2026-2027 Academic Catalog
Music2

Music, B.M.

Program Description

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

All undergraduate music majors pursuing the Bachelor of Music, regardless of concentration, 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 assigned 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 Bachelor of Music students should enroll in class piano each semester until they meet the keyboard skills requirements appropriate to their specific degree or concentration.

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, Bachelor of 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.

Objectives

The eight major degree concentrations are each designed to establish a set of skills and a knowledge base necessary for success as a practitioner in specific career areas in the broad field of music. These objectives are achieved through School of Music classes:

  • Through core music classes, students will attain a general level of functional musicianship sufficient to begin and sustain a professional career in the music field.
  • To gain awareness and basic competency in composition and analysis of the standard forms and styles of western music.
  • To gain a broad historical perspective on the development of the forms and styles of western music, as well as diverse world music.
  • To develop a knowledge base enabling the placement of music within stylistic and chronological eras through cues that can be aurally identified.
  • To develop a minimal ability to use a piano keyboard in the study, analysis and performance of music.
  • To learn and practice the basic skills of conducting a musical ensemble and leading a rehearsal.
  • Through attendance at musical performances, students will gain awareness and acceptance of a broad variety of music, as well as of the traditional practices of concert musicians through listening to and watching others perform.
  • Through specialized classes in each concentration, students will attain skills and attitudes necessary for the establishment and maintenance of a career as a professional musician.
  • Students in the Bachelor of Music will take weekly lessons in a primary instrument until they have mastered the skills of performance on that instrument sufficiently well to pass the graduation level for the specific concentration and to successfully complete a senior recital in performance or composition.
  • Students perform regularly in a variety of settings, allowing them to gain a variety of professional-level performing experiences. At least one ensemble per semester is required of all Bachelor of Music students until they have completed all the major requirements.
  • Students complete specialized classes at the upper levels to learn the skills and more concentrated knowledge bases of the individual concentration areas. These classes may be aimed at developing a broad survey knowledge of music literature or history in a particular segment of the repertoire, or at the discovery and development of skills needed in the field but not necessarily to be mastered through individual practice and performance.
  • In some major concentrations, internships are required that put the student into the work world in a supervised off-campus learning activity designed to give practical workplace experience in the field.