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):
- Literature and Theory Foundations
- MUS-111 Introduction to Music Literature (3 cr)
- MUS-100 Music Fundamentals (2 cr) (recommend for those with little or no music reading skills)
or
MUS-103.1 Music Theory I (3 cr) (recommended for fluent readers of music). Students who take this course are strongly encouraged to concurrently take MUS-101 Aural Skills I (1 cr)
- Electives
- Nine credits from the following, of which at least one course must be an upper-division course.
- MUS-101 Aural Skills I (1 cr)
- MUS-102.1 Aural Skills II (1 cr)
- MUS-103.1 Music Theory I (3 cr)
- MUS-104.1 Music Theory II (3 cr)
- MUS-202.1 Music Theory III (3 cr)
- MUS-203.1 Music Theory IV (3 cr)
- MUS-301 Counterpoint (2 cr)
- MUS-112 Introduction to World Music (3 cr)
- MUS-119 The Creative World of Mozart (2 cr)
- MUS-205 Survey of Opera History (2 cr)
- MUS-308 Performing Britannia and Celtica: The Music of Britain (3 cr)*
- MUS-311.1 Music History I (3 cr)
- MUS 312.1 Music History II (3 cr)
- MUS-315 Beethoven (3 cr)
- MUS-341 Beginning Conducting (2 cr)
- MUS-400 Musicology Seminar (3 cr)
- Applied or Group lessons (MUS-130, MUSAP-133, MUSAP-230, MUSAP-330, MUSAP-430) (0.5-1 cr)
- Ensembles (0.5-3 cr)
- Nine credits from the following, of which at least one course must be an upper-division course.
- Required
- MUS-001 Concert/Recital Attendance (four semesters) (0 cr)
- MUS-491 Music Capstone (1 cr)
- Three credits in a Humanities course (English, Modern Foreign Languages [at 200-level or above], Philosophy, or Religion).
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:
- MUSAP-330 Applied Music (1 cr)*
- MUSAP-430 Applied Music (1 cr)*
- MUS-341 Beginning Conducting (2 cr)
- MUS-494** Independent Study (emphasizing instrument history, pedagogy, or other approved topic) (1-3 cr)
or
MUS-497 Internship (intended for working with professional or community organizations) (1-3 cr)**
*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
- Students are strongly encouraged to take BUS-483 Project Managment (3 cr) as a suppliment to this minor
- One year of foreign language studies
- Piano lessons
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