To be accepted as a music major, students are required to audition for the applied faculty in their performance area (keyboard, woodwinds, strings, percussion, brass, or voice) and successfully demonstrate performance skills appropriate for college level instruction. Upon being accepted diagnostic examinations in music theory may also be required.

Learn more about admission auditions

Bachelor of Arts in Music
Bachelor of Music in Composition
Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Education
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Education
Bachelor of Music in Performance, Wind or Percussion
Bachelor of Music in Performance, Organ
Bachelor of Music in Performance, Piano
Bachelor of Music in Performance, String
Bachelor of Music in Performance, Voice

Seminars and General Recitals

Music majors are required to attend weekly seminars in their performance area. In addition, all music majors are required to attend General Recitals which are regularly scheduled throughout each semester. These recitals, presented by students studying in the department, give students valuable opportunities to perform for and listen to their peers.

Concert and Recital Attendance

Recitals and concerts, an important co-curricular activity for all students, are an indispensable part of the training for a career in music. The University and the Department offer a rich opportunity for cultural growth through the many and varied presentations that occur on campus. Because of the importance of these events, music majors are urged to attend campus musical events, and are required to attend 12 events each semester.

Senior Recital Performance

All Bachelor of Music students must complete a Senior Recital. Senior Recitals are scheduled through the main office with your applied music teacher's approval. Senior recitals are given during the last semester of residence (the semester before student teaching for music education students). A Senior Recital is not required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in music. Additional information is available from your applied teacher.

Recital requirements (PDF)

(Music Majors)
All music majors must demonstrate proficiency in functional skills at the piano. Keyboard music majors (students whose primary instrument is piano or organ) accomplish this through courses in their curricula. All other students accomplish this by satisfactorily completing Music 2280. All entering non-keyboard music majors with previous piano experience meet with the class piano instructor, usually the week before classes start in the fall semester, to determine the appropriate piano class (1270, 1280, 2270, 2280) for their initial piano enrollment. Some students are deemed to have met the piano proficiency at this time. Non-keyboard music majors with no previous piano experience should enroll in Music 1270, Class Piano I. 

*Important:* The piano proficiency must be met, either through completion of Music 2280 or demonstration of proficiency, to pass the continuation examination. Failure to do so could delay a student's graduation. All students must fulfill the piano proficiency requirement in order to pass the continuation examination and enroll in Music 3190.

Continuation Exam 

Evaluation 
A written report will be given to each student following his/her performance and a copy placed in the student's permanent file. In addition to indicating the success or failure of each part of the examination, this evaluation will include a candid assessment of the student's potential to achieve his/her goals. The student may also arrange to meet with members of the Continuation Examination Committee at a later date to discuss the results of his/her Continuation Examination.
 

Retaking portions of the CE 
The student may be allowed to retake, at a later date, any part of the examination not passed. The CEC may limit the number of additional attempts, but normally students are not permitted to register for Music 2190 following a second unsuccessful attempt. A third unsuccessful attempt would result in a student's being advised to change majors. In order to enroll in Music 3190 or 4190: Applied Music, the student must pass all sections of the Continuation Examination as well as Music 3350 and piano requirements (Music 2280 or the piano proficiency examination).
 

Recertification of Continuation Examination 
when changing curricula after Continuation Examination
When a music student changes his/her degree (BA/BM) or option within the BM after passing the Continuation Examination, the student must update the Continuation papers with new "Record of Continuation Examination," "Department of Music Music Major Record," Essay (including an explanation of the change of goals), and a course plan for the course work remaining in the new program. The Continuation Examination Committee will review the student's papers and must approve the change before the "Change of Curriculum/Major" form is filed.

Downloadable copy of the Description

In accordance with the communication proficiency policy of the LAS College, all students must "earn an average grade of C- or better in the required basic composition courses (English 1500 and 2500)," and, in addition, the communication proficiency of all music majors must be certified by one of the following options:

1. Satisfactory completion of an advanced writing course (e.g. English 2040, 3020, 3050, or 3140).
   OR
2. Certification of writing skills after completion of Music 3830, 3840, 4720, 4730, 4740, 4750, 4900D or 4900E. (Passing one of these courses does not automatically satisfy the requirements for communication proficiency.) The course instructor will evaluate writing competencies as shown in examination essay questions and term papers written for these courses and will certify satisfactory work by placing a document to that effect in the student's file and signing the communication proficiency certification line on the student's Advisement/Degree Audit sheet.

Students are required to earn a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000 level or above. Three credits must be taken in courses outside the major. 

Bachelor of Music-Music Education students must have a 2.5 GPA to be admitted to the Teacher Education program. They must maintain the 2.5 GPA to be eligible for student teaching. All other students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in their major (all music courses) to be eligible for graduation. 

