Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Music Performance

If you want to concentrate on the mastery of an instrument or voice, a focus in either jazz studies or classical performance is available. Performance emphasis can be in guitar, voice, piano, percussion, string and wind instruments, or jazz instruments (saxophone, trumpet, piano, guitar, string bass, and drum set). Students are expected to perform extensively and are required to give recitals.

B.M./Performance Program Advisor: Adam Hanna

Curriculum

A minimum of 120-124 credits is required for graduation.

All students in the music performance option must take the following music courses:

  • 8 semesters of MUS 300: Music Convocation
  • MUS 115: Musicianship Lab I
  • MUS 116: Music Theory I
  • MUS 117: Musicianship Lab II
  • MUS 118: Music Theory II
  • MUS 119: Introduction to the Music Profession
  • MUS 215: Musicianship Lab III
  • MUS 216: Music Theory III
  • MUS 217: Musicianship Lab IV
  • MUS 218: Music Theory IV
  • MUS 235: Introduction to Music Teaching
  • MUS 322: Genre as Identity in 20th & 21st Century Music
  • MUS 311: Choral Conducting Lab or MUS 312: Instrumental Conducting Lab
  • *MUS 416: Form and Analysis
  • MUS 442: Directed Study in Applied Music Pedagogy
  • MUS 280 and 480 (capstone)
  • MUS 350 and 450 (capstone)

* Students in the jazz option must take MUS 424 in place of MUS 416. Jazz option students must also take MUS 106 (History of Jazz).

    * Students in vocal option must take MUS 367 in place of MUS 280 and MUS 480.

In addition, students must select one of the following five sub-options:

Classical Guitar

  • 8 semesters of the principal applied music area (MUS 210T and 410T)
  • MUS 171 and 172: Class Piano I and II
    • Students who have not passed the piano proficiency examination by the end of MUS 172 will be expected to take MUS 271 and 272.
  • 4 semesters of major ensembles, chosen from:
    • MUS 292: Concert Band
    • MUS 293: University Chorus
    • MUS 394: Symphonic Wind Ensemble
    • MUS 395: Concert Choir
    • MUS 396: Jazz Studio Ensemble
    • MUS 397: University Symphony Orchestra
  • 4 semesters of guitar ensemble (MUS 398G)
  • 3 semesters of playing guitar in chamber music ensembles (MUS 398)
  • An upper-division music history course
  • An upper-division music theory course
  • 4 credits of electives, at least three of which should be in upper-division music courses

Jazz (limited to saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, string bass, and drum set)

  • 8 semesters of the principal jazz applied music area (MUS 210W and 410W)
  • MUS 171 and 172: Class Piano I and II
    • Students who have not passed the piano proficiency examination by the end of MUS 172 will be expected to take MUS 271 and 272.
  • 2 semesters of major ensembles, chosen from:
    • MUS 291: University Marching Band
    • MUS 292: Concert Band
    • MUS 293: University Chorus
    • MUS 394: Symphonic Wind Ensemble
    • MUS 395: Concert Choir
    • MUS 397: University Symphony Orchestra
  • 2 semesters of MUS 396: Jazz Studio Ensemble
  • 2 semesters of MUS 391: Jazz Studio Lab
  • 4 semesters of chamber music ensembles/jazz (MUS 398J)
  • An upper-division music history course or an upper-division music theory course
  • 3 credits of electives which should be in upper-division music courses

Orchestral Instrument

  • 8 semesters of the principal applied music area (MUS 210E-U and 410E-U)
  • MUS 171 and 172: Class Piano I and II
    • Students who have not passed the piano proficiency examination by the end of MUS 172 will be expected to take MUS 271 and 272.
  • 8 semesters of major ensembles, chosen from:
    • MUS 292: Concert Band
    • MUS 394: Symphonic Wind Ensemble
    • MUS 397: University Symphony Orchestra
  • 3 semesters of secondary or chamber music ensembles
  • An upper-division music history course
  • An upper-division music theory course
  • 4 credits of electives, at least 3 of which should be in upper-division music courses

Piano

All students pursuing this sub-option must pass the piano proficiency examination by the end of the second semester of the junior year. Keyboard majors can waive MUS 171, 172, 271, and 272 (Class Piano I – IV) courses normally taken to develop the skills necessary to pass the piano proficiency examination.

  • 8 semesters of the principal applied music area (MUS 210B and 410B)
  • 4 semesters of major ensembles, chosen from:
    • MUS 292: Concert Band
    • MUS 293: University Chorus
    • MUS 394: Symphonic Wind Ensemble
    • MUS 395: Concert Choir
    • MUS 397: University Symphony Orchestra
  • 6 semesters of piano accompanying (MUS 371) or playing piano in chamber music ensembles (MUS 398)
  • MUS 420: Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint
  • An upper-division music history course
  • 6 credits of electives, at least 3 of which should be in upper-division music courses

Voice

  • MUS 173: Voice Methods
  • MUS 183: Voice II
  • MUS 184 Lyric Diction I: Italian and English
  • MUS 283: Lyric Diction II: French and German
  • MUS 367: Integrative Career Studies of Musicians
  • MUS 445: Vocal Pedagogy
  • THE 111: Introduction to Acting
  • ITL 101: Beginning Italian I
  • GER 101: Beginning German I
  • FRN 101: Beginning French I
  • 8 semesters of the principal applied music area (MUS 210A and 410A)
  • MUS 171, 172, 271, and 272 (Class Piano I – IV)
  • 8 semesters of major ensembles, chosen from:
    • MUS 293: University Chorus
    • MUS 395: Concert Choir
  • 2 semesters of Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) (MUS 110A)
  • 2 semesters of chamber or other music ensembles
  • 4 credits of music electives and 3 credits in an upper-division history course
  • 4 semesters of MUS 411: Advanced Performance Studies

Students selecting voice must also take 9 credits of foreign language in two or more languages (this requirement may be modified or satisfied by advanced placement).