Music

Jenny Snodgrass, Director

Aliquo, Arndt, Bedford, Braue, Cancryn, Clark, Combest, Cornish, Davila, Dawson, DeBoer, Dent, Dye, Hahn, Han, Haysett, Ko, Loucky, McWhirter, Morgan, Nadgir, Nies, Perkins, Reish, Simmons, Smith, Taylor, Thomas, Waldecker, West Osterfield, Yelverton, Vannatta-Hall

The purposes of the School of Music are to educate and mentor music students to become articulate musicians, successful as music teachers, performers, composers, scholars, business persons in music-related enterprises, and/or students in advanced degree programs; to welcome students whose studies are concentrated in other fields into a community of music education and appreciation, instrumental and vocal instruction, and ensemble participation; to enrich the musical life of the University and community through public music performance and non-curricular instruction; and to provide leadership and maintain professional relationships and activities with musicians regionally, nationally, and internationally.

The school offers a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Music degree with six concentrations: Instrumental Music Education, Vocal/General Music Education K-12, Voice Performance, Instrumental Performance, Music Industry, and Theory-Composition. A Bachelor of Arts in Music and minors in Music, American Music Studies, and Music Industry are also available as well as a undergraduate certificate in Piano Pedagogy.

MTSU has been an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1970. (National Association of Schools of Music, 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190-5248; phone (703) 437-0700; fax (703) 437-6312; info@arts-accredit.org, nasm.arts-accredit.org/.)

The Bachelor of Music degree programs with concentrations in Instrumental Music Education and Vocal/General Music Education K-12 are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Requirements for Admission to the Bachelor of Arts Degree

An interview is required for the Music, B.A. program at MTSU. Interviews will be conducted in person during the School of Music’s audition dates, though virtual interviews will be offered. Invitations to schedule an interview will be sent upon completion and submission of the MTSU School of Music application. 

NOTE: To continue study in primary instrument/voice, students must successfully audition for a studio placement. See instrument or voice area for specific audition requirements.

In addition, all new undergraduate majors and minors are required to take the Music Theory Placement Exam to determine appropriate placement in the music theory program. The exam is available through CANVAS and a link to take the exam, along with information on how to prepare for the exam, will be sent following admission into the School of Music. Transfer students will need to meet with the Coordinator of Music Theory in order to be placed in the appropriate level of the musicianship sequence. Students may not enroll in any music theory course until placement is determined.

Requirements for Admission to the Bachelor of Music Degree

To be admitted into the Bachelor of Music degree program, all entering students must pass an audition before the faculty on their major instrument or voice. Students who do not pass the audition may be allowed, at the discretion of the faculty, to enroll in private music lessons or class instruction for one semester only. At the end of the semester the student must reaudition for admission into the program. Specifics regarding audition requirements for all applied areas can be found at http://music.mtsu.edu/musicadmissions.

In addition, all new undergraduate majors and minors are required to take the Music Theory Placement Exam to determine appropriate placement in the music theory program. The exam is available through CANVAS and a link to take the exam, along with information on how to prepare for the exam, will be sent following admission into the School of Music. Transfer students will need to meet with the Coordinator of Music Theory in order to be placed in the appropriate level of the musicianship sequence. Students may not enroll in any music theory course until placement is determined.

 Graduate Study

 The school offers the Master of Music degree.