(updated 01/18/2023)

The primary factor in your health and safety is YOU. Be responsible, make good choices and be informed. The information below will outline musician-specific health and safety issues as you prepare for your career in music.

Each year, there will be a required meeting for all music majors to attend a session on the maintenance of hearing and a session on vocal and musculoskeletal health and injury prevention.

Hearing Health

Hearing health is essential to your lifelong success as a musician. Noise-induced hearing loss is largely preventable. You must avoid overexposure to loud sounds, especially for long periods of time.

All music majors will be provided, free of charge, with a pair of earplugs that are specifically designed for musicians. These earplugs are also available to non-music majors who participate in university ensembles at a reduced cost of $10 (available from the Music Department office). For more information on these earplugs, please visit the Etymotic website.

The music department also owns a Personal Noise Dosimeter, which students and faculty can borrow for their own use and studies (available from the Music Department office). This dosimeter measures sound levels for many hours, and calculates the cumulative noise dose in percent and alerts you to the need for hearing protection.

This video offers valuable information about protecting musicians’ most important asset – our hearing! 

The closer you are to the source of a loud sound, the greater the risk of damage to your hearing mechanisms. Sounds over 85 dB (your typical vacuum cleaner) in intensity pose the greatest risk to your hearing. Risk of hearing loss is based on a combination of sound or loudness intensity and duration.

Recommended maximum daily exposure times (NIOSH) to sounds at or above 85 dB are as follows:

• 85 dB (vacuum cleaner, MP3 player at 1/3 volume) – 8 hours
• 90 dB (blender, hair dryer) – 2 hours
• 94 dB (MP3 player at 1/2 volume) – 1 hour
• 100 dB (MP3 player at full volume, lawnmower) – 15 minutes
• 110 dB (rock concert, power tools) – 2 minutes
• 120 dB (jet planes at takeoff) – without ear protection, sound damage is almost immediate

Certain behaviors (controlling volume levels in practice and rehearsal, avoiding noisy environments, turning down the volume) reduce your risk of hearing loss. The use of earplugs and earmuffs helps to protect your hearing health.

Day-to-day decisions can impact your hearing health, both now and in the future. Since sound exposure occurs in and out of school, you also need to learn more and take care of your own hearing health on a daily basis.

It is important to follow basic hearing health guidelines. It is also important to study this issue and learn more.

NASM and PAMA provide advisories and other information on the web.

If you are concerned about your personal hearing health, talk with a medical professional.

Excerpted from: “Protecting Your Hearing Health: Student Information Sheet on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss” NASM/PAMA: November 2011

PERFORMANCE HEALTH

Musicians use their bodies in specific and highly trained ways, and injuries can occur that can have lasting impact on performance ability. Performers need to be aware of vocal and musculoskeletal health issues that can affect them.

Musicians at all levels of achievement can suffer from repetitive stress injuries, neuromuscular conditions or dystonias, and psychological issues including severe performance anxiety.

As health concerns can vary widely depending on performance area, your primary source of information regarding performance health and injury prevention will be your applied music instructor. The Department of Music will also host many guest speakers and presenters to specifically address performance health, injury prevention, and treatment options.

If you are concerned about your health as a musician, or are experiencing discomfort in practice or performance, talk with a medical professional.

Materials in Parks University Library (Select list—browse ML3820 area for more titles)

Alan H.D. Watson, The Biology of Musical Performance and Performance Related Injury, Scarecrow Press, 2009.
ML3820 .W27 2009

William J. Dawson, Fit as a Fiddle: The Musician’s Guide to Playing Healthy, Rowman and Littlefield/MENC, 2008.
ML3820 .D38 2008

Websites

The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique: http://www.alexandertechnique.com

Andover Educators (body mapping): http://bodymap.org

Dalcroze Society of America: https://dalcrozeusa.org

The Feldenkrais Method: https://feldenkrais.com

Performing Arts Medical Association: http://www.artsmed.org

NOTE: Health and safety depend in large part on the personal decisions of informed individuals. Institutions have health and safety responsibilities, but fulfillment of these responsibilities can and will not ensure any specific individual’s health and safety. Too many factors beyond any institution’s control are involved. Individuals have a critically important role and each is personally responsible for avoiding risk and preventing injuries to themselves before, during, and after study at any institution. The information above does not alter or cancel any individual’s personal responsibility, or in any way shift personal responsibility for the results of any individual’s personal decisions or actions in any instance or over time to any institution.

To succeed performance and academics, it is essential to be fluent in the fundamentals of music prior to entering the degree program. We'll assess theory knowledge with a diagnostic exam prior to the start of the student's first semester. Students are encouraged to review theory fundamentals. Links to tutorials and practice tests can be found via the link below. 

Prepare for success.