Program Competencies for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music
As an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), Morehead State University adheres to and complies with the standards of the association. NASM "Standards for the Liberal Arts Degree with a Major in Music" (NASM Handbook) define the program competencies for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at MSU.
A. General Education
The principal goals of general education in undergraduate liberal arts programs with a major in music are:
- The ability to think, speak, and write clearly and effectively. Students who earn liberal arts degrees must be able to communicate with precision, cogency, and force.
- An informed acquaintance with the mathematical and experimental methods of the physical and biological sciences; with the main forms of analysis and the historical and quantitative techniques needed for investigating the workings and developments of modern society.
- An ability to address culture and history from a variety of perspectives.
- Understanding of, and experience in thinking about, moral and ethical problems.
- The ability to respect, understand, and evaluate work in a variety of disciplines.
- The capacity to explain and defend one's views effectively and rationally.
- Understanding of and experience in art forms other than music.
B. Musicianship
Musicianship studies appropriate to the liberal arts degree must produce:
- The ability to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music rhythm, melody, harmony, and structure.
- An understanding of compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces.
- An acquaintance with a wide selection of musical literature, the principal eras, genres, and cultural sources.
- The ability to develop and defend musical judgments.
C. Performance and Music Electives
Instruction in the performing medium, participation in large and small ensembles, and experience in solo performance develop these competencies.
Performance studies appropriate to the liberal arts degree should produce:
- Ability in performing areas appropriate to the student's needs and interests.
- Ability to sight-read music.
- An understanding for procedures for realizing a variety of musical styles.
Assessment Procedures
Survey of Graduates, Major Field Exam, Performance Recitals, and Exit Interview
General Requirements and Advisories
Recital Attendance
Attending concerts and recitals is an essential ingredient of a professional musician's training. Attending live performances ensures that all music majors and minors are exposed to a large and varied body of music and provides opportunities to enhance musical learning. Therefore, students are expected to attend concerts and recitals presented on campus as part of the overall study of music at MSU.
Each faculty member who teaches Private Applied music has a grading policy that reflects this attitude and has established expectations for recital attendance. In addition, music students are required to complete MUSM 200/400 Student Recital for the prescribed number of semesters with a passing grade (MUSM 200/400 is a pass-fail course). Regular attendance at the student recital hour is expected of all music students. The chair of the Department of Music, Theatre & Dance maintains attendance records and issues grades.
Piano Proficiency
All candidates for the Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Arts degree with principal applied areas other than keyboard instruments are required to complete the four-semester sequence of Class Piano (MUSG 123, 124, 223, 224). Non-keyboard major students with previous keyboard experience may qualify for advanced placement in the Class Piano sequence. Exemption from the Class Piano sequence requires successful completion of the Piano Proficiency Examination. All students being exempted from one or more levels of Class Piano will go to the Testing Center to receive "K" credit on their transcripts.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Music Education degree who achieve advanced placement or exemption from the Class Piano sequence may substitute music electives to fulfill the exempted Class Piano credit requirements or receive credit for the exempted course(s) by application to the Registrar. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Arts in Music degree who achieve advanced placement or exemption from the Class Piano sequence prior to the completion of MUSG 224 — Class Piano IV must fulfill the remaining required credit hours in the piano/keyboard area as specified in the program of study.
Ensembles
All students are required to enroll each semester in residence in the ensemble course appropriate to the program of study, results of a placement audition, Private Applied instrument area, and class standing. Students who are in residence for more than four full academic years are required to enroll for additional credit hours beyond those listed in the program requirements. These ensemble enrollment requirements are considered the minimum for music-major students; all music students are encouraged to participate in additional large and small ensembles, including chamber and jazz ensembles, in order to receive a more extensive performance experience and professional preparation.
Private Applied Music
Music majors and minors are required to designate a principal area of Private Applied music study and enroll each semester in residence for credit in this area as required by the program of study. Students who are in residence for more than four full academic years are required to enroll for additional credit hours beyond those listed in the program requirements. Credit may also be earned in secondary applied areas with permission of the instructor. Private Applied in principal instrument requires a performance examination before a jury of faculty members in their principal applied area at the end of each semester, except as excused by the Private Applied instructor after recital appearances. In addition, music major and minor students must register for MUSP 200/400 — Performance Class concurrently with Private Applied lessons in the principal applied area. Performance Class receives no credit and is graded pass/fail, but attendance and performance in this course may affect the student's grade in Private Applied lessons.
Credit hours for Private Applied music are variable. Normally, students enroll for two-three hours of credit depending on the requirements of the degree program and the advice of the Private Applied instructor. Students studying a secondary applied instrument normally enroll for one credit hour. Students are expected to practice at least one hour per day for each credit hour earned in Private Applied lessons.
