The Department of Music offers two majors, one in music performance, requiring 41 hours, and a second in music in liberal arts, also requiring 41 hours. Students who choose one of these majors may not choose the other as a second major. Both majors include a basic curriculum of:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Theory | ||
| MUS 171 | Music Theory I | 4 |
| MUS 172 | Music Theory II | 4 |
| MUS 173 | Music Theory III | 4 |
| MUS 174 | Music Theory IV | 4 |
| Music History | ||
| MUS 181 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUS 182 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUS 183 | Music History III | 3 |
| Select one of the the following courses outside the Western Classical Tradition: | 3 | |
| Jazz | ||
| History of American Music Theatre | ||
| American Music | ||
| Music of World Cultures | ||
| Survey of Latin American Music | ||
| Music of Asia | ||
| Special Topics in Music (when the topic is appropriate) | ||
| MUS 100 | Music Recitals (four semesters ) | 0 |
Students in both majors are encouraged to consider PHY 115 for one of their Division V requirements.
To be admitted to the major in music performance, a student must first successfully complete MUS 171 and then pass an audition before the entire music faculty. The audition should be completed during the sophomore year in order to fulfill during the third and fourth years the number of hours above the 100 level required of the performance major. Students who audition are required to
- demonstrate technical skill when appropriate to the instrument
- perform standard repertoire
- sight-read
All of the required areas must be deemed strong enough by a majority vote of the faculty for the student to be accepted as a major in music performance. In addition to the basic curriculum, the major in music performance requires:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 262 | Individual Instruction * | 3 |
| MUS 362 | Senior Recital * | 3 |
| or MUS 363 | Senior Honors Recital | |
| Ensembles ** | 4 | |
| Electives in Music *** | 3 | |
| Senior Recital **** | ||
| * | Individual instruction above the 100 level, which require as a prerequisite the successful completion of an audition. |
| ** | Excluding MUS 119, MUS 128, and MUS 129, and taken in four semesters. |
| *** | Excluding ensembles and MUS 101, MUS 104, MUS 109, MUS 131, MUS 161-MUS 162, MUS 165V-MUS 168V, MUS 175V, MUS 177V, MUS 262. |
| **** | To undertake the senior recital, a student must have a grade point average of 2.0 in courses in the major. |
Students considering a major in music performance or music in liberal arts are urged to begin their musical studies during the first year and should consult the chair of the department as soon as possible after entering the University. Highly motivated students who would like to further expand or apply their study beyond the normal course offerings may undertake internships or independent study, if they fulfill the minimum overall GPA of 2.75.
Regarding ensemble requirements for the majors and minor in music, students who are singers must fulfill the ensemble requirement by enrolling in MUS 114, MUS 115 and/or MUS 116. Students who play a band or orchestral instrument must fulfill the ensemble requirement by performing on their primary instrument in MUS 112, MUS 113, MUS 118, and/or MUS 121. Performers on keyboard instruments are strongly encouraged to enroll in one of the above ensembles, but may also fulfill the ensemble requirement through participation in chamber music (MUS 120A-MUS 120I).
Highly qualified majors in music performance or music in liberal arts may be invited by the music faculty to apply for admission to honors in music. To be graduated with the designation “Honors in Music,” a candidate must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0, and a grade point average of at least 3.5 in courses in the major, be selected for this honor by the music faculty, and successfully complete either MUS 363 or MUS 398. More information is available from the music department.