The Bachelor of Music with a major in music performance is a 124-hour professional degree program that prepares students for a variety of music, music performance, and music-related careers. It also provides the basis for further personal study or graduate school.
Students may select from a variety of different performance tracks within the Bachelor of Music with a major in music performance depending upon instrumental or voice performance specialty. These tracks include piano, organ, voice, orchestral instruments, guitar, and jazz.
The Bachelor of Music with a major in music performance is designed to enable students to develop the range of knowledge, skills, and competencies expected of those holding a professional baccalaureate degree in music performance.
Selected Educational Outcomes
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Candidates will demonstrate acceptable professional-level performance of solo and ensemble literature.
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Candidates will use and apply appropriate theoretical skills.
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Candidates will employ fundamental music pedagogy appropriate for their instrument or voice.
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Candidates will apply analytical and historical knowledge of activities related to music performance.
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Candidates will meet all the standards set forth by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) for the professional degree in music performance.
Examples of Outcome Assessments
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Candidates will demonstrate performance skill through the jury process (a prepared performance adjudicated by a panel every semester), a performance barrier (after 4 semesters of applied instruction) that leads to upper division applied study, a junior recital of not less than 20 minutes, and a senior recital of not less than 40 minutes.
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Candidates will produce an in-depth analysis project or paper in which advanced music theory precepts are documented.
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Candidates will demonstrate fundamental music pedagogy as part of the studio class; candidates will provide feedback and therapeutic suggestions to other members of the studio.
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Candidates will perform repertoire on the junior and senior recitals that display stylistically correct performance practices for a variety of genres.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Music Degree with a Major in Music Performance
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core Curriculum, Areas A-E (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Students pursuing the Bachelor of Music with a major in music performance should take MUSC 1100 in Area C or as an elective in the senior college curriculum. | ||
| Core Curriculum Area F | ||
| MUSC 1011 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUSC 1012 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUSC 1051 | Music Theory Lab I | 1 |
| MUSC 1052 | Music Theory Lab II | 1 |
| MUSC 2052 | Music Theory Lab IV | 1 |
| MUSC 2011 & MUSC 2051 | Music Theory III and Music Theory Lab III | 4 |
| MUSC 1016 | An Introduction to Computer Applications in Music | 1 |
| MUSC 1/2XXX Major/Principal Applied | 4 | |
| Senior College Curriculum | 60 | |
| Music Performance Tracks A-F | ||
| MUSC 2012 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUSC 3820 | Concert Choir | 1 |
| MUSC 3850 | Concert Band | 1 |
| MUSC 3860 | Orchestra | 1 |
| MUSC 3870 | Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 4850 | Wind Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 1_40 or MUSC 2_40 Major Applied | 12 | |
| MUSC 3_40 or 4_40 Major Applied | 16 | |
| MUSC 4451 & MUSC 4452 | History of Music to 1750 and History of Music since 1750 | 6 |
| MUSC 3650 & MUSC 3010 | Conducting and Music Analysis | 4 |
| MUSC 1001 | Professional Orientation and Seminar for Music Majors | 0 |
| Music Performance Tracks A-F | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: | 15 | |
Performance Track A: Piano | ||
Performance Track B: Organ | ||
Performance Track C: Voice | ||
Performance Track D: Orchestral Instruments | ||
Performance Track E: Guitar | ||
Performance Track F: Jazz | ||
| Total hours required for the degree | 124 | |
Performance Track A: Piano
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 3230 | Accompanying | 2 |
| MUSC 4721 | Piano Pedagogy I | 1 |
| Guided Music Electives | 7 | |
| General Electives | 5 | |
Performance Track B: Organ
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 3230 | Accompanying | 2 |
| Guided Music Electives | 8 | |
| General Electives | 5 | |
Performance Track C: Voice
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 1101 & MUSC 4750 | Diction for Singers and Vocal Pedagogy | 3 |
| MUSC 2131 & MUSC 2132 | Class Piano I and Class Piano II | 2 |
| FREN or GRMN 1 | 3 | |
| MUSC 3840 | Opera and Musical Theatre | 1 |
| MUSC 3101 & MUSC 3102 | Advanced Diction I and Advanced Diction II | 2 |
| Guided Electives | 4 | |
Performance Track D: Orchestral Instruments
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Music Ensembles | 3 | |
| MUSC 3100 | Arranging for Band, Chorus, and Orchestra | 2 |
| MUSC 2131 | Class Piano I | 1 |
| MUSC 2132 | Class Piano II | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Percussion Pedagogy | ||
| Brass Pedagogy | ||
| Woodwind Pedagogy | ||
| String Pedagogy | ||
| Guided Music Electives | 8 | |
Performance Track E: Guitar
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 3100 | Arranging for Band, Chorus, and Orchestra | 2 |
| MUSC 2131 | Class Piano I | 1 |
| MUSC 2132 | Class Piano II | 1 |
| Guided Music Electives | 5 | |
| MUSC 4735 | Guitar Pedagogy | 1 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
Performance Track F: Jazz
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 3110 & MUSC 3430 | Jazz Arranging and History of Jazz | 4 |
| MUSC 2131 & MUSC 2132 | Class Piano I and Class Piano II | 2 |
| MUSC 1171 & MUSC 1172 | Theoretical Foundations of Jazz Improvisation I and Theoretical Foundations of Jazz Improvisations II | 2 |
| MUSC 2171 & MUSC 2172 | Theoretical Foundations of Jazz Improvisation III and Theoretical Foundations of Jazz Improvisation IV | 2 |
| MUSC 3120 & MUSC 4760 | Rhythm Section Techniques and Pedagogy and Jazz Pedagogy | 3 |
| Electives | 2 | |
| 1 | See University Foreign Language Requirements |
