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Music Areas of Study

General Information and Requirements for All Music Majors and Minors

  1. A Student Handbook outlining Music Department procedures and policies is available in the Music Department Office, Bangsberg 201.
  2. All new majors and minors (including transfer students) are required to arrange for a personal interview with the Department Chair during the first week of classes. An adviser from the department will be assigned at that time.
  3. All new music majors and minors must take the Music Theory and Ear Training Placement Examination.
  4. All music majors are required to participate in a major performing organization each quarter they are one campus.
  5. A student may be required to validate course work that was completed more than seven (7) years prior to graduation and is to be included in the music major or minor. Only courses with grades of C or better may be validated. The student may be required to repeat such courses or take additional course work.
  6. B.S. music majors must successfully complete World Music, Music 104, prior to enrolling in History and Literature of Music.
  7. All B.A. music majors and minors are encouraged to pursue the study of a foreign language.
  8. All music majors are required to give a Senior Recital during an academic term when they are enrolled at an appropriate 400 level of applied instruction.

Music Major, B.S. (Teacher Licensure)

This program is designed for students who plan on teaching in the elementary and secondary schools. It is a combination of courses in music and professional education which meets the State of Minnesota requirements. All students in this major must complete a core course requirement and one of the two areas of specialization. Some students may elect to complete an additional specialization, including a second senior recital and additional student teaching experience. Students should contact the Department Chair for specific information about acceptance into this program.

Areas of specialization include: vocal and classroom music (kindergarten through grade 12), and instrumental classroom music (kindergarten through grade 12). Professional Education courses are required for licensure. For current curriculum guidelines, check with the Music Department Office.

For requirements for entry into and completion of teacher licensure programs, see Professional Education, this catalog.

I.Required Courses (Core)

Subtotal: 52 credits

*SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL MUSIC MAJORS IN THIS PROGRAM: All students must pass Music 118 Piano Proficiency II before registering for Music 340 Conducting Fundamentals, and Student Teaching. Specific information is outlined in a syllabus available from the Department Chair.

II. Required Professional Education Courses (Core) for Licensure at the Secondary Level

For a listing of specific courses, see Professional Education: Secondary, this catalog: 47 credits

III. Required Specializations

Complete A or B

  1. Vocal and Classroom Music, Grades K-12 (44 credits)

Total required for specialization A: 44 credits

  1. TOTAL QUARTER HOURS REQUIRED FOR MAJOR WITH SPECIALIZATION A: 143 CREDITS

  2. Instrumental and Classroom Music, Grades K - 12 (44 Credits)

Total required for specialization B: 44

TOTAL QUARTER HOURS REQUIRED FOR MAJOR WITH SPECIALIZATION B: 143 CREDITS

  1. *NOTE: See the Department Chair for specific requirements.

    Special Note to Pianists Seeking Teacher Certification. See the Department Chair for specific requirements. Pianists may earn a Bachelor of Science degree in one of the two teaching specializations above. To do so, they must also complete the following three courses:

TOTAL QUARTER HOURS PIANIST CERTIFICATION: 6 CREDITS

Guidelines For Music Major, B.S. (Teacher Licensure), Specialization B

Minor and Secondary Instrument Requirements: Minor and secondary instruments are studied for the purpose of developing a minimum performance level and a teaching knowledge to aid in public school teaching. A total of 9 minor instrument quarter hours and two secondary instrument quarter hours are required (Piano majors see Guideline A, above). Secondary instruments are an extension of study on one of the minor instruments to provide a full year of experience on an instrument other than the student's major instrument. Specific distribution of study is listed below.

Minor Instruments

Band K-12, 9 quarter hours to be divided as follows:

  1. Woodwinds (3 credits)
    1. flute (flute majors select an additional instrument under b or c below)
    2. clarinet and/or saxophone
    3. oboe and/or bassoon
  2. Brasses (2 credits)
    1. trumpet and/or horn
    2. trombone (trombone majors select both trumpet and horn, or an additional quarter hour of baritone or tuba at the 100 level)
  3. Percussion (2 credits) (percussion majors will select one additional quarter each of brass and woodwind)
    1. snare drum
    2. mallets/timpani
  4. Strings (2 credits)
    1. violin (violin majors will select viola or contrabass)
    2. cello (cello majors will select viola or contrabass)

Subtotal: 9 credits

Secondary Instrument

Registration is at the 200-level. Brass majors in the Band specialization will select a woodwind; woodwind majors will select a brass instrument; percussion, string and piano majors have a choice of brass or woodwind. The secondary instrument is to be studied in the quarters immediately following completion of the minor instrument courses listed above.

Music Major, B.A.

This is a four-year program for students who do not expect to teach in elementary or secondary schools. Elective courses must be planned in consultation with an adviser and approved by the department faculty. Other specific information regarding acceptance into the major is available from the Department Chair. Students considering graduate study upon completion of this degree should take at least one year of study in a foreign language.

I.Required Courses (Core)

Subtotal: 44 credits

II. Required Electives in Music

To be selected in consultation with adviser and included in a Plan of Study filed in the music office. Majors in this program are required to participate in Band, Choir, Orchestra or Jazz Ensemble every quarter in residence: 18 credits

TOTAL QUARTER HOURS REQUIRED FOR MAJOR, B.A.: 62 CREDITS

Suggested Schedule For All Music Majors

The following is a list of courses arranged approximately by year. Because some courses may only be offered every other year, the schedule is only a suggestion. It is not recommended that you rely solely on this plan for student advising purposes, as the frequency of offerings cannot be guaranteed. See the Department Chair for specific guidelines. See course descriptions for prerequisites.

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Music Minor, B.S.

In addition to noting the General Information and Requirements for All Music Majors and Minors (above), prospective minors should contact the Department Chair for specific information on acceptance into this minor. Students complete a total of thirty-two quarter hours of music in core courses and electives chosen with the assistance of an adviser and subject to the approval of the Department faculty.

I.Required Courses (Core)

Subtotal: 17 credits

II.Required Electives in Music

Includes a minimum of six quarters of study in a major applied area at levels II and III. See the Department Chair for further information: 15 credits

TOTAL QUARTER HOURS REQUIRED FOR MINOR, B.S.: 32 CREDITS

Music Minor, B.A.

Students complete a total of thirty (30) quarter hours of music in core courses and electives chosen with the assistance of an adviser and subject to the approval of the Department faculty.

I.Required Courses (Core)

Subtotal: 17 credits

II. Required Electives in Music

Includes a minimum of six quarters of study in a major applied area at levels II and III. See the Department Chair for further information: 15 credits

TOTAL QUARTER HOURS REQUIRED FOR MINOR, B.A.: 32 CREDITS

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