Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 General/Graduate Catalog - Expires August 2025 
    
2019-2020 General/Graduate Catalog - Expires August 2025 [Archived Catalog]

Music (BM) with Emphasis Groups


Affiliation: School of Arts & Letters

The objectives of the music discipline are as follows:

  • To provide programs of study of the highest quality which enables each student to realize his or her maximum, innate scholarly and creative potential.
  • To inculcate in students in all degree programs an understanding of the broad historical and cultural foundations of the art and science of music, and to encourage them to incorporate into their own lives the knowledge and aesthetic appreciation acquired through this experience.
  • To prepare students for graduate study and for professional careers in music.
  • To make available to the general University student opportunities for academic and creative development through instruction in humanities/general education courses and through participation in ensembles.
  • To offer all members of the University community and citizens of the region and the state of Missouri cultural enrichment through the presentation of solo and ensemble performances of the highest professional caliber.

ADMISSION TO THE MUSIC PROGRAM

Prior to declaring a major in music, each student must perform for a committee of the appropriate studio faculty in order to determine that the student has reached a sufficiently advanced level of applied proficiency. While a personal audition is highly recommended, in cases where such is not possible, a recording of the student’s performance is accepted. All transfer students are also subject to placement examinations in theory and music literature.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL BACHELOR’S DEGREES IN MUSIC 

  • Achievement levels for the various levels of applied music in the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts degrees are listed in the Music Student’s Handbook available upon request.
  • Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music (Pre-Certification) must present a recital consisting of 30 minutes of music during the senior year. Standards applicable to these recitals are available upon request from the office of the Department Chair or School of Arts & Letters.
  • Candidates for the Bachelor of Music, Performance Emphasis degree must present a recital consisting of 30 minutes of music during the junior year and another recital of 50 minutes of music during the senior year. Candidates for the Bachelor of Music, Composition Emphasis degree must present a recital consisting of 50 minutes of originally composed music during the senior year. Standards applicable to these recitals are available upon request from the office of the Department Chair or School of Arts & Letters.
  • All music majors are required to attend a designated number of student recitals and concerts given on the campus. Failure to meet this requirement results in a student’s failing to graduate until he or she has fulfilled the deficiency. Evidence of having met the requirement is 6 successful semesters of satisfactory work in MUSI 279 (0 credits).
  • Keyboard Competency. All music majors are required to complete MUSI 254 (Basic Keyboard Skills IV or Advanced Class Piano) in order to demonstrate competency at the keyboard. Placement into one of the keyboard skills courses occurs upon admission to the program. Students who possess substantial keyboard background may elect, upon recommendation of the keyboard faculty, to test out of this requirement. A student is deemed competent upon successfully passing the MUSI 254 final examination with a score of 90%. Students who plan to attempt this examination are allowed to do so before the end of their first semester at Truman. Students may only attempt the examination one time. Once a student has completed a total of 90 credits hours, he/she will not be allowed to test out of the piano requirement but instead must take the appropriate keyboard skills class.
  • At the end of each semester, every student in an applied music course must perform for the appropriate faculty committee (jury). This is an opportunity to show improvement during the semester, and for the faculty to assess the student’s progress and make helpful suggestions. In the event he or she fails to appear and perform the jury examination without evidence of extenuating circumstances, an automatic grade of “F” is assigned as the student’s semester grade for the course. After completing four semesters of applied study in a single instrument or voice, every student is eligible for admittance to upper division applied study after passing the jury examination into upper division.
  • All music majors are required to participate in a major University ensemble (Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Cantoria, or University Chorus). The individual degree programs should be consulted to determine the specific number of credits required.
  • Students are eligible to earn upper-level ensemble credit only after passing the jury examination into upper division on their major instrument and after completing at least 4 credits of ensemble(s). Maximum: 6 credits.

MUSIC (BACHELOR OF MUSIC WITH EMPHASIS GROUPS)

BACHELOR OF MUSIC

The Bachelor of Music degree will prepare students for careers in professional performance in music, composition, or for graduate study in these areas. This degree provides the most musically intense offering within the music discipline at Truman. Sixty-five percent of the degree content is devoted to music courses.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN MUSIC (BACHELOR OF MUSIC)

  1. 3.50 or above cumulative GPA.
  2. 3.50 or above music course GPA.
  3. A on Senior Recital.
  4. A on Junior Recital (Performance Emphasis only).
  5. Presentation at a research conference – Truman State University Student Research Conference, NCUR, CMS, MENC, MMTA, other.
  6. Approval of non-abstaining faculty.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

Liberal Studies Program Requirements: 31-60 Credits


Missouri Statute Requirement: 1-3 Credits


Bachelor of Music Requirement: 0-6 Credits


 

  • Intermediate proficiency in ONE foreign language

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:


The Music BM major consists of two (2) parts: Required Support and Major Requirements. Each student must complete both parts.

Part I: Required Support: 3 Credits


Part II: Major Requirements: 80-86 Credits


  • Major Ensemble: 8 Credits*
  • Secondary Instrument(s)/Voice (max of 2 instruments): 3 Credits**
  • Keyboard Competency: 0-4 Credits

Electives to Total: 124 Credits


Note


* Piano majors must substitute MUSI 282 and MUSI 283 for two hours of Major Ensemble. Up to two additional hours of Major Ensemble may be fulfilled with MUSI 283, totaling a maximum of four hours of accompanying.

** Students taking voice as their secondary instrument may apply up to 2 credits of class voice (MUSI 142) toward their secondary instrument requirement.

 

Performance Emphasis Group: 28-30 Credits


Composition Emphasis Group: 27 Credits


  • MUSI XXX - One Primary Applied Instrument of Voice Credits: 8 ***
  • MUSI XXX - Instrument Classes Credits: 4
  • Credits: 3 (Must be taken four times for a total of 12 Credits).
  • Credits: 2
  • MUSI XXX - Elective in Music Credits: 1
  • *** Must achieve Upper Division Status prior to graduation. Student must take Upper Division Jury at the end of the fourth semester of study and each semester thereafter until Upper Division status is achieved.