Major in Music

In addition to the minimum major requirements, all students majoring in music pursue a senior project in one area: composition, ethnomusicology, music education, musicology, performance. A core curriculum is common for the first two years, with students pursuing appropriate concentrations in the junior and senior years. Declaring a music major by the sophomore year is advisable.

A review takes place at the end of fall semester of the sophomore year as students near the completion of common requirements in the major. All majors and prospective majors are reviewed by the music faculty at this time. Transfer students and those who decide to declare a music major after the sophomore year must consult the department chair.

The review involves a short performance in the student's primary area of studio instruction, optional work samples in his or her primary area of interest (for students concentrating in composition, musicology, or ethnomusicology), and an interview about intended areas of concentration in the junior and senior years. In this formal advising opportunity, the entire music faculty is available to help each student plan to fulfill upper-division degree requirements and complete the senior project.

A satisfactory departmental review results in faculty approval of upper-division status as a music major, and is a prerequisite for Music 490, Senior Project. Enrollment in Music 490 also requires completion of at least one semester of 300-level study in the chosen area of concentration. Further advising for a student's senior project is done individually to match students' aims with departmental and national standards. The project requires work beyond the basic major requirements. Majors are also required to pass a piano proficiency examination.

Requirements

Prerequisites (may be waived by examination): Music 101, 111, 121

A minimum of 44 semester credits, distributed as follows:

Forty hours from the following:

Music Theory and Composition: 212, 213, 222, 223.

Music History and Literature: 162, 163.

Four semester credits of a single major instrument including voice. Declared majors must enroll in studio instruction every semester on campus.

Six semester credits of ensemble, at least four of which must be from Orchestra, Cappella Nova, or Wind Symphony.

Eight semester credits of upper-division theory or composition. Required: Music 314. Remainder chosen from Music 316, 318, 321, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 416. Composition majors must take one of the following: Music 325, 326, 327, 328.

Four semester credits of upper-division music history or literature, chosen from Music 302, 360, 361, 362, 363, 380.

Pass the piano proficiency examination.

Two semester credits in Music 490. Senior project requirements by area of major:

• Composition: Preparation of professional-quality manuscripts. Recital of original musical works; graded by jury.
• Ethnomusicology: Thesis in ethnomusicology; graded by committee.
• Music Education: 1) work sample similar to those required by our graduate school's M.A.T. program. 2) satisfactory evaluations by both cooperating teachers. 3) satisfactory evaluation by the supervising faculty member. 4) public or videotaped demonstration of work with students for faculty review.
• Musicology: Thesis in musicology; graded by committee.
• Performance: Recital on the major instrument; graded by jury.

Four credits of specific requirements by area of major:

Composition: One of the following, different from the course counted in 5, above: Music 325, 326, 327, 328. It is strongly recommended that composers who wish to pursue graduate work take all four of these courses, as well as Music 331, 416.

Ethnomusicology: One additional course in ethnomusicology. Recommended: Sociology/Anthropology 100 or 110, 200.

Music Education: Music 331 and two credits from Music 385, 386, 387, 388, 389 (1 credit each). Recommended: Music 416 and Education 201. d) Musicology: Music 361. Recommended: Music 362, 363.

Performance: Three additional credits of instruction on the major instrument. One additional credit of Western ensemble. Recommended: Four additional credits of Western ensemble, as well as Music 331, 416.