Music Department Minors

Music Minor

PEAKS | Humanities & Fine Arts |

Music plays an integral part in the human experience, and the Music Minor encourages students to think deeply about music and to improve their musical abilities. The minor is designed to be flexible and to accommodate a wide range of students with varying musical backgrounds (including the classically trained musician, the garage-band performer, and the non-performing music lover). This minor develops active listening skills and introduces students to a variety of music literature and academic discourse about music. The minor fosters critical and analytical thinking about the ways music is constructed and the way it functions in society, while also encouraging students to solve compositional, historical-cultural, and performance problems. Communication is at the core of music, and students in the Music Studies Minor develop the ability to communicate musically and verbally in writing.

Students should first complete the literature and theory foundations core and then select courses that fit their personal interests.

Minor Requirements (18-19 credits):

Student with music scholarships may be required to take additional semesters of applied lessons and ensembles to maintain their scholarships. These additional credits do not count toward the minor. It is expected that students with performance abilities will concentrate some of their time taking applied lessons and participating in ensembles (up to 3 credits for each will count toward this minor).

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Communication through writing and music
  • Identify, through listening and in writing, the six major period-styles in Western music history.
  • Identify, through listening and in writing, prominent pieces of music literature and central composers in Western music.
  • Demonstrate fluency in reading music and in basic music theory.

Music Performance Minor

PEAKS | Professional Studies & Enhancements |

The Music Performance Minor prepares musicians for careers in music performance. It is designed as the professional component of the Music Major, and is designed to be completed during the junior and senior years. It is intended only for students who perform at the highest caliber, and admittance to the minor is only granted by permission at the end of the sophomore year.

This minor builds upon a foundation of music theory, history, and performance, gained in the major, but focuses primarily on fostering in students high-quality performance skills. Students develop critical thinking skills by learning to critique the performances of others and themselves. They also acquire analytical reasoning skills through training that encourages the creation of performances that possess a strong sense of integrity and musicality. Through in-depth experiences in performance, with the personal guidance of an experienced instructor, students also attain problem solving skills particular to learning literature and performing it. Communication is at the core of music, and students in this minor excel at communicating through music performance.

Prerequisites:

  • Declared Music Major
  • Successful completion of lower-division applied lessons
  • Permission*

* Permission is typically granted following the sophomore spring Jury. Students must complete the Petition to Begin the Music Performance Minor form available through the music office or applied instructor. This form should be given to those administering the spring jury at the beginning of the jury. Permission is granted by those administering the jury.

Minor Requirements:

*This requirement is in addition to the Music Major requirement.

** An independent study or internship course also counts towards the completion of the music major.

For violin, viola, or cello

For voice

 

Recommended Enhancements

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Communication through writing and music
  • Demonstrate the ability to prepare and present two successful recitals
  • Demonstrate knowledge about and the ability to perform standard performance literature
  • Demonstrate the ability to direct an ensemble
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