are required (24 hours with no grade below “C”).

Music minors must be enrolled in Applied Music, Ensemble and Music Seminar for four successive semesters. Music minors are expected to present a Music Minors’ Project upon completion of their music courses. The student and her applied instructor will decide upon this project.

Music Minor

Courses

  • MUS 111A Keyboard Skills I (Students may place into higher levels of Keyboard Skills.)
  • MUS 111B Keyboard Skills II
  • MUS 113A Music Theory and Musicianship I (4)
  • MUS 240 Survey of African American Music (4)
  • MUS 350 or 351 History of Western Music I or II (4)
  • 1 Music Elective (2)

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 minors must be enrolled in Music Seminar for four (4) semesters.

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 four (4) 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 lessons require a minimum of six (6) hours of practice per week 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.

Private lessons are offered in the following instruments:

  • MUS 011-018 Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Guitar)
  • MUS 021-028 Voice
  • MUS 031-038 Piano
  • MUS 041-048 Organ
  • MUS 051-058 Wind and Brass Instruments
  • MUS 061-068 Percussion

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 one credit or zero credit) only with the approval of the primary applied music teacher and the department chair. A minimum of four (4) semester hours of ensemble credit may be used in meeting departmental graduation requirements for 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

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. Demonstrate a level of proficiency in music-related skills sufficient to meet the demands of their chosen career.


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