Music Performance Studies
The Department of Music Performance Studies provides applied instruction and coursework in performance for music majors and minors, as well as for all qualified students of the University. The department also administers the Bachelor of Music degree program in performance with options as follows:
- Church Music (organ or voice emphasis)
- Guitar (jazz emphasis)
- Harpsichord
- Instrumental (brass, harp, percussion, string, woodwind)
- Organ
- Piano
- Accompanying
- Piano Literature
- Piano Pedagogy
- Voice
- Voice/Musical Theater
- Vocal Pedagogy
- Woodwind Specialist
(The woodwind specialist option is a limited enrollment program. Acceptance is based on an audition which is to be scheduled at the end of the student’s first semester. Successful completion of the option requires high performance standards in the major woodwind instrument and a proficiency level in two other woodwind instruments equivalent to that of entering freshmen with these instruments as their major performing medium.)
Piano Proficiency
Applied piano instruction is required of all music performance majors. A prerequisite to individual applied instruction is class piano, MuED 151, or equivalent. (See coordinator of class piano for placement assessment.) In addition, majors in brass, guitar, harp, percussion, strings, voice and woodwinds are required to demonstrate piano proficiency through examination. The examination, which is to be scheduled through the keyboard coordinator during the final semester of applied piano study, consists of satisfactory performance of one Baroque, one Classical and one Romantic or contemporary composition. One work is to be memorized. Students are encouraged to take the examination before the semester of graduation.
Admittance as a Music Performance Major
A student is accepted for the Bachelor of Music degree program in music performance by audition before the appropriate area faculty. This audition may be held at the time of the initial College of Musical Arts audition or during the course of degree study. It is highly recommended that the acceptance audition take place during the freshman year. Acceptance later than the freshman year may necessitate studies beyond the fourth year to meet repertoire and performance standards.
Upon acceptance the student, in counsel with an adviser, develops a course of study based on degree requirements and the student’s needs and interests.
Jury Examinations
Jury exminations occur at select times once each semester of each academic year. All music majors are expected to perform jury examinations. In addition, some areas have special requirements for nonmusic majors, music minors, and music majors and minors in secondary performance media. Jury examinations are appropriate times for students to be evaluated for change of emphasis or degree programs within the College of Musical Arts.
Recital Requirement
At least one full recital is required of all performance majors. This is usually music given in the senior year. Permission to perform a recital is granted by the appropriate performance studies faculty and is based upon the successful completion of a recital jury.
A student must be registered for applied study during the semester when the recital is presented.
Ensemble Participation
All music performance majors are expected to participate in ensembles each semester of registration. Ensemble choice should be appropriate to the student’s principal performance medium (e.g., strings: orchestra; woodwinds, brass, percussion and harp: band and/or orchestra; guitar: small ensembles; voice: choral ensembles and/or opera theater; piano: accompanying and/or small ensembles). In cases subject to question, students should consult the department chair.
Degree offered: BM in Jazz Studies
The undergraduate degree in jazz studies is for music students who wish to concentrate on the performance and history of jazz. The degree is supported by numerous ensembles including a lab band, vocal jazz ensemble and small combos. International artists perform on campus throughout the year and especially during the annual Jazz Week in spring semester. Jazz faculty are members of the College of Musical Arts performance department and include Chris Buzzelli, guitar; Jeff Halsey, bass; Russell Schmidt, piano; Gunnar Mossblad, jazz saxophone; and Roger Schupp, percussion.