One credit = .5 hour lesson per week (intended for approved nonmusic majors), one hour practice daily
Two credits = .5 hour lesson per week and concurrent enrollment in MUSP 200/400, two hours practice daily
Three credits = 1 hour lesson per week and concurrent enrollment in MUSP 200/400, three hours practice daily
Four credits = 1.5 hour lesson per week and concurrent enrollment in MUSP 200/400, four hours practice daily
Degree Recitals and Hearings
Students seeking the Bachelor of Music Education or Bachelor of Music degree must complete the Senior Recital on their principal performing instrument. Successful completion of the Senior Recital satisfies the integrative component in the General Education curriculum as the capstone course for the degree.
Music Education majors complete MUSP 499C — Senior Recital, a three-credit hour course that requires a formal recital with an accompanying research paper and oral presentation covering the works and composers to be performed. Students in the Bachelor of Music program complete MUSP 360 — Junior Recital, a two-credit hour course that requires a formal recital, and MUSP 499C — Senior Recital, a three-credit hour course that requires a formal recital. The Senior Recital also requires an accompanying research paper and oral presentation covering the works and composers to be performed.
Prior to scheduling a recital, the proposed program must be presented for approval by a committee of applied faculty. Students receive approval by successfully completing a recital hearing.
Music Fees
Private Applied: $30 per credit hour
Recital Fee: $30 per credit hour
MUSP 360 — Junior Recital (two credit hours): $60
MUSP 498C — Senior Recital (two credit hours): $60
MUSP 660 — Graduate Recital (two credit hours): $60
MUSP 499C — Senior Recital (three credit hours): $90
MUSP 470 Composition Recital (three credit hours): $90
Instrument Rental Fee: $15 - $20 per semester
Locker Rental
One locker per semester or summer session: $10
One locker per academic year: $20
Upper and Lower Division Enrollment
Lower division (100 and 200-level) Performance Class, Student Recital, Ensemble, and Private Applied lesson courses are appropriate for students with freshman and sophomore standing; upper division (300 and 400-level) Performance Class, Student Recital and Ensemble courses are appropriate for students with junior or senior standing.
Upper Division Assessment
Music majors and minors must successfully complete the Applied Music Upper Division Assessment before enrolling in 400-level Private Applied courses. The Upper Division Assessment includes an academic component and a performance component. To complete the academic component, students must successfully pass MUSG 124, MUST 233, MUST 236, four semesters each of MUSP 200 and MUSM 200 with passing grade of 'K", and two of the following: MUSH 161, MUSH 162, MUSH 361, MUSH 362, MUSE 230 (BME majors only), eight credits of 200-level Private Applied in principal instrument with grade of "C" or better (BME and BA in Music majors only), 12 credits of 200-level Private Applied in principal instrument with grade of "C" or better (BM majors only). To complete the performance component, students must meet the criteria set for their primary applied area during their end of semester jury performances.
General Education
All undergraduate students must complete a required core of General Education courses. Please refer to the General Education catalog section for a detailed listing of the 48-credit hours of General Education courses common to all baccalaureate programs. Certain requirements in the General Education curriculum are met through courses required in the music major program of study. A framework of the General Education curriculum and the courses that satisfy General Education and major program requirements appear below.
I. Required General Education Core (15 credit hours)
CMSP 108 — Fundamentals of Speech Communication* |
3 |
ENG 100 — Writing I* |
3 |
ENG 200 — Writing II* |
3 |
MUSE 215 — Microcomputers and Music*. |
0-3 |
Math Reasoning |
3 |
II. Required General Education Area Studies (30 credit hours)
(May choose no more than one from the same course prefix)
A. Humanities |
6-9 |
(Must include: MUSH 361 — History of Music I, or |
|
MUSH 362 — History of Music II)+ |
|
B. Natural and Mathematical Sciences |
9 |
C. Social and Behavioral Sciences (may include: |
|
EDF 211 for BME students)+ |
9 |
D. Practical Living |
3 |
(FIN 264 — Personal Finance required General Education course for BM in Jazz Studies)+ |
|
III. Integrative Component (Three credit hours)
MUSP 499C — Senior Recital (capstone course)+ |
3 |
Total |
48 |
*Successful completion prerequisite for admission to Teacher Education Program (TEP)
** The balance of the three hours of required credits in GE must be earned in upper-division Private Applied.
+ Denotes courses that also fulfill music major requirements.
MSU 101 Discovering University Life
MSU 101 is a one-credit-hour course required in the first semester of enrollment of all new freshman and transfer students with less than 24 earned credit hours. This course is designed to orient students to MSU. The music faculty teaches special course sections specifically for music-major students. Course credit for class is not calculated into total required hours for the program.