Music Performance, Instrumental Track, B.M.

Bachelor of Music Degree

The Bachelor of Music degree offers six specialized majors: performance, composition, music industry, music education, jazz studies and music theatre. All music majors must complete the General Education program and a 30 credit hour core program of music courses common to all the majors’ curricula. The remaining hours are specified under each of the various majors and concentrations.

All undergraduate music majors must perform on the primary instrument in one assigned ensemble each semester when one or more of the following indicators applies:

They are enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours on campus.
They are enrolled for applied lessons on the primary instrument.
They have not completed all of the requirements in the music major.
They are not enrolled in an off-campus internship or in student teaching.

While students are required to participate in only one ensemble each semester, they are encouraged to take advantage of the many performance opportunities offered by the School of Music by participating in more than one ensemble. For information regarding the ensemble audition process, see the Undergraduate Music Student Handbook.

If piano is the primary instrument, see the specific requirements in the Undergraduate Music Student Handbook.

All music students should enroll in class piano each semester until they meet the keyboard skills requirements appropriate to their specific degree or concentration. Graduating seniors must participate in assessment activities including assessment day, as represented by MUS 220 .

Another vital aspect of the programs is attendance at recitals and concerts. Attending these events contributes to the breadth of students’ knowledge of music literature. Hearing performances also allows students to observe performing techniques from the student to the professional levels. Consequently, undergraduate music majors must attend a minimum of 10 recitals per semester for six semesters, totaling 60 attendances during their degree studies. Students must continue to register for MUS 195 until they fulfill this requirement.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

General Education courses 35-41 Credit Hours ¹
Core music program courses 30 Credit Hours
Major concentration courses and electives 54-62 Credit Hours

Total: 123-133 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

Major Requirements

Required Courses

MUS 141. Music Theory I 3.00
MUS 142. Music Theory II 3.00
MUS 143. Aural Skills I 1.00
MUS 144. Aural Skills II 1.00
MUS 195. Recital Attendance 0.00 (six semesters)
MUS 206. Introduction to Global Music 3.00 ¹
MUS 220. Assessment Tests – School of Music 0.00
MUS 241. Music Theory III 3.00
MUS 242. Theory IV 3.00
MUS 243. Aural Skills III 1.00
MUS 244. Aural Skills IV 1.00
MUS 317. Basic Conducting 2.00
MUS 373. Music History 3.00
MUS 374. Music History 2.00
MUS 375. Music History 3.00

Choose one of the following: 1 Credit Hour

MUS 101. Keyboard Skills II 1.00 (required for music industry majors and prerequisite for MUS 202 -MUS 303 )
MUS 303. Keyboard Skills IV 1.00 (all music majors except music industry; must be passed prior to student teaching)

Total: 30 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ MUS 206 will count for the Music Core and also for the General Education , Cluster Two , Part 2 if desired. There will be a specific music major section of MUS 206 offered once each academic year.

Recommended Schedule for First Year Majors

The first year of study shares a common curriculum for all concentrations. The year is devoted to courses from the basic music core requirements, General Education courses, ensemble participation and applied study in the major applied area.

First Year

First Semester

MUS 141. Music Theory I 3.00
MUS 143. Aural Skills I 1.00
MUS 195. Recital Attendance 0.00
WRTC 103. Critical Reading and Writing 3.00
Applied music major course 2 Credit Hours
Music ensemble course 1-2 Credit Hours
General Education courses (from Cluster One ) 6 Credit Hours

Choose one of the following (According to placement decision): 1 Credit Hour

Total: 15-16 Credit Hours

Second Semester

MUS 142. Music Theory II 3.00
MUS 144. Aural Skills II 1.00
MUS 195. Recital Attendance 0.00
Applied music major course 2 Credit Hours
Music ensemble course 1-2 Credit Hours
General Education courses (MUS 206 and final course from Cluster One ) 6 Credit Hours

Choose one of the following: 1 Credit Hour

Total: 14-15 Credit Hours

Additional Information

For a recommended eight-semester outline of curricular requirements for each major concentration, see the School of Music’s Undergraduate Music Student Handbook.

Instrumental Track

Co-coordinators: Dr. Susan Barber, Dr. Carl Donakowski and Prof. Kevin Stees
Phone: (540) 568-6197

Track Degree Requirements

Required Courses

General Education courses 38-41 Credit Hours ¹
Core music program courses 30 Credit Hours
Major concentration courses and electives 54 Credit Hours

Total: 122-125 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

Track Major Requirements

Courses

Additional requirements: Admission to this concentration by successful completion of performance audition, no sooner than end of first year as approved music major.

MUS 319. Intermediate Instrumental Conducting 2.00
MUS 341. Musical Form and Analysis 2.00
MUS 395. Junior or Senior Half Recital 0.00
MUS 472. Instrumental Pedagogy 1.00
MUS 480. Advanced Seminar in Musicological Topics 3.00 ²
MUS 495. Senior Graduation Recital 1.00
Applied music courses (major instrument) 22 Credit Hours
Chamber ensembles (in addition to the eight semester major ensemble requirement) 6 Credit Hours
Ensembles (one each semester) 8 Credit Hours
Advanced music literature or seminar elective 3 Credit Hours
Approved music electives 6 Credit Hours ³

Total: 54 Credit Hours

Footnotes

² The MUS 480 requirement will be fulfilled by taking the class when the seminar focuses on a topic within the past century. MUS 480 can also be repeated to fulfill the requirements for an advanced music literature elective or the approved music electives.
³ Approved music electives may not be fulfilled by additional ensemble credits. A maximum of two credits may be counted in secondary applied music